Huat Zai Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 SINGAPORE: Business at ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre has experienced a noticeable decline, following news reports of active tuberculosis (TB) cases in the area emerged earlier this month. the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 5 January announced a mandatory TB screening, which residents, as well as stallholders and employees at ABC Brickworks, are required to attend. Report from state media CNA indicate that the public perception of TB as a deadly and highly contagious disease has led to a significant drop in customers, with business plummeting by half. One stall assistant even likened the current situation to being worse than the Covid-19 period. To show solidarity with the affected hawkers, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng paid a visit to ABC Brickworks for lunch and coffee. In a Facebook post, Minister Fu acknowledged the challenges faced by the hawkers and encouraged locals to support them. “We could not resist getting chicken rice, fried Hokkien mee, roast duck, popiah, carrot cake, dumpling soup and many more to share,” wrote Fu. “If you are in the Bukit Merah area and looking for affordable good eats, why not drop by ABC Brickworks Food Centre to show support to our hawkers?” she added. However, the ministers’ supportive actions have faced criticism from KF Seetoh, a Singaporean food critic and founder of Makansutra. In a recent Facebook post, Seetoh shared a screenshot from a Mothership article titled ‘Grace Fu, Amy Khor & Baey Yam Keng visit ABC Brickworks to support hawkers’. Mr Seetoh discouraged the ministers from merely showing up and dining at the hawker centre, suggesting that such acts primarily serve to generate media coverage. He urged the ministers to demonstrate a more substantial commitment to assisting the hawkers by reducing their rents during this challenging period and collaborating with delivery companies to provide discounts. “…and arrange your obedient national media to blitz the hawker cte’s offerings, like that rare Hokkien cze cha stall in Singapore..then go hold your press conference and get claps for it.” For Mr Seetoh, the act of visiting a hawker centre is insufficient, as he pointed out, “Telling us what you ate there is nice but ermm…” Ministers urged to focus on more pressing matters over media spotlight Responding to Mr Seetoh’s Facebook post, netizens echoed his concerns, urging ministers to focus on more pressing matters rather than seeking media exposure. They emphasized a practical approach, suggesting support for hawkers through rent reductions or subsidies during challenging periods. Calls to end bidding practices for hawker stalls Mr Seetoh has been a long advocates for hawkers amidst rising cost of living and high rental challenges. In 2021, KF Seetoh once slammed the National Environment Agency (NEA) for raising the rent of hawker stalls amid challenging times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he highlighted the challenges faced by hawkers due to the pandemic, with online shopping reducing offline sales, and dining restrictions limiting the number of customers. Ongoing conversations within the Singaporean community have revolved around the challenges of operating a hawker stall in the city-state. Many of these hawkers grapple with the escalating costs of food and materials, not to mention the burden of high rental fees. Despite the inflation, most hawkers are hesitant to increase their prices, fearing the loss of customers to competitors and drawing criticism from the public. In 2022, KF Seetoh has fervently urged the NEA to eliminate the bidding process altogether. His proposition entails establishing a fair rental system that rewards deserving individuals based on criteria such as menu variety, culinary talent, and commitment to preserving Singapore’s unique food culture. https://gutzy.asia/2024/01/16/kf-seetoh-urges-ministers-for-tangible-support-for-hawkers-beyond-mere-appearances/ 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huat Zai Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 Just now, Huat Zai said: Responding to Mr Seetoh’s Facebook post, netizens echoed his concerns, urging ministers to focus on more pressing matters rather than seeking media exposure. They emphasized a practical approach, suggesting support for hawkers through rent reductions or subsidies during challenging periods. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homelander Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Reducing or subsidizing rental cost for these few months would help in the hawkers survival 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huat Zai Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 4 minutes ago, Homelander said: Reducing or subsidizing rental cost for these few months would help in the hawkers survival 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_King Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 they prefer to eat, take picture and talk about it safe to go there etc.... instead of cutting rent just for a few month due to TB that the new SG 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigpigoink Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 this ish the norm isnt it maybe back in their mind they are thinking 'y am moi in this disgusting place'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbird Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 This are typical characteristics of a elitist who feel, you commoners should count your blessings that they even bother show up! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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