Businessmen, temples, clans raise S$280k to help build temporary Jurong West market
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Nearly S$280,000, or about half the S$600,000 budget needed, has been raised for a temporary wet market to replace the one in Jurong West that was gutted by a fire earlier this month.
The money came from a group of 10 businessmen, temples and clan associations, said Mr Henry Ho, who is chairman of the Jurong Central Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC). He added that there are others who have indicated they wish to chip in. These include several nearby schools, such as Hong Kah Secondary, Yuhua Secondary and Canadian International, as well as market associations from Cheng San and Chong Boon markets.
When asked why public donations instead of money from the Government were being used to fund the construction of the temporary market, Mr Ho said this was normal practice for the building of temporary markets.
"The Government is already helping with getting faster approvals (to build the) new market ... For us, it’s a way of helping the stallholders as a community, and (this) is a way of doing it as soon as possible," he said.
Waiting for the authorities to step in with funds would also be a lengthy process, added Mr Ho. While he expressed confidence that enough money would be raised for the budget, Mr Ho added that the CCC’s funds could be another source.
An early morning fire blazed through the 30-year-old wet market at Block 493, Jurong West Street 41, on Oct 11, affecting the livelihoods of 51 stallholders in the market and neighbouring coffee shops. They asked for a temporary market, which the area’s Member of Parliament Ang Wei Neng has said is expected to be up and running by Chinese New Year.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a job fair for the affected stallholders on Thursday (Oct 27), Mr Ang, who is also the grassroots adviser to Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisations, said building plans for the temporary market have been submitted to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, pending approval from agencies such as the Building and Construction Authority and the National Environment Agency.
Five contractors have submitted quotations to build the market so far. In the meantime, the razed market is being demolished to make way for a new permanent market.
The job fair on Thursday, held at Jurong Green Community Club, involved around 16 companies, including household names Breadtalk, NTUC Fairprice and Food Republic, offering some 800 positions in the retail and food and beverage industries.
The stallholders were also offered a fully-subsidised employability skills training workshop and other vocational skills training courses.
Most of those who turned up for the job fair said they were more keen on going for courses than signing up for new jobs.
Mr Eric Lee, 38, who sold amulets at the wet market, said: "I’ve never had the chance to attend such courses before."
He plans to help his mother, also an affected stallholder, with her carrot cake stall if she finds another place to resume business.
Mr Tom Zeng, 47, who ran a you tiao stall at the coffee shop at Block 494, said he could not afford to be idle.
"I’m willing to do any job during these few months (while waiting for the temporary market)," he said.
Mr Ang said they will be identifying those who need help and use the CCC’s Community Development and Welfare Fund to provide financial assistance.
