What would you do or feel if the Singapore government closed all the hawker centres?

Question

And, instead, all the stalls and dishes reappear in cafés and restaurants with prices to match?

Answers staff note: This is the real KF Seetoh! To take part in the Y!ureka contest for a chance to win Dopod phones, register at http://yahoo.com.sg/answers

Answer 1

Closed all the hawker centres!?!?

That would be TRAGIC for so many reasons!

Hawker centres are where we find the best food in singapore. They serve as a one stop centre for pig out sessions with friends and family because all hawker centres have a wide variety of food; from hokkien mee to indian rojak to roti jala to carbonara. Some are open 24-hours. This was extremely convinient during the world cup season where i could just pop down during the half time and be back before the second half with 2-3 packets of mee goreng with me.

We cannot close the hawker centre for another important reasons: it imbibes a sort of community spirit in folks. It is where residents can partake in singapore favourite pastime (eating if you already didnt know) with their friends and family from neighbouring blocks. It is a place where people can come together and indulge in something that is common to them, regardless of race.

My father himself is a hawker and i can see this community spirit when i help him out at the shop. He has made many friends with the residents and with his fellow hawkers, even those that he should consider as business rivals. They even come together and have drinks or supper after the day is done.

One may argue that you can do this at a food court in one of the shopping centres, but i say that it would be totally different. The atmosphere in a shopping centre is very different from the laid back, lazy feeling at a hawker centre. And whatmore with Singapore's fast-paced life, i believe that we need hawker centres even more.

What about gatherings at a community centre? True, the community centre is another great place for buliding relationships and fostering friendships with fellow residents, but i have to admit, not alot make an effort to go down to the community centre to participate in classes and whatnot. Food however is a great motivator. One always has to eat sometime. Besides, conversation is always better with good food on the table.

The government CANNOT close hawker centres!!! It's to important to Singaporeans and i believe that it is an integral part of our lives.

Answer 2

Close all the hawker centres? Oh please... This IS part of Singapore's heritage! I'm pretty sure URA will make sure that some of the landmark hawker centres will be kept alive! Ask the tourists! Visiting a hawker centre is an experience unparallel to any other makan experience! The closest you can get is a food court. But, hey... You can easily find ideas similar to a food court else where too... It's the hawker centres that are pretty much "Uniquely Singapore"! Even if the prices can be matched by cafes and resturants, the experience of having to stand around and wait for your seat, all the confusion "What to eat, what to eat?!"... These up the makan experience to a whole new level cafes and resturants can meet! It's not just about the pricings, you know... If they should all be closed, Singaporeans will start to reminise and pray that somewhere, a hawker centre will be resuscitated, and then they will hope that the prices will not be sky-high... For at that time, a hawker centre will be a "Singaporean attraction", a place locals go for novelty...

Answer 3

I personally feel if Singapore government closed all the hawker centres, it will affect the older generation more in one way or another. This is because our older generation these days treasure the ''kampong'' spirit. However we also cannot be bias where some youngsters are also supporting the ''kampong'' spirit as well.

The unity of the hawkers and the friendliness with the customers form a unique bond between hawkers and their customers. These are unlike what you feel and what you get in the cafes or even at restaurants. In addition, the atmosphere at hawker centres are unlike those present in cafes or restaurants. Do you see the owners of restaurants coming out and striking a conversation with their customers? (lets cast the regulars aside.) In hawker centres, however, some owners can be really friendly. They would sometimes even ask you how is the food? does it suit your taste?

I believe it is not the price that matters but the friendliness and ''kampong'' spirit within these hawkers and their customers that still preserve the taste in which foreigners are attracted to. ^_^

Answer 4

tres cannot be closed.

Hawker centres have always been around since the pioneering days of Singapore. We have all grown up with it. Just imagine if the government were to close all the hawker centres, where will we find the most affordable and yummiest food around?

It's as though a part of our heritage or history would be gone. So if all hawker centres were to be closed, I will definitely not stay in Singapore, because the sense of uniqueness would be gone.

Even if all the stalls and dishes reappear in cafés and restaurants wi

Answer 5

ve to start eating BreadTalk for meals..hahahaha...
Anyway, I believe it would be a PITY to have all the hawker centres closed down, why?
1)Most hawkers would be made jobless or they would retire becoz most probably they wouldnt want to work in a cafe or restaurant when they use to be Bosses..
2)Food as we know in Singapore is not only about the color and taste and smell, but also about familiarity and feelings towards the hawker place, the stall-owner and the people who we meet everyday in the hawler centre. Without all these, maybe FOOD is not so nice afterall...
3)Of cos the last concern would be the price. no more would there be cheap and good food... and I always believe GOOD FOOD should be shared amongst everyone, regardless of their level of income and spending power. I once heard something about the best satisfactio

Answer 6

Frankly speaking.. If all hawker centres are changed to cafes/restarurants, I don't really mind as long as the prices are comparable to what hawker centres are offering. Of course not forgetting the quality & quantity of the food served. Having good food, with good environment, I guess we don't have to sweat and eat at the same time. Hahahaha....

However, on the contrast, if hawker centres are gone, something seems to be lacking.. The familiarity of uncles shouting 'kopi-gao'(strong coffee) or someone calling from back saying 'sio'(hot) are gone. I guess this will only be felt from the people who know there's hawker centres.

Well, I guess there is always good and bad when there are changes. But coming back to the point, I feel that hawker centres should stay! =)

Answer 7

Hawker centres are where we find the best food in singapore. They serve as a one stop centre for pig out sessions with friends and family because all hawker centres have a wide variety of food; from hokkien mee to indian rojak to roti jala to carbonara. Some are open 24-hours. This was extremely convinient during the world cup season where i could just pop down during the half time and be back before the second half with 2-3 packets of mee goreng with me.

We cannot close the hawker centre for another important reasons: it imbibes a sort of community spirit in folks. It is where residents can partake in sing

Answer 8

Hawker Centres are a must have in Singapore!! No matter what happens, no matter how Singapore may want to aspire to be with cafes all around, hawker centres cannot be closed.

Hawker centres have always been around since the pioneering days of Singapore. We have all grown up with it. Just imagine if the government were to close all the hawker centres, where will we find the most affordable and yummiest food around?

It's as though a part of our heritage or history would be gone. So if all hawker centres were to be closed, I will definitely not stay in Singapore, because the sense of uniqueness would be gone.

Even if all the stalls and dishes reappear in cafés and restaurants with prices to match, the uniqueness would no longer be around and the fond memories of the times we shared with our friends would be gone as well. It's really kind of sad.

Answer 9

Serious or Humorous Answer

Humorous Answer
No Feeling, if the Price is Right(Cheap), Quality of Food is Right(Big and Delicious), OK.

Food is to feed the Stomach.

Why....
The Old Eating Ambience's places had mostly been change, so little to no Feeling for the Hawker Centres.


Serious Answer
Seetoh, I would expect a More Insightful Question,

Like what Should be SG National Dish be, Rojak? Achar? Chicken Rice(Nasi Ayam). What would identify us as a Culture, as the America's Apple Pie.

History of Hawker Centre(s)
People are enterprising when given the opportunity to.

In the early days of Singapore History, it's kind weather and large migrant population, provide a conducive environment for the business of supplying food.

Hawkers centre, were "Created" as a attempt to provide Health controls on the Food provide. As the number of Food related health issues had surface in the past decade can attest, the formula works.

Central Control Model verse Market Control Model
Central Control Model
Central Control would refer to a model that is based on a Unified management method. As suggested by the notation of "Singapore government closed all the hawker centres?"

In some situation, such as Public Utility, Public Works, Central Control Model offers the optimum expenditure and benefits returns.

Market Control Model
Is the present situation of our Hawker Centres. Hawker Centres is a collection of several independent related Business Owners.

Who survive and prosper is dependent on individuals talent. and business decision, It promoted a cut throat culture, but in this situation maybe the good model for the public.

Thus this notations of Government intervening to micro managing a local industry, may not yield much return, verse the efforts expended.

Answer 10

I feel the Singapore government making a big mistake though I'm fine with the change.

Since the food sellers are the same, no price change and same consumers, a difference in the eating environment won't really affect us. I foresee the elderly buying their "kopi-o", taking their time sipping their drink while reading the newspaper in restaurants or "waiters" yelling drink orders in cafes.

I strongly believe that these cafes and restaurants where the hawkers would reappear in would just look like another hawker centre due to the culture of our local hawkers. On the other hand, the more established cafes and restaurants are more likely to be affect by this action.

Answer 11

Most people in Singapore live to eat instead of eat to live! I would not mind paying more for good food, and that is the base from which I start. Obviously if there is a choice, then the natural shopping instinct (another well-trained Singapore skill) will kick-in and the cheaper priced option will be selected - if quality is the same.

If all the hawker centres are closed, I will "chase the food" - follow where the cooks go (not necessarily on a scooter!!); and with matching prices, there is no issue! There may be a loss of ambience but most cafes and restaurants have "al fresco" style outdoor dining now; they can also stage the kitchen outdoors (like those BBQ buffets) to creat the smell and noise for the customers!

To me, the way food is cooked is more important than where I have it. If we can tolerate the bad points of the hawker centre, surely we can accept those of the cafes and restaurants, for similar quality food!