DOWN MEMORY LANE : THE WOODLANDS "NAVY LIFE" (1981-82)

If you were with the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in the 1980s, stationed at Woodlands, Singapore, you were part of a unique chapter in history: a time when Malaysia maintained a sovereign military base (KD Malaya) right in the heart of Singapore, long after the two countries had separated.

I served with 3 Navy units in Woodlands from 1981 to 1982, namely:

1. KD Ganas, 1st Squadron Fast Attack Craft (Missile), (1981)

2. KD Raja Jarom, 32nd Sealift Squadron (1981/82)

3. Fleet Operational Command, RMN Communication Contigency System

Life at the Woodlands Base (KD Malaya) in 1980's

In the 1980s, the base was in a major transition period. While the RMN headquarters officially moved to Lumut in 1984, a significant presence remained at Woodlands until the late '90s.

• The Administration Block: You likely spent time at the iconic Art Deco-style building at 21 Admiralty Road West. It’s one of the few pieces of the base still standing today!
• The "Malaysian Jetty": The long jetty where the RMN ships were docked is now the center of Woodlands Waterfront Park. Back then, it was a restricted military zone filled with the sound of diesel engines and the smell of the sea.
• The Ships: Depending on exactly when you were there, you might have seen the transition from the older LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) and Minesweepers to the newer patrol vessels.
  

The Woodlands "Navy Life" (1981–1982)

As a communications specialist or someone based at the FOC RMNCCS at RMN Base at Woodlands, Singapore, my daily view was the Straits of Johor.

• The Comms Centre: I have been working with radio equipment that linked the ships at sea to the HQ. In 1982, this was the critical link between the fleet and the leadership before the move.
• The Commute to Wak Hassan: Since I was based at Woodlands, I probably took the bus or walked down Admiralty Road West. Kampung Wak Hassan was the perfect place to grab a teh tarik and escape the rigid discipline of the base for an hour.
• The Transition: 1982 was a year of "packing up." The atmosphere at the base was likely focused on the logistics of moving decades of history, equipment, and families up to Lumut.

MALAYSIAN BASE JETTY, WOODLANDS

During my time there in 1981-1982, the jetty was a bustling hub of naval activity. I would remember the long, concrete pier stretching into the Straits of Johor, where ships like KD Ganas and KD Raja Jarom would dock. For a sailor on an LST (Landing Ship Tank), the sight of the jetty was a sign of returning "home" to the base after days at sea.

The RMN presence in Woodlands was significant because it remained a sovereign Malaysian enclave within Singapore long after the separation. You likely recall the colonial-style administrative buildings, the barracks, and the unique "navy town" feel of the area. The FOC RMNCCS (Communications Centre) where I was  stationed was the heartbeat of the base, keeping the fleet connected across the region.

The End of an Era

The mid-80s was a bittersweet time. The move to Lumut meant saying goodbye to the "Woodlands life."

• In September 1984, the RMN ensign was lowered at Woodlands for the last time as the official HQ, though training and some operations continued there for another decade.
• For many veterans, Woodlands wasn't just a base; it was where the RMN was "born" and where the bonds with the local Singaporean villagers were the strongest.

How is the Naval Base and Jetty look like today?

Today, the landscape of our old base at Woodlands has been almost entirely transformed into a public space, though a few powerful "ghosts" of the RMN era still remain.

The Administration Block (The Last Building Standing)

While almost all the barracks and functional buildings of KD Malaya were demolished in 2021 to make way for future housing, one building was saved due to its historical significance.

• 21 Admiralty Road West: The iconic colonial-style administrative building—the "nerve center" near where you worked at the RMNCCS—has been conserved.
• Heritage Status: It stands as a lonely landmark in a cleared field, protected by the Singapore government as a reminder of the shared naval history between the two countries.

The Barracks and the Prison Era

After I left the Woodlands Base, the base served as Admiralty West Prison for many years.

• Demolition: As of 2025, the prison fences and the old dormitory buildings have been torn down. The land is currently being prepared for a massive new housing development called Woodlands North.
• The Bus Stop: Interestingly, the bus stop nearby was for a long time still named "Bef R.M.N. Barracks," serving as a tiny linguistic survivor of my time there.

The "Woodlands Heritage Trail"

The Singapore National Heritage Board recently launched a trail that officially marks your old base as a site of historical importance.

• There are now information boards at the waterfront that explain the history of the Royal Malaysian Navy and KD Malaya to younger generations.
• The trail includes the Rotherham Gate (hidden under the roots of a massive tree) and markers explaining the RMN’s role from the 1950s until the handover in 1997.

Nearby Kampung Wak Hassan

The kampung you remember is completely gone. In its place is a luxury residential area with large modern houses. However, the Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang (the kampung mosque) still stands nearby, beautifully preserved and still serving the community, acting as the final spiritual link to the 1980s village life.

A Final Thought for a Veteran

In October 2025, the RMN and RSN just concluded their 33rd edition of Exercise Malapura. While the "home" at Woodlands is now a park, the partnership that we helped to build in the 80s is still very much alive.

1. The Malaysian Base Jetty (Now Woodlands Waterfront)

The long concrete jetty where KD Raja Jarom and KD Ganas used to dock is now the centerpiece of Woodlands Waterfront Park.

• A Public Promenade: The jetty has been refurbished with railings and lighting. It is now one of the most popular spots in Singapore for fishing and evening strolls.
• The View: You can still stand at the end of that jetty and look across to Johor Bahru, just as you did in 1981. To your west, you can see the massive construction of the RTS Link (the new rapid transit bridge connecting Singapore and JB).
• Rasa Istimewa Restaurant: There is now a halal seafood restaurant located right on the jetty. It sits roughly where the ships used to tie up.

Singapore left many bitter and sweet memories throughout my time serving there. Until now, names like Kg. Wak Hassan and Kg. Fatimah are still fresh in my memory.....

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Ex Malaysian Navy personnel

Stationed at Singapore in 1980's

31/12/2025: 12.29 a.m