IMHO: Why the west side is the best side in S’pore

East side versus West side, which is the best side?

This debate has gone on for as long as Singaporeans can remember.

And while history has seen proponents from both sides stepping up to give their take on why their side of the country is better, here comes the article that will finally put an end to this fiasco once and for all.

The deus ex machina to this age-old fight, if you may call it.

Having been a lifelong resident of the West for 29 years, here are three of my top reasons why the West side is the best side of Singapore.

1) The best local universities are in the West

The West often gets a rep for being the “lower” SES part of Singapore compared to higher-end residential areas in the East like Katong, Siglap and Marine Parade.

However, what the West may lack in overall property value, we make up for by boasting two of the best local universities.

With National University of Singapore at West Coast and Nanyang Technological University in Jurong, the West side is filled with the best that Singapore’s education system has to offer.

(And if you’re a university student who spends up to five days a week in school, it simply makes more sense to be where the best local universities are.)

Whatever the East does, the West does better

Besides a world-class education, there’s more the West has to offer.

The East has East Coast Park and Bedok Reservoir Park?

The West has Jurong Lake Gardens, West Coast Park and the Green Corridor.

The East has heritage sites like Changi Chapel Museum and Joo Chiat shophouses?

The West has its own gems in the form of Haw Par Villa, the Chinese Heritage Centre and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

The East has the world’s best Changi Airport?

The West can rival that with Jurong Lake District, set to be the largest business district outside the city centre.

TLDR; whatever the East does, the West does better.

2) The West has IMM and Westgate

Still not convinced? Let’s amp it up another notch.

Most, if not all Westies will agree that IMM and Westgate are two of the many well-loved shopping malls in the West.

With over 407,000 square feet of retail space, IMM is Singapore’s first and largest outlet mall with 100 outlet stores amongst more than 220 stores, an achievement Easties will not be able to call dibs on.

The mall also offers discounts of up to 80 per cent all year round on retail, home furnishings and fittings so you can shop till you drop, without breaking the bank.

On the other hand, Westgate is a premier family and lifestyle mall that offers a city lifestyle shopping experience with many popular brands.

The mall boasts unique features like The Courtyard, which is a naturally ventilated alfresco dining space that can be enjoyed alongside live music performances on Fridays and Saturdays as kids visit the themed children’s playground.

Whether you’re a West-loving Westie, West-hating Eastie or neutral party, you won’t want to miss out on the West The Sale event taking place at IMM and Westgate from Jul. 27 to 30, 2023.

During these four days, there will be irresistible offers of up to 90 per cent on a playground of designer, beauty and fashion brands such as the following:

IMM

​COACH Outlet (#01-104, #02-08)

• Up to 65 per cent off storewide

Crocs Outlet Shop (#02-44)

• Up to 70 per cent off
• Additional 10 per cent when purchasing four or more sale footwear

PEDRO Outlet (#02-48)

• Up to 70 per cent off + additional 10 per cent discount on sales items

Westgate

ABC Cooking Studio (#03-01)

• Free Lifetime Membership upon any course purchase (U.P. S$144)

Terms and conditions apply.

ASICS (#01-40)

• Get S$50 off with a minimum spend of S$250

Glow 2 Go (#B1-43)

• 1-for-1 quick fix facial S$28 (U.P. S$56)

Kiehl's (#01-34)

• Complimentary travel sized gift with purchase of selected products
• Free Gel Cream (14ml) with purchase of Rare Earth Deep Pore Clay Mask 125ml (S$60)
• Complimentary Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 10ml with any purchase of these products:

  • Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 50ml (S$135)
  • Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution (S$132)
  • Retinol Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing Night Serum 28ml (S$141)

Recoil (#02-43)

• S$10 off for any top or bottom, exclusive to Westgate
• For regular priced items only

S$20 eVoucher with promo code

Besides these deals, get a S$20 eVoucher (S$10 for each mall) when you enter the promo code WTS20OFF via Reward Code in CapitaStar App.

This promotion is limited to the first 500 in-store redemptions for IMM and the first 200 in-store redemptions for Westgate.

Attractive Cashback

Shoppers will also be able to receive shopping rebates via eCapitaVouchers with a minimum spend, limited to the first 200 redemptions per day per mall.

IMM Outlet Stores

Receive a S$50 eCapitaVoucher when you spend:

• S$300* on Thursday and Friday
• S$400* on Saturday and Sunday

Westgate

Receive S$25 eCapitaVoucher when you spend S$200* from Thursday to Sunday (excluding F&B).

IMM x Westgate

Spend S$50 at one mall to unlock a S$10 eVoucher to use at the other mall.

This promotion is limited to the first 500 redemptions for Westgate and the first 200 redemptions for IMM.

Events and Gojek promotion

Finally, there will be roving emcees and live music performances at Westgate, as well as a Gojek promotion.

Enjoy S$10 off to and from IMM or Westgate when you key in GOWTS in the Gojek app, limited to the first 3,000 redemptions.

So what’re you waiting for?

Head down to IMM and Westgate during these four days to experience some of the best the West has to offer.

This sponsored article by IMM and Westgate made this writer proud to be a Westie.

Top images via CapitaLand Malls and NParks.