Updated: 02/16/2013 01:51

Acting Culture, Community and Youth Minister, Lawrence Wong says national monuments preserve memories as Civilian War Memorial to be gazetted

The Civilian War Memorial, which honours those who died during the Japanese Occupation here, has been marked as a National Monument.

It joins 64 other buildings and structures that has to be protected, and cannot be torn down.

The 67-metre tall memorial is made up of four columns, symbolising Singapore's four main races merging into one unified nation.

Known locally as "chopsticks", it's been standing tall in the Civic District since 1967.

Acting Culture, Community and Youth Minister, Lawrence Wong, says national monuments embody a common purpose among Singaporeans:

"It'll help us preserve our memories, strengthen our sense of identity and belonging as Singaporeans. If we can continue to have that sense of common purpose, then we'll be able to continue to overcome the odds, like we've done in the past, and deal with any challenges that come our way in the future."