Denise Phua on growing Singapore’s hawker culture

The National Environment Agency (NEA) should take over management of iconic hawker centres in the heart of the city, such as those at People’s Park, Chinatown Complex and Albert Centre which serve mostly non-residents. These hawker centres are currently run by town councils which, with their smaller budgets and fewer specialised resources, may not be able to maintain the centres to the high standards associated with Singapore’s hawker culture and required of tourist hotspots. MP Denise Phua made these points in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 13). She proposed that NEA categorise or tier different types of hawker centres and even coffee shops, and allocate resources and expertise accordingly. Posing the question of whether all hawker centres are equal, she asked which ones should be managed by the state, and which ones by town councils or social enterprises. If the Government were to subsidise the costs of operating hawker businesses, especially in housing estates, should it reserve the right to at least control rents and ensure budget meals for Singaporeans, she asked. *Audio issues inherent from source