Kampong

The kampong refers to the village where Ah Boon grows up. It is a rural community of largely uneducated fishermen. Many, like Ma, believe throughout the beginning of the novel that their way of life will not change even when the Ang Mohs and the Gah Men expect greater changes in the city. Ah boon ultimately serves as a bridge between the kampong and what will come as he convinces people to move to the new flats. Many see the poor conditions of those living in the kampong, and the Gah Men’s solution to these poor conditions is to remove the people rather than make conditions better.

Batu

Batu is one of the disappearing islands the people of the kampong see. It is where Ah Boon hides Siok Mei and where she betrays him. It is further where he betrays her by bringing her political enemies to...