Govt does not decide characteristics of Singapore's
markets: SM Goh
SINGAPORE : Singapore's wet markets are not utilising land
in the best possible way, especially in land-scarce Singapore, says
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
He added that it is something to look into in the longer
term.
Mr Goh was at the official opening of the new S$18.2 million
Geylang Serai Market on Sunday.
The new Geylang Serai Market has an increased seating capacity with
365 wider stalls.
The Malay community likes the Geylang Serai Market because all the
products and foodstuff sold here are "halal".
Mr Goh said: "But that does not mean that the market can be
designated as a 'halal' market because this is a public market with
funds from the government and public. It is not a private market.
And it is a common space for all Singaporeans.
"So as a public common space, it cannot be designated as a 'halal'
market , because then other communities will demand a Buddhist
market, a Christian market...that is not possible.
"But I personally favour the ability of the market to retain this
character of the Geylang Serai Market, and selling mostly 'halal'
food, maybe even all 'halal' food. But this is left to market
forces.
"If you want to open a non-halal stall over here, the demand for
your item may not be there. Why not consider elsewhere? But it is
for them to decide, not for the government to designate. Any tender
must be open to everybody."
With several new blocks springing up around the Geylang Serai
Market, Senior Minister Goh emphasised that it is important for the
market stalls to cater to the needs of all races. So the kinds of
stalls being set up in the Geylang Serai Market will be very much
left to market forces to decide.
Mr Goh noted that there would be more Chinese and several Indian
families staying in these new blocks.
He said: "There are a few new blocks which of course will be
multi-racial in character, and there will be more Chinese staying
in the new blocks. So the question I ask is, where will the Chinese
population and Indian population go to shop?"
Mr Goh said that if a stall becomes available in the Geylang Serai
Market, some stall holder may want to cater to the non-Muslims in
the area.
He said: "There is a supermarket in the Joo Chiat Complex and the
supermarket was set up to cater to the needs of non-Malays. And
there is the Marine Parade market nearby. The Chinese can go there
and buy other foodstuff.
"So again, we leave it to the market forces. So long as the
non-Muslims needs are met in the area, then we should be able to
retain the traditional character of the Geylang Serai
Market."
While Mr Goh believes there is a need to look into the amount of
space wet markets utilise, some Singaporeans will still prefer
heading to wet markets rather than supermarkets, because many still
want to touch and feel the items before buying them.
Mr Goh said: "Why is it popular, because all of us are
traditionalists, we are brought up to go to wet markets, we are
able to poke at the fish, touch the fruits before you buy them and
check with the stall holders. You go to the supermarket, you are
unable to check and bargain; here we can do all sorts of
things."
- CNA/ms