The SDP expressed its concern that the sale of the market to Sheng Shiong will increase the cost of operating the facility, thereby increasing prices for shoppers.
(Left: Dr Chee talking to a vendor. Photo Credit: Singapore Democrats)
Even though the HDB has said that the wet market will not be converted into a supermarket, concerns remain that the takeover by Sheng Shiong will cause the stallholders to become lessees of the new landlord.
The new owner might also implement plans to do away with indivdual vendors in which case the current stallholders will all lose their livelihoods. The vendors will then have to seek employment from Sheng Shiong and they will, like everything else in Singapore, have to compete with foreign workers for meagre wages.
There is also no guarantee that Sheng Shiong will not increase the rental of the stalls. In fact there is every likelihood that, being a private enterprise, the supermarket chain will look to maximise its profits to justify its investment.
For these reasons, the SDP opposes the privatisation of the wet markets. Unless Sheng Shiong can guarantee that its operations will not lead to any increase in prices for shoppers, the premises should not and must not privatised.
Read the rest of the write-up at the Singapore Democrats
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HDB responds to queries on proposed conversion of some wet markets to supermarkets
HDB would like to respond to media queries on the proposed conversion of some wet markets to supermarkets in HDB estates.
We received an application from Heeton Holdings on 2 October 2009 to sell the five markets in Choa Chu Kang Street 62, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, Serangoon Avenue 3, Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 and Fajar Road. In the application, the buyer Sheng Siong Property Pte Ltd stated the proposed use of the premises as “wet market”.
On 9 Oct 09, HDB met representatives from Heeton Holdings Ltd and Sheng Siong Property Pte Ltd to seek clarification on the use of the five wet markets after the sale. At the meeting, Sheng Siong Property Pte Ltd said that they were aware that they were buying the 5 properties as wet markets. Sheng Siong also confirmed that they will operate the five properties as wet markets.
HDB would like to clarify that we assess requests for conversion of wet markets (operated by single operators) to supermarkets on a case-by-case basis. A key consideration is the marketing needs of the residents. We will consider the demand for the existing wet market in terms of the stall occupancy rate, operating hours and customer crowd etc. HDB has informed Sheng Siong that these five markets, as well as another wet market at Elias Mall where Sheng Siong is reported to be buying, do not meet these criteria for conversion to supermarkets.
For the wet market at Sembawang Mart, the market operator has submitted a proposal to assign the premises. HDB is evaluating the proposal. We have arranged to meet the existing tenant and the proposed assignee to understand their proposed use for the premises. Similarly, marketing needs of the residents will be a key consideration.
HDB would like to remind the existing wet market operators in HDB premises that they must seek the relevant approvals for any sale/assignment and change of use of the wet markets.
Source: AsiaOne
The privatization of our wet markets is a scandal in itself. Why should ever be profit making in the first place? It should be seen as a duty of the HDB to ensure that all basic amenities of an estate be available for the residents, NOT to make money out of them. Why is private operators able to assign the rights to another party like a commercial transaction? And why is NEA ask to manage certain markets? This is not their job. This is simply a case of HDB trying to shrink from their social responsibility and profit all it can. This is a renactment of the previous privatization of the shops, forcing shop owners to pay exorbitant prices to buy over their shops and subsequently force to close or rent out because they could not pay the huge bank loan they took out. This will only drive up the cost of living further. Not content to charge high prices for their flats, now they want people to pay more for using the amenities. This is not community development anymore, its call community profit maximization!!
45) tom on October 12th, 2009 9.30 pm
” DBS / POSB & CITIBANK. What do they have in common?”
For one the AXS machines .
1. last time, any local atm card can be used to pay and pay bills.
2. now time, for certain AXS machines, only these cards can be used .
I wonder is it a phased-in approach that eventually only these cards can be used for all AXS? i hope not.
3. while there is the SAM machine, i wonder who owns it?
Will it also follow suit?
4. It seems to me that AXS is the most common in town and next is SAM. There is another one but that is very rare in town. no, should be very very x 10 rare.
Why like this AXS?
citibank shares good good or not nowdays huh?
i remember the govmin bot and sold alot of their shares wore.
anyway its not my money right?
@29) FriedKwayTiaoWithHum on October 12th, 2009 2.56 pm
[[Agreed!
In parliament, MPs have immunity from being sue. People must understand why PAP went all out to destroy and prevent Francis Seow and Teng Liang Hong from winning in past elections. Once elected as MP, PAP can’t stop and can’t sue them in court from what they are going to say in parliament. The only thing that PAP can do is to challenge them to repeat what they said outside parliament.
I wonder what both of them would have revealed in parliament if and only if another 2 thousands voters in ChengSan GRC and Eunos GRC had voted for them instead of PAP. ]]
Francis Seow and THL are the BEST we had and looked what happened to them, no thanks to the idiots at Cheng San and Eunos who voted for PAP. And look what happen to their constituency? They got broken up in subsequent GEs. This shows how PAP is “grateful” to you for voting for them.
People have been clamouring for “credible” opposition but when the real stuff came, not enough supported them, thus causing them to be “fixed” by the government.
This caused the rest of us who supported opposition to continue suffer the mismanagement by PAP.
It’s time voters wake up now and vote for opposition in the coming GE.
I think SDP should partner with NSP.
Just like to have readers’ opinions.
Does anyone foresee a cartel or cartel like retailing of grocery and sundry goods in SIN? Is retailing of groceries and sundries similar to petrol, utilities, transportation, healthcares and other essential goods and services?
The neighbourhood coffee shops and many food courts are now run by a few large operators, the only complaint i have with them is the factory-like preparations and tastes of the foods in them, but otherwise, i am fine with them.
There are quite a few big supermarts in SIN now and i see more competitions in them as each of them tries to outdo the others in this TINY market and personally do not foresee cartel in this sector.
patriot
NTUC Fairprice does not have to pay corporate taxes—yet Sheng Shiong can undercut them in prices of most products.
Conclusion–there must be a lot of fat cats in Fairprice.
BTW–if parliament is ‘privatised’, we probably need to pay 10% of the present cost. Again a lot of fat cats–without portfolio.
[i]Wonderman on October 14th, 2009 9.41 pm NTUC Fairprice does not have to pay corporate taxes—yet Sheng Shiong can undercut them in prices of most products.[/i]
every mornin without failed..sheng shiong lorries from johore will be deliverin the freshes grocers from johore just beside dr khaw retiement home next to dr khaw parent farm just beside dr khaw sister clinic….
whiule ntuc inc vegges just flown in from new zealand and australia via phuachukang bataam humane waste fertilizer farm..
without a doubt ntuc inc would have to pay royalthies to phuachukang sdn berhad inc…
now you know……………
Come on guys, to do is better than to say. We can say all we want, think what we want, but when time comes for us to do something meaningful (at least for our future), most of us don’t seem to “dare” vote for what we actually wanted to or think of. So stop being a computer hero, its time to stand up, think of what we really want & need, and make your best decision when time is ripe! CHANGE!!! CHANGE!!! CHANGE for a better SINGAPORE!! :)
Change your brain before you think of changing government.
Change the SDP chief before you let it change Singapore.