On daily bus rides that cut through Singapore, Merlene Tan studies what others cannot see: the invisible geometry of land that underpins the nation’s urban planning, growth and public interests.
The 24-year-old would often whip out her phone to open the Government’s OneMap app and examine the property boundaries in the area.
This is all in a day’s work for the assistant manager at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), who is part of a team that plans how land is allocated, developed and renewed so it serves Singapore’s evolving needs.
Through her job, she has also encountered maps dating back decades, charting a Singapore that looks markedly different from today.
“When you place older maps beside current ones, you can see how the city has constantly adapted to changing needs,” she says. “It reminds me that land-use decisions are never static – they respond to how people live and what the country needs at each stage of development.”
Similarly, land decisions made today will influence how future generations live, connect and thrive – giving SLA officers like Merlene a direct role in shaping Singapore’s next chapter.
As the custodian of Singapore’s land and state properties, SLA works with public agencies to optimise how each available space is used. Every plot and parcel of land is thoughtfully planned and put to use in ways that help to meet evolving economic, social and community needs.
With Singapore’s limited land, Merlene helps to ensure every square metre is accounted for. For instance, when she receives feedback from the public about unmaintained plots with overgrown foliage that inconvenience pedestrians, she will act quickly.
“Sometimes the owner of the land may have passed on or the company may have become defunct,” she explains.
In such cases, Merlene may need to search through microfilm archives – a process that helps her determine which party or government agency should step in – to trace the rightful owner.
Apart from searching through microfilm archives, she may also take a trip to the actual site for closer inspection.
“Places in the central area are more challenging because everything is kind of cramped together. The roads are closer to the property developments and there are drains nearby,” she notes.
As a result, property boundaries are irregular – and understanding how they look on-site helps her properly determine the extent of what a property covers and who the landowner is.
Land acquisition work often brings Merlene into contact with landowners who are deeply attached to their property. “Sometimes it’s their home or businesses they built,” she says.
Upon receiving news of an acquisition, some land owners are left unsure about what comes next. “They worry about where they will go and how they will be supported,” she adds.
Working with her colleagues, Merlene guides landowners through the process, explaining relocation details and available support – an aspect of the job that calls for empathy as much as policy knowledge.
Having acquired a double major in economics, and public policy and global affairs from Nanyang Technological University, followed by a master’s degree in public policy and management at King’s College London in Britain – both under the SLA Undergraduate Scholarship – Merlene is as well equipped to tackle policy issues as she is working with the general public.
“Whenever I pass by the sites I have been involved in, there is a sense of pride.”
– Merlene Tan, recipient of the SLA Undergraduate Scholarship
Since starting work at SLA in August 2025 after graduating, she has worked with officers from various ministries and agencies across the civil service.
“These are things I had not known before, so learning to understand and tackle them has been really exciting,” she says. “When we encounter roadblocks, colleagues from other agencies are also on the case and we figure out how to settle the issues together.”
Merlene’s understanding of land work was also shaped during an internship at the Ministry of Law Singapore, where she served in the land policy department as part of the scholarship.
“The internship allowed me to see the operations of SLA from a policy perspective – and now at SLA, I am seeing things at the operational level,” she says.
This collective wisdom has changed how she views Singapore and her role in shaping its future.
“Whenever I pass by the sites I have been involved in, there is a sense of pride,” she says. “I am helping to develop our country – and that makes me feel happy and accomplished.”
