Conduct Poll Before Upgrading Hawker Centre

Source : The Straits Times, Oct 5, 2007

I LIVE in Bedok South and I often have my meals at the hawker centre at Block 58, Upper Changi Road.

Here, I can still relish a plate of chicken rice or a bowl of fishball noodles for $2. This price is unheard of in the new HDB estates.

The hawker centre looks new and, not too long ago, it was closed for a few months for some upgrading to its gas-pipe system.

A few days ago, I was shocked when a stallholder told me that the hawker centre would be closed in March next year. The stalls will be moved to a temporary site nearby and each stallholder has to pay $7,500 for five months' rental.

The stallholders will move back to their upgraded stalls with an increase in rental.

The stallholder who spoke to me said that he would not be able to sell fishball noodle soup at $2 anymore. It might have to be priced at $2.50 or even $3.

A sizeable number of senior citizens patronise the hawker centre. An increase of $1 a day for meals there will add to the increased cost of living, coming after the GST increase, fare hike, heath-care cost increase, etc.

The hawker centre is far from being in a dilapidated condition, so why is there a need to spend money on upgrading it and, in the process, increasing the cost of living?

I suggest that the residents in Bedok South be consulted via a poll, in line with the Government's call for residents to participate in the management of their estate.

Ooi Wooi Keat

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WHY UPGRADE?

Why is there a need to upgrade the hawker centre and, in the process, increase the cost of living?