What You'll Do
The banana is one of the world’s most recognisable fruits—convenient, nutritious, and ever-present in our kitchens. But behind its easy familiarity lies a complex history. Once a symbol of colonial exploitation in Latin America—where plantations fed global demand at the cost of local lives and land—the banana’s journey to Southeast Asia followed trade routes shaped by empire, migration, and agriculture. Over time, the region made the fruit its own. In Malaysia and Singapore, bananas became not just a snack or dessert, but a staple: used in curry, fried into fritters, steamed in kueh, or served on festive platters.
In Renggam, Johor, we trace that history forward to the present, meeting the farmers who now keep this everyday fruit in steady supply. Lee Soon Wah and Eric Lim are part of a quiet but essential system that feeds Singapore. Mr Lee, a former accountant, now leases land to Eric, whose hands-on efforts sustain the banana farms that support households across the border. For them, farming is not just about produce—it’s about consistency, pride, and cross-border cooperation built on trust and shared rhythms.
Part of the MY-SG series, this programme highlights the deep connections between Malaysia and Singapore—historical, cultural, and logistical. As we follow the banana’s journey from plantation rows to distribution centres and then to wet market shelves, we also honour the people and partnerships behind the scenes. The story of the banana is global and local, troubled and nourishing, old and ongoing—and it’s continuing to be told daily by farmers like these.
About MY-SG
Singapore and Malaysia are closely knitted cultural, historically and socially. This series hopes to highlight the essential, everyday connections between Malaysia and Singapore—particularly through the flow of produce. From fresh produce and poultry to beloved snacks and ingredients, much of what fills our tables in Singapore begins its journey across the border.
This programme shines a light on the unseen hands and early-morning movements that keep our markets and kitchens stocked. Through stories and shared meals, MY-SG honours the people, relationships, and supply chains that nourish both nations, reminding us how interwoven our daily lives truly are.
About the Host
Meet Mr Lee Soon Wah, a 65-year-old accountant turned farmer who now owns and manages an oil palm plantation in Johor. Farming has not only provided him with a meaningful second career but also enabled him to support his family. Today, Mr Lee leases part of his plantation land to fellow farmer Eric Lim, forming a practical and community-driven partnership.
Eric Lim, 54, is a Teochew farmer with roots tracing back to Guangdong through his grandfather. After working as a machinist in Singapore and running a coffee shop in Kluang, Eric turned to farming during the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) period. Invited by one of his workers to try his hand at agriculture, Eric discovered that bananas were both resilient and relatively simple to grow. With Mr Lee’s land and his own dedication, Eric now cultivates several banana varieties, including Raja, Berangan, Rastali, and Tanduk. Together with his farming partner, Eric manages the entire growing cycle—from weeding and fertilising to harvesting and delivering the produce to collection points. Their collaborative work showcases the resilience, adaptability, and cross-generational cooperation that continues to define small-scale farming in the region.
Who should come?
- Everyone is welcome to participate in this exciting tour!
Programme Details
- Approximate Duration: 10.0 hours (Please arrive 15-30 minutes before the tour for registration)
- Language: English and Mandarin
- Meeting Point: Meet at EITHER My Community's Office (Blk 115A Commonwealth Drive, #04-13, Singapore 149596) OR Chinese Garden MRT Station Exit A (Bus Stop B28341). A chartered bus will bring us to Malaysia.
- Ending Point: The event will end at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (1 Wholesale Centre, Singapore 110001)
- The tour will proceed rain or shine.
Attire
- Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable long sleeved clothing to protect themselves from the sun and from mosquitoes.
- Participants must wear covered shoes with good soles grip.
What to bring?
- Bring along your physical NRIC, passport, a change of clothes, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, insect repellent, a bottle of water and an umbrella.
- Each traveller is solely responsible for ensuring that his or her passport or other travel document is valid for at least 6 months from the date of return and that he or she has all necessary visas, permits or passes as may be required by the governmental authorities of Malaysia.
- Please bring along your own breakfast to consume on the bus.
- We recommend that participants bring 100RM/person for meals and additional expenses.
- Participants are encouraged to bring their own earphones (with a standard 3.5mm audio jack) because we will be using radio guides for the tour!
- Please ensure that you bring along any personal medication. Asthmatic individuals are reminded to bring their inhaler.
What to expect?
- As we will be visiting a farm, participants may need to walk on dirt paths during the tour.
Other important information
- Our facilitators will reach out to you before the event with further instructions. Please ensure that you are contactable via the email and phone number provided.
- The ending time provided is an estimate. Due to traffic congestion, customs clearance and other circumstances, the duration of the tour is an estimate and can only be used as a reference. Participants should not plan for activities after the tour.
- Parking is available at the meeting point. However, we recommend participants take public transport or a taxi to the meeting point to avoid extended parking charges.
- The venue is not wheelchair accessible.
- Photography is allowed at event premises.
Terms and Conditions
- Participants may wish to purchase a travel insurance separately. We will not be responsible for the loss, damage or theft of any item(s) belonging to a participant throughout the duration of the tour.
- Each ticket admits only one participant.
- Without limiting any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be responsible or assume any liability to any participant for:
- any injury, damage, loss or delay affecting any person or property not arising from our own negligence or breach;
- any loss, damage, cost, expense or delay suffered or incurred due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:
- actions or omissions of third parties (including any applicable third party service providers);
- mechanical breakdowns;
- a Force Majeure Event;
- a failure by the participant to comply with any of his or her obligations hereunder;
- a failure by the participant or traveller to posess, obtain or maintain any travel documentation required for the tour (e.g. health certificates, visas, valid passports, etc.);
- a failure by the participant to follow reasonable instructions, including but not limited to noting and complying with specified check-in and check-out and/or meeting places and times.
- The sequence of any itinerary for a tour may be subject to change from time to time, due to traffic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.
- It is the responsibility of participants who are pregnant to ensure that they have a doctor’s certification that they are fit for travel. Notwithstanding any such doctor’s certificate, My Community has the sole discretion to disallow a pregnant traveller to undertake certain activities and no refund shall be payable in such event.
- By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
- It is compulsory for a parent/guardian to accompany any child of or under the age of 18.
- Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.
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