By Wayne Chan | Posted: 02
December 2011 1626 hrs
SINGPORE: The public can have a say and share ideas
on the hawker centres that the government is building in the new
housing estates.
A 19-member panel appointed by the Ministry of the Environment and
Water Resources is spearheading the public consultation exercise
for ideas.
It has launched a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/myhawkercentre.
The panel is chaired by Ms Elim Chew, founder of teenage streetwear
chain, 77th Street.
She said: "Hawker centres are a way of preserving Singapore's food
culture and heritage. People visit these centres not only for
convenient meals, but also for economical and good food.
"Besides this, we hope hawker centres can play a role in promoting
social responsibility by providing opportunities for social
enterprises to achieve their objectives.
"We want to perpetuate this unique Singapore icon and we hope that
the public can participate in our Facebook activities and
discussions to provide their views on, and ideas for, hawker
centres of the future."
Its members have been chosen for their knowledge and expertise in
the fields of architecture, environmental sustainability and social
enterprise, as well as food and beverage management.
They include KF Seetoh, who's best known for the food guidebook
Makansutra, Danny Chong of the Hawkers Association and Tan Puay
Hoon, President of the Restroom Association Singapore.
The panel has met twice and shared ideas on management models to
ensure that hawker food remains affordable.
Members have discussed infrastructure and design improvements
that'll make hawker centres cleaner, more hygienic and
efficient.
They've also looked at how hawker centres can be vibrant social
spaces where Singaporeans can come together to enjoy affordable
food.
The panel hopes to promote social responsibility through these new
hawker centres, such as providing employment for the disabled or
helping people set up small businesses.
The group is expected to complete its consultation work by the end
of January 2012.
It'll review public feedback and make recommendations to the
government.
In October, the government announced that 10 more hawker centres
will be built over the next decade, in response to calls over the
years for more such centres.
Since the last hawker centre was built in 1985, the government has
focused on upgrading and rejuvenating existing hawker
centres.
The government will resume building hawker centres in new towns,
such as Pasir Ris and Punggol and work with the Housing Board (HDB)
to set aside space for these hawker centres every time a new
development comes up.
Construction of the first hawker centre - at Bukit Panjang - will
begin in 2012. It will also include a wet market.
The members of the panel are:
1. Ms Elim Chew, Founder, 77th Street
2. Ms Teo Mee Hong, Executive Director, Social Enterprise
Association
3. Mr Danny Chong, Representative, Hawkers Association
4. Mr KF Seetoh, Founder, Makansutra
5. Mr Perry Ong, CEO, NTUC Foodfare Cooperative Ltd
6. Mr Benny Se Teo, Director, Eighteen Chefs
7. Ms Sim Sin Sin, CEO, Laksania
8. Ms Tan Puay Hoon, President, Restroom Association
Singapore
9. Mr Mark Cheng, Executive Director, Avelife Foundation
10. Mr Ashvin Kumar, President, Singapore Institute of
Architects
11. Mr Chua Seow Ann, Principal Architect, S A Chua &
Associates
12. Mr John Ting, Principal Architect, AIM & Associates
13. Dr Wong Chiang Yin, President (International Business), Thomson
Medical Centre
14. Mr Sunny Koh, Managing Director, Chinatown Food
15. Mr Pang Lim, Managing Director, Koufu
16. Ms Stephanie Cheo, Managing Director, Flame Tree Communications
Pte Ltd
17. Ms Eva Tay Han Ying, General Manager (Business Development),
Econ Healthcare Group
18. Mr Tan Wah Yeow, Deputy Managing Partner, KPMG
19. Dr William Wan, General Secretary, Singapore Kindness
Movement
- CNA
