The coming demise of wet markets
So we have an article headlined “Govt does not decide characteristics of Singapore’s markets: SM Goh”, which states in the first two sentences that the supposedly poor utilisation of land by wet markets is “something to look into in the longer term”. Well, who is looking into it, if not the government?
The article caught my eye in the first place because I was slightly horrified at the thought that they would bulldoze wet markets for reasons of land scarcity. I’ve remarked before on the tendency of the Singapore government to severely undervalue old buildings, and this would seem to be another instance. I think I speak for many people when I say that the constantly “modernizing” landscape of Singapore is a major barrier to having people feel a sense of belonging. There is no sense of familiarity when all the places you were acquainted with in your childhood are gone by the time you reach adulthood. Constant urban renewal leads to what those working in urban studies would call a lack of “authenticity” in the city. The ever sprouting malls, all containing shops selling the same things or simply franchises of the same chains, and all shiny and smelling the same, already give Singapore a highly unauthentic field. You can find very similar malls in many countries around the world. It is the “dirty” old places; the hawker centres and disorderly neighborhoods like Little India, that retain a sense of authenticity.
Maybe I’m being uncharitable and they don’t plan to eliminate wet markets, but merely want to organise them into a more land-efficient format. I can’t really conceive of a major land-saving reorganisation that would be able to adequately retain the atmosphere of wet markets, though. But perhaps some imaginative urban planner can think of something.
I share your sentiments. It is obvious that all the Government really cares about is to maximise revenue. Constant rebuilding means development charges to be collected and higher property values to be taxed. Bringing in foreign constructions workers means more workers’ levy to be collected.
Cloning mall after mall is turning Singapore into a nation of wimpy mall crawlers.
Comment by liangsu — March 2, 2010 @ 5:24 am
Everything changes in Singapore, but the MIW’s hegemony remains
Perhaps that is what we are supposed to cling on to for identity, no?
Comment by Agagooga — March 7, 2010 @ 10:18 am
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