The SDP has written to Sheng Siong to ask for a meeting regarding the acquisition of wet markets. This is because the company has said that it would not rule out air-conditioning the premises and turning the facility into a 24-hour operation.
Although Sheng Siong has indicated that it will not raise the rental of the stalls, its plans for the markets are still murky. This has caused great ire for the stallholders. The Singapore Democrats are also concerned about the impact the transfer of ownership will have on the vendors as well as consumers.
For example, will vendors be forced to operate longer hours if Sheng Siong goes ahead with its plans to make the market a 24-hour outfit? Will the rental still remain the same if markets become a round-the-clock business? Will vendors be made to obtain their items from Sheng Siong's suppliers? Will the cost of these items be increased? Will the increase be passed on to the buyers?
These and other questions remain unanswered by the company, and shopowners and buyers are all legitimately concerned about their livelihoods and increased prices.
For this reason, the SDP is not placated just because the HDB says that Sheng Siong will not be allowed to convert the wet markets into supermarkets. This is the reason why the party has written to Sheng Siong to ask for a meeting to clarify some of these issues.
If the Singapore Democrats cannot get assurances from Sheng Siong that the people and, in particular, the residents of Bukit Panjang will not be adversely affected by the sale of the markets to company, we will call on HDB to stop the takeover by Sheng Siong.
Ms Tan Ching Fern
Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd (Head Office)
Corporate Matters
3000 Marsiling Road Singapore 739108
Dear Ms Tan,
As you may know, the Singapore Democratic Party is concerned about the impending takeover by Sheng Siong of several wet markets around Singapore, including the Fajar Market in Bukit Panjang.
We welcome the news that the markets will not be converted into supermarkets and that the rentals of the stalls will not be increased.
However, press reports indicate that Sheng Siong is not ruling out turning the premises into an air-conditioned facility as well as a 24-hour operation after the acquisition. Given this situation, we fear that operational costs will increase and that this increase will be passed on to the shoppers.
Singaporeans, especially workers, are already saddled with a high cost of living that has outstripped wages. This being the case it is understandable that they are concerned that the acquisition of the markets by your company will lead to a greater financial burden for them.
In this regard the SDP would like to meet with Sheng Siong officials to hear from you directly about the matter and to see if the interests of all parties can be addressed.
As this matter is one of public interest, we may post this letter on our website. Thank you and we look forward to meeting with you.
Sincerely,
Gandhi Ambalam
Chairman
Singapore Democratic Party
Wed 14 Oct 2009 11:28 PM
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BryanT - Correct move by SDP
A right move by SDP to engage Sheng Siong directly.
ONLY Sheng Siong can give "moral" assurance to the stall-holders although commercially and legally it may not obliged to. If Sheng Siong can be convinced by SDP to do so, then SDP deserves credit.
This is also recognition that the THP (powerless and inept as he may be) was never in a position to give this assurance that SDP is currently seeking from Sheng Siong.
Wed 14 Oct 2009 11:46 PM
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BryanT - A converse viewpoint by a resident
Frankly, I agree that the voices of the stall-holders should be heard and SDP is correct to facilitate that.
However, I wonder whether majority of residents are against what Sheng Siong would have done had the ruckus not erupted. A letter from a Pasir Ris resident expresses the converse viewpoint as follows:
[i]
I AM a Pasir Ris resident and I am disappointed that the Elias Road wet market cannot be converted into an air-conditioned Sheng Siong supermarket ('HDB to Sheng Siong: 6 wet markets must stay', last Saturday).
My family shops regularly for fresh seafood and vegetables at the Sheng Siong outlet in Bedok Reservoir. It is open almost round the clock. [u]The wet market, on the other hand, operates only in the morning. As a busy working mother, I do my marketing only in the afternoon or evening[/u].
We find Sheng Siong's pricing reasonable and its products good value for money. Best of all, it offers live seafood at economical prices. As I am not well versed in selecting seafood, I find buying the product live the best way to ensure quality. The [u]wet market does not offer much variety and quantity of live seafood[/u]. Moreover, the quality of seafood there is not consistent, especially in Singapore's warm climate.
The air-conditioning in supermarkets keeps vegetables and other products fresher. It is also more [u]comfortable shopping in an air-conditioned environment[/u].
Moreover, Sheng Siong offers good customer service, with its staff helping those who buy in bulk to carry their purchases to their cars.
With all its pluses, I do not find the items in Sheng Siong more expensive than those at Elias Road wet market. In fact, [u]some items in Sheng Siong are even cheaper than those in the wet market[/u].[/i]
Thu 15 Oct 2009 12:17 AM|
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seebeng - Where is Teo Ho Pin?
Where is Teo Ho Pin, PAP MP for Bukit Panjang in this hour of need?
Is he in hiding, unable to face the affected stallholders/vendors and the residents.
It's the opposition SDP that is standing up for ordinary Singaporeans who are exploited by the dictatorial, greedy PAP.
Keep up the good work, SDP. From the photographs in your newspaper and at Fajar Market it's clear to us that your ranks are growing.
Yours is a party on the move with clear vision to make the sorely needed change in Singapore.
Thu 15 Oct 2009 12:42 AM
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eh
Good initiative! Well done. I suppose this has to be translated into chinese as part of the communiction plan for the residents and stall holders concerned. I think it would at least put SDP in driver's seat to gain trust with them and demostrate to the people in those areas or all of singapore that SDP's concern about the common singaporean. Tks.
Thu 15 Oct 2009 4:26 AM
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Dick - Wet Market stinks
You believe everything you read?
This letter from Pasir Ris resident sounds like Sheng Siong's ghost writer.
Thu 15 Oct 2009 8:23 AM
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juzONEsingh
yah yah, bryant.. as expected, there's ARE both sides to a coin, eh? wow.. dats savvy..
so, what now? do we take a poll for the residents of Bukit Panjang? A poll that has the probability of making SDP look like the K-P-O party?
wayang lah, all these...
=.=
Thu 15 Oct 2009 11:47 AM
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tewniaseng
I think,THP can not do anything at all, these are commercial transactions and who cares for the stall holders ? Not pap,now all privatise,MPs can't do anything, except writing letter asking for assurance from SS
Thu 15 Oct 2009 2:39 PM
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BryanT - Ah So's market theory - to wet or not
I normally would not cut other articles/letters to paste here, but since I have done one for [b]"anti" wet-marketers[/b], it would be fair to also do one for the [b]"pro" community[/b]. My comments to this appended letter is further below:
[i]"THE debate over the takeover of wet markets by supermarkets does not take into account a particular group of customers who patronise wet markets as early as 6am.
They are the school and factory canteen operators and hawkers, and they have to complete their produce shopping before sunrise in order to head back to their canteens and stalls to cook and serve the food.
I am a regular customer of supermarkets, especially Sheng Siong, and I have found that though the opening time is supposed to be 7am, even at 7.30am, a variety of vegetables and fish is still not available.
What is available are leftovers from the previous day, including leafy greens that have turned yellow or black. I have tried to purchase a packet of spinach before but ended up throwing away almost half the packet.
Shoppers do not have the freedom to select their produce from different sellers as they do in the wet markets. Everything has been pre-packed and any defects show up only upon unpacking for cooking.
Once at 8am at the supermarket, I noticed the staff still clearing the fridge and goods just being unloaded. When I asked about the delay, I was told it was due to traffic congestion faced by its Malaysian delivery truck drivers.
If this happens once the wet markets are gone, wouldn't it have an adverse effect on the hawkers and school canteen operators? I am really concerned that this could affect the quality and freshness of food being served to our children, teachers and workers who depend on these food operators for their daily meals.
What if some stall operators decide not to throw out the stale parts but cook the whole lot to save cost?"[/i]
But I wonder how many people need to do their groceries at the ungodly hour of 6am. Also, if the delivery was indeed held up due to traffic congestion faced by the Malaysian delivery truck drivers, then it is (perverse) proof that the produces were supposedly to be freshly delivered.
The writer is concerned that the ingredients are fresh before cooking, but perhaps she forgets that cooking in the morning and then serving these for lunch and dinner (as per "economy" rice stalls) is highly.... unfresh.
Perhaps hawkers purchase all their stock in the morning, instead of in batches throughout the day because, surprise surprise, the wet-market operates only in the morning!
Wah, really becoming like an "Ah So", writing about grocery buying, cooking and hawker food's freshness.
Thu 15 Oct 2009 2:56 PM
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Low Fuk Loong - SDP makes the right move to discuss with Sheng Sio
Who says alternative parties cannot play active role in PAP wards.
Look at Hougang and Potong pasir which are under alternative parties have so-called PAP grassroots people telling the voters the coming of LUP is their credit and merit.
Anyway, LUP is just rectifying a design flaw.
Who pay for the oversight ?
Look at the ugly sight now---one small block of flat is served by 7 lifts---how not lame ?
SDP is doing the right thing at Fajar, hailing the Sheng Siong people to meet and give assurance to the market people.
The SDP good deed is more gentleman than those who claim credit for nothing at Alternative party wards !!!
Sheng Siong people should have the heart to meet SDP.
Thu 15 Oct 2009 3:13 PM
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BryanT - Mr TNS is right!
Mr Tewniaseng is absolutely right that "THP can not [sic] do anything at all (since) these are commercial transactions".
Since they have been privatised, the MPs cannot intervene in the contractual agreements between buyers/sellers and owner/tenants. Such interference would be seen as political pressure on commercial transactions -- not very desirable.
I am skeptical that SDP can influence Sheng Siong in how the latter intends to manage the markets, set stall rental rates or whether to renovate the market. But it is worth a try.
However, SDP has to look beyond this current incident. It could take on the role of championing against further privatisation of existing or new wet-markets, or for the matter, other basic communal services that private contractors can't add value to consumers, but will instead merely add another cost layers that increase prices.
[b]These are social issues close to the heart of the people for which SDP's engagement would put it in a better light in the eyes of the population.[/b]
Thu 15 Oct 2009 4:53 PM
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jmiahlee
even better if SDP and Sheng Siong can work together to 'handle' the PAP and HDB.
[b]we citizen must not forget the ultimate problem is still with the PAP and HDB.
[/b][u][/u]
no matter what contract and promises Sheng Siong can made, with the bloody and irresponsible PAP and HDB ever increasing tax and property related prices, eventually everybody will suffers
and that messages should go very strongly to those who still blindly support the Lee regime.
it time to wake up!!!
people are actually dying and suffering because of the evil policies of PAP
The SDP has written to Sheng Siong to ask for a meeting regarding the acquisition of wet markets. This is because the company has said that it would not rule out air-conditioning the premises and turning the facility into a 24-hour operation. 
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ONLY Sheng Siong can give "moral" assurance to the stall-holders although commercially and legally it may not obliged to. If Sheng Siong can be convinced by SDP to do so, then SDP deserves credit.
This is also recognition that the THP (powerless and inept as he may be) was never in a position to give this assurance that SDP is currently seeking from Sheng Siong.