Burnt Down
Author: shacz
If you have read the news, you might have come across the story about the Ang Mo Kio fire. The fire that razed down the wet market to beyond repair. The New Paper decided on another spin that describe the the burnt site as the new attraction of Ang Mo Kio. Unbelievable. Have they for gotten the stallholders whose lives are deeply affected by the fire? Its going to be very difficult to start anew unless they have deep pockets. Many of them are contemplating to give up their stalls altogether.
I'm not surprised about the fire. Seems like the old wet market are always burning down. To relocate or tore down the wet market and food centre means a lot of compensation needs to given out. Furthermore stallholders are rather reluctant to move because it could means a loss of customers base in addition to the higher new rental. How to initiate changes then?
FIRE. Its a normal occurence. It could happen to anybody or any place. If you had noticed about the fire, it would destroyed the target without affecting other buildings nearby. Most important is NEVER have any casualty or the Police would be investigating it as a criminal intent.
I remember the Eunos fire which destroyed the old wet market. The one nears the Eunos MRT station. Very near to the current new site. My friend was one of the stallholder there. There was already talk in the air about a new wet market and food centre going to be built. Now the stallholders are adamant about moving. They are not convinced that they could afford to pay for the new one.
Lo and behold a fire broke out one day which is eerily similar to the one in Ang Mo Kio. Totally destroyed the old market. No casualty. Temporary site quickly set up to "help" the stallholders. ("help" = Nothing is free so they have to share the cost of the temp site.). The new wet market and food centre was built up on record time and the stallholders have the options to continue their business there. Sadly to say not all of them do. Some retire while others just have to call it a day.
Lets hope no more old wet markets get burnt down. Its one too many already.
Shacz signing off.
