SDP calls on Teo Ho Pin to speak up on wet market saga

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Wednesday, 07 October 2009

Singapore Democrats

Mr Gandhi Ambalam, chairman of the Singapore Democrats, has written to Dr Teo Ho Pin, PAP Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang, to ask the MP to oppose plans to convert the wet market at Fajar Road to a supermarket.

Sheng Siong, a giant grocery chain with several stores all over Singapore, has intentions to buy over five wet markets and convert them into air-conditioned supermarkets.

The SDP contested in Bukit Panjang, a single-seat constituency, in the last general elections and is continuing its work there in preparation for the next elections.

Mr Ambalam challenged Dr Teo to state publicly his position on the sale of the wet market. Silence and inaction on the part of the MP on such a controversial issue, one which has riled many residents, is not an option.

8 October 2009

Dr Teo Ho Pin
Member of Parliament
Bukit Panjang Constituency

Dear Sir,

You may be aware that plans are underway to sell the wet market at Fajar Road to Sheng Siong which will convert the market to an “air-conditioned” supermarket.

There are many Singaporeans who are concerned that the move will mean the loss of livelihood for many of the current vendors and stallholders of the market. You will agree that the survival of these vendors cannot and should not be sacrificed for the sake of increased profits of a private company.

In addition, it is almost a certainty that with the conversion of the wet market to a supermarket the cost of operations will rise. Being a profit-making company Sheng Siong will pass the cost on to buyers. This will add to the already burdensome cost of living of residents in Bukit Panjang.

Apart from economic considerations, wet markets have been a way of life in Singapore for decades. There is no added value for the wet markets to be converted to a supermarket. There are already very many supermarkets stores in Singapore such as Shop n Save, NTUC Fairprice and Carrefour. Surely there is a no necessity to take away the wet market for another supermarket chain.

Wet markets should be left alone as they provide Singaporeans a choice, that is, for those who wish to buy their produce and other foodstuff fresh from the vendors instead of from frozen shelves.

For these reasons, we hope that you will join us to oppose the sale of the wet market at Fajar Road as the move directly affects the residents in the area.

Given that you are the current parliamentary representative of Bukit Panjang, we hope that you will state publicly your opposition to the sale of the wet market and stand on the side of the residents. Given the unhappiness surrounding the matter, your silence and inaction would mean that you are supportive of the sale and conversion of the wet market to a supermarket.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Gandhi Ambalam
Chairman
Singapore Democratic Party

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Comments (12)

Thu 08 Oct 2009 8:02 AM | juzONEsingh

well done!

i like this letter... lets hope that DR THP can STAND up to it...

Thu 08 Oct 2009 8:48 AM | leesjuanpat

A case of sweeping and draconian power by the PAP. No compassion for the poor
strugglind folks who elk out a
living selling in the wet market.

Big organisations, like Sheng Siong muscled their way with the help of the authority to close and evict the wet market stall owners.

Life is tough under PAP for many of us.
They are driving the last nail into the coffin.

Let us all stand united and make a change for Singapore and vote the tyrant
government out.

Vote for the oppositions.

Thu 08 Oct 2009 9:24 AM | BryanT - Right move, right on, but.....

Overall, this is a well reasoned and rightly focused intent by SDP (on community and people-related issues).

However, if SDP has really wanted to achieve the correct impact, I think the curt remark at end,"Given the happiness surrounding the matter, your silence and inaction would mean that you are supportive of the sale and conversion of the wet market to a supermarket" should have been been omitted, even if it were true. The political ring in this message is a hindrance and should have been avoided.

Also, although I am hoping that I am proven wrong, I doubt THP will act. The logic is simple : if THP takes action now along the line similar to that of SDP's, he would be would seen to be acting on the prodding by the opposition.

It would not have been a problem if SDP's concern for the community is perceived to be genuine, and not politics-based. Although SDP's current intent could be altruistic (and I somehow believe it is), the track-record over the years says otherwise. SDP has to work on this.

Also, THP should blame himself for not being proactive to take a stand much earlier, at least as fast as what Mr Khaw did. Now that SDP has issue him a letter, he is probably in a fix, and deservedly so.

Now, if THP does not take action, he deserves to be discredited for placing politics above the community.

Thu 08 Oct 2009 11:50 AM | jmiahlee

key problem is still PAP and HDB
old habits die hard
how many old market had been forced to upgrade by PAP and HDB? and ended up with much higher operating cost?

obviously PAP is using Sheng Siong as "scape goat".

Thu 08 Oct 2009 1:08 PM | juzONEsingh

well said, bryant!

he's MIA since the last erection, yah... wonder if he's standing for the next... yeah, earning big bucks in the private sector?? earn my arse lah, earn...

Thu 08 Oct 2009 3:49 PM | | seebeng - PAP is the culprit

BryanT said:

[color=purple]"It would not have been a problem if SDP's concern for the community is perceived to be genuine, and not politics-based.” [/color]

Here, the problem of the community has been the direct result of decisions taken by a ruling party that favors the rich and the powerful.

It's the neo-con PAP that is bent on turning small businessmen, stallholders and vendors into an army of wage earners, ready to be exploited by PAP-approved/owned big businesses in Singapore where there is no minimum wage.

It's the PAP that has politicized everything in Singapore. What do you expect SDP to do? Remain silent with folded arms and do nothing, hear nothing and say nothing!

Thu 08 Oct 2009 8:43 PM | tewniaseng

if pap wants to do something,nobody can stop it, not even the president,who is THP in the eyes of pap, just a lame duck.

Fri 09 Oct 2009 8:22 AM | zah

See Beng ..I totally agree with you.
The small man has no place in singapore.

Fri 09 Oct 2009 4:13 PM | BryanT - Tu quoque, to where?

The cases involve the private sale of the wet-markets to supermarket operators. The HDB has stated that it has not approved the sale nor the change of function for the facilities.

We are still awaiting the government to take a stand. In view of the public clamour, I believe it will be soon.

While all of may have views on this issue of wet-markets, we should be not be presumptuous to preempt the position the government is likely to take. There is a vast difference between presenting a reasoned case which is what SDP is attempting with this article, and that of needlessly preempting an adverse decision.

Sweeping statements such as "the problem of the community has been the direct result of decisions taken by a ruling party that favors the rich and the powerful" assumes that societal development is solely in the hands of the government.

That belittles the contribution and voices of the people and various non-governmental organisations, including the opposition. Already, we see persuasive representations put up by many people about the retention of wet-markets in the ST Forum and elsewhere. Let's see what response the government takes.

Also, a [i]tu quoque[/i] response here as to who has tainted community issues with politics is hardly helpful. There is no need to defend the PAP, but the issue is this : Can the SDP rise above politics when the occasion calls for it?

Fri 09 Oct 2009 10:11 PM | BryanT - Fortunately or not....

So the news from HDB is out, that the wet-markets will remain wet and un-airconditioned.

Looks like we won't be needing THP to take any actions, unfortunately. And SDP's letter will not have the chance to be effected.

Still, it was a good effort by SDP to speak up on a specific community issue. Keep it up!

Sun 11 Oct 2009 3:43 PM | sgpolitico

Great letter Mr Gandhi. No response from Dr Teo probably because he could not get spoon fed by LKY on what to reply in time. Thats how pathetic our Minsters and MPs are .

"So the news from HDB is out, that the wet-markets will remain wet and un-airconditioned"

Must be Mah Bow Tan chickened out for fear that he will not be re-elected
in the next elections which will inevitably happen for sure.

Vote for SDP !

Sun 11 Oct 2009 10:49 PM | BryanT - Nostradamuses won't be damed

[color=red]"Must be Mah Bow Tan chickened out for fear that he will not be re-elected
in the next elections which will inevitably happen for sure."[/color]

The saying "[b]damned if you do and damned if you don't[/b]" is most apt in websites such as SDP's.

First there is widespread clamour (including SDP's) for action to be taken to safeguard the livelihood of wet-market stall-holders and preserving the purchasing habits of Ah Sos who like their markets wet.

Then when HDB reacts appropriately to the public outcry by retaining the wet-markets, the talk is that the decision is due to concerns about the next election.

Never can win (the illogic).

Maybe it's a good observation after all -- that Ministers DO react to public feedback, even if it is based on whether they will be re-elected. And who are the (same) ones who said the elections are perfunctory?

As for the budding Nostradamuses who make predictions about "inevitability" of certain election outcomes, I think it's best to hold the proverbial horses.