WE SPEND millions of dollars on campaigns on total defence, social integration and community bonding, yet we ignore the latent potential of the simple wet market as an avenue to bond as one people, without prejudice or labels.

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Does a wet market have value? That's probably the question the authorities are thinking when they make the decision?

In Singapore - everything and everyone must have a value on their head or they are redundant! They dont say it but they express through their practice.

I found an example that many heartlanders are not able to see their MPs because certain grass root members BLOCK their way to seeing the MPs and this is because they [personally] are powerful enough to make the decision whether those wanting to see the MPs , [heartlanders]have value. So if any stall holders want to talk to MPs, they cant because they are stopped by insignificant members who are allowed to decide who sees and who does not see the MPs.

So how can the MPs know the heartlanders' problems when the RC staff blocks?

Why are wet markets always crowded? Why are stall holders willing to paddle their wares there and why are people willing to take the trouble to go there even when there are NTUC Super mart nearby?

Why do you fellows need to make so make noises over such a insignificant matter such as abolishing wet markets ?
The mighty authorities have observed and probably studied this area of the economy and
found that they should be eliminated for good .
These scholars beaurocats started the balls rolling and it would take a few years to eradicate these places ,
noted for being smelly , dirty , rat-infested , unhygenic , stuffy , noisy , and last but not least ,
filled with the types of people gahmen officers prefer not to deal with if given the choice .
You can only shout all you can about the loss of " kampong " spirit and unfortunately , unlike Switzerland , referendums are non-existence , so policies are top-down for those at the bottom to bite and swallow the bullet .
Unless , there is a ground swell of serious misgivings on unpopular policies , most decisions taken at he ivory
towers are cast in stones .

Mr. Jeyapathy has a good point and I hope the authorities consider it. The wet market does play a social interactive role where the Singaporean feels at home. Sure there may be areas which can be improved, e.g slippery floors or so wet that that your shoes/slippers are submerged in dirty/muddy water, but the new "wet" markets in HDB estates are already environmentally and hygienically a big improvement of wet markets of the 1960s.

1 Why do the Gahmen build CC's - to encourange community activities for an adhesive society
2 Why do the better off have Country Clubs - for the better heeled community
3 Why do the computer savvies have Facebook - for on-line community


Then, why put wet blanket over wet markets - these are country clubs, facebook and CC's for the traditional old folks. Keep wet markets, improve their hygiene, have machine friendly floors for efficient cleaning and drying, provide better seatings and tables, keep them airy and dry, provide good amenities. If we can fund CC's we should subsides wet markets. innovate and encourage the younger folds to frequent these for better famil quality times. If anything let wet markets evolve to be attractive places of community connection.

A visit to wet market a day may keep Dementia at Bay.

Dialoger,

"Why do the Gahmen build CC's...... A visit to wet market a day may keep Dementia at Bay"

- all this cannot be done at ntuc fairprice meh?

I always love the HK wet markets....they are so lively and they MAKE citylife so much more interesting.

Yes it is unhygienic and so on. But who wants to live forever, right?
Ooops, the old Lee does.