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.
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Just Blog It
Author: shacz
I would understand why many Singaporeans would blog. It makes perfect sense and and its like second nature to us. I mean how could we gripe and complain yet again and again vote the same people to run the country. So what's the next best thing to do? You've guessed it.
BLOG
Its just another avenue to vent out our frustrations at the world at large. In Singapore you never really own anything. Your apartment is on a lease and when you thought you had it made by completing the final payment of your apartment, the Government decide to use the land for other purposes or worse still build new flats over the old ones. Just like what happened to the few flats at the old Geylang Market. I wonder how the occupants going to finance a new loan to get a new apartment.
Next up. Cars. What's the rationale behind owning the car for only 10 years? I mean don't owners sent their cars for yearly inspections. So shouldn't it be only cars that failed the inspection won't get the extension beyond ten years? Just look at how obsessive some Singaporeans with their cars. Sometimes I think they treat their cars better than their family members or loved ones. I always tell my friends that their cars are not really theirs. If it is, why can't they make modifications without fear for the ROV impounding their vehicle? Its very simple logic to me. If I make modifications that are not going to make my vehicle a safety hazard to other users and an insurance company that is willing to insure it for the road, why stopped me from doing so? And yet you encourage creativity and innovation. Sheesh.
Ever wonder why the Government wants people to procreate yet makes the apartment smaller and smaller? Don't you need bigger space if you have additional family members. Its like cuffing people hands and legs and asked them to swim. The shortage in population is because people are too tired to do it. When most of their time are spent at work, how do you expect them to hump like bunnies when they finally made their way home. Are our Ministers really thinking out of the box? Millions of dollars paid for their services. Are we really getting our money worth? Food for thoughts eh.
Shacz signing off.