CLOSURE OF WET MARKETS

CLOSURE OF WET MARKETS: 14.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in view of the impending closure of several privately-owned wet markets (a) what are the implications on wet markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA); (b) what has been the take-up rate at these NEA markets and the profile of applicants over the last 10 years; and (c) how has the rate and profile of hawkers at these

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markets managed by NEA changed over the last 10 years.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: NEA currently manages 82 Government-owned wet markets which were built in the 1960s and 1970s to resettle the street hawkers. In 1981, the Government decided that it would no longer build wet markets in new HDB estates.

However, in response to residents’ feedback that they preferred to buy produce from wet markets, HDB had since 1992 constructed smaller scale markets in HDB neighbourhood shopping centres. These markets were leased or rented out en bloc to single private operators, who in turn sublet stalls within the markets individually under their own private arrangement.

Although the media recently reported that these privately-operated markets were being bought over by supermarket operators and converted into supermarkets, the operators of these premises would need to seek approval from HDB for any sale/assignment and change of use. NEA currently has no plans to change the use or management of the Government-owned wet markets that it manages.

The current occupancy of the Government-owned wet markets is about 91%, compared to 78% 10 years ago. The Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP), which started in 2001, has also improved the occupancy of the wet markets. Some 1,700 stallholders or 30% of market stallholders per centre opted to leave the trade during HUP, citing reasons such as retirement and tough business conditions. Consequently, vacant stalls that were in low demand were removed to enhance the stall sizes and layout.

Vacant stalls in the wet markets are put up by NEA for tender or direct

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application under the Walk-in Scheme every month and the average take-up rate of these vacant stalls is about 23% and 3%, respectively. The current median age of hawkers operating in the wet markets is 60 years old.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: Thank you, Minister, for the reassuring response. I am just wondering how many of those applicants were from the wet markets earmarked for closure and what would be the likely success rate in obtaining alternative stalls at markets managed by NEA?

Question two – judging from the reports and comments from the public, wet markets have a special place in the heart of Singaporeans and foreigners alike as a place for community bonding. What are NEA's plans in ensuring that wet markets will continue to function because the hygiene standards are well taken care of by NEA? And how could NEA ensure that the wet markets with its smell, sights and sounds will remain alongside the supermarkets, and continue to be preserved as part of our heritage?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, to the second question, as I mentioned in my reply, we have no plans to change on how we manage the 82 Government-owned wet markets. For now, they will remain as what we know, with the smell, the sound and the sights.

As to the Member's first question of whether I can ascertain what is the success rate for the take-up, it really depends on the stallholders themselves and the location of the centre, some of which are more popular than others, and these will attract higher bids. For those that are less popular, obviously they will attract lower bids. So it is really up to the individual stallholders to decide which market they want to tender for.