COOKED FOOD CENTRES (Privatisation)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for the Environment whether there are any plans to privatise cooked food centres following the successful privatisation of the cooked food centre at the former Telok Ayer Market.

The Minister for the Environment (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, as a policy, the Government's long-term plan is to devolve itself from the management of markets and food centres. The details on how this could be done are being looked into. However, Sir, I would like to draw a distinction between the privatisation plan for markets and food centres in general and that of the Telok Ayer Market.

The Telok Ayer Market, Sir, is a national monument, and to put the building to better and more creative use, it was tendered out as a food and entertainment complex with a festival market ambience. Its success will bring some night-life back to the city.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Sir, may I ask the Minister when does he think the plan to privatise some of the markets will come into being, especially in relation to the Newton Cooked Food Centre.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: When we are ready, we will announce the plan.

Mr Chin Harn Tong (Aljunied GRC): Sir, has the Telok Ayer Festival Market succeeded in bringing back night-life to the city centre? Regarding the complaints about the Telok Ayer Festival Market being warm and stuffy during the day, is there anything being done to improve the ventilation there?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker, Sir, the opening of the Telok Ayer Festival Market has certainly brought some night-life to that part of the city.

With regard to the problem of heat and stuffiness, the matter is being looked into by the company that now operates the Market.