MALAY MARKET IN GEYLANG

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider acquiring a site and building a market for Malay stallholders in the Geylang area.

The Prime Minister: Sir, on the 7th of December, 1960, the Government approved a plan for a comprehensive redevelopment of the site in Geylang Serai for community purposes. There will be provision for a school with playgrounds, a community centre, housing, local shopping and market, and two open market areas. Land acquisition proceedings are on the way.

The allocation of stalls will be by the Markets and Hawkers Department and will take into account the fact that this is largely a Malay area patronised by Malays in the Kampong Melayu and Geylang Serai areas. It is therefore reasonable to expect that the majority of stallholders are expected to be Malays.