With every step you take in Singapore, the soil beneath your feet harbours a story about its owner, history and purpose. Neeshaa Cheong’s job is to unearth and tell that story.
As the assistant manager at the land acquisition and purchase division of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Neeshaa facilitates the return and acquisition of land for public purposes.
Just a few months into her first job, the SLA scholar has discovered that every plot of land has multiple layers of information that must be sieved out with the help of different ones.
“Take, for example, a plot of land where the land belongs to an untraceable owner but maintenance of the plot is needed,” says the 23-year-old. “It could be a small strip of land that causes disamenities to other neighbouring users, but who is supposed to get it done?”
When no current data is available, she goes into investigation mode and starts by sifting through the archives dating as far back as the 19th century.
“We have to use the microfilm machine and historical records to find out who the landowner is,” explains Neeshaa.
The process may include poring over ancient title deeds written in cursive script.
“Many do not realise how much data there is to land, or perhaps they do not see the importance of having this data,” she says.
Besides determining ownership, land data also supports SLA’s mapping systems and policies, helping to generate useful insights and benefits for Singapore.
Neeshaa was drawn to the SLA Undergraduate Scholarship as she had a keen interest in geography. Her teachers at Temasek Junior College encouraged her to apply for it as it matched her passion for urban planning and real estate.
At The London School of Economics and Political Science, she was an undergraduate research fellow in the department of geography and environment and got to delve into topics such as land formalisation, tenure security and land conflicts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Upon starting work at SLA in August 2024, Neeshaa quickly learnt the complexity of the land life cycle in Singapore which comprises three phases: Land In, where land is returned to the state; Land Bank, where land is maintained or restored; and Land Out, when the land is handed over to ministries or sold to private organisations for development, as well as the interim and/or creative adaptive reuse of state land.
Across these three phases, she coordinates with multiple government agencies – including the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Public Utilities Board, and Housing Board – and private landowners. Working with these agencies has trained her to communicate more effectively with different parties. After all, managing land is as much about people as it is about policies.
“Many do not realise how much data there is to land, or perhaps they do not see the importance of having this data.”
– Neeshaa Cheong, recipient of the SLA Undergraduate Scholarship
“Every agency has its priorities, so how do we convey SLA’s needs to colleagues in different agencies?” says Neeshaa. “As for landowners, how can we explain our policies in a way that they can understand? We have to translate what we need to say into a more empathetic message, especially when people have to return their land to the state.”
She adds: “We have to deal with owners, who understandably would be upset when their properties are acquired. Things can get quite emotional and tense, and empathy is critical.”
With the nature of her job, Neeshaa is thankful for a supportive workplace culture.
“If we have troubles at work, we will confide in each other,” she says. “The department has been very welcoming to me and it really feels like a family. We can discuss cases together and this offloads some of the stress from work.”
Neeshaa is also energised by the learning-oriented culture at SLA.
In 2023, the agency approved her one-year study extension request to pursue a master’s in international real estate and planning at University College London.
“Knowing that SLA supported and valued my interests and passions made me even more determined to give my best,” she says.
“Learning” is a keyword that she constantly hears when she reaches out to more experienced colleagues and managers in SLA for career advice.
“Contrary to more ambitious things that you may expect them to say, they tell you to ‘just keep learning’,” says Neeshaa. “Regardless of whether you are a scholar or not, it is about staying open-minded, regardless of how big or small the task may seem.”
