Sembawang trade fair is temporarily ‘home’ for nearly 30 former Sungei Road vendors

SINGAPORE — Nearly 30 hawkers displaced after the closure of Sungei Road Thieves’ Market have found a temporary space at a trade fair beside Sembawang MRT station.

The hawkers, who have been offered heavily discounted rentals by the fair organiser, began moving into the tented space from Wednesday and will be there until July 30.

Each pays a daily rate of S$10, and the rentals of some vendors are being sponsored by a member of the public.

Mr Wayne Lim, 33, the trade fair’s organiser, had contacted Mr Koh Eng Khoon, president of the association representing the Sungei Road vendors, last week. The men have known each other for several years and Mr Lim wanted to help the vendors who lost their livelihoods after the iconic flea market shut on July 10 to make way for residential developments.

Referring to the section of the fair taken up by the former Sungei Road hawkers, Mr Lim said: “Actually, that space, I (did not) need to build, but I asked them to come in.”

The hawkers may also feature at the next trade fair organised by his company AYE Concepts, which could be held in Jurong next month. “I’ll let them follow (us),” said Mr Lim.

Although grateful for a place to sell their goods, several hawkers told TODAY business has been poor so far.

The loss of the Sungei Road market, where some had operated rent-free for decades, is still keenly felt and they are holding out hope that a permanent spot will be found.

Madam V N Tamil Malar, 51, said she sold about S$50 worth of items on Wednesday and Thursday. Noting the thin crowds, she said: “There’s no crowd here. (We) come here (and) pay rental also no use.”

Lamenting the loss of the Sungei Road site, she said: “That side, (we’ve been there for) so many years, many (are) under depression, all lost, (we) don’t know what to do.”

Mr Koh, president of the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods, had told reporters last week that a deal had been struck to move to the rooftop car park of Golden Mile Tower, only to apologise days later for “any confusion caused” after the car park’s owner, LHN Group, said there was no such deal.

He apologised to LHN Group, which had lodged a police report after contractors hired by the association visited the site and demarcated spots for the vendors without the firm’s permission.

Asked about the matter, Mr Koh said any updates would be shared via Facebook.

Some of the hawkers at the Sembawang fair were among those keen to relocate to Golden Mile Tower.

Madam Low Ai Lian, 72, said the vendors did not mind paying rent if it meant they could move into a “permanent space”.

Mdm Low, who sells items such as CDs and toys, is one vendor who has had her stall’s costs waived. She has earned about S$20 since Wednesday, down from the S$80 to S$90 a day she previously made at Sungei Road.

When TODAY visited the fair at about 4.20pm on Friday (July 21), footfall was slow but picked up as the evening wore on.

Mr Kumarasamy P, 59, who set up his stall selling mainly bags on Friday, had not made a single sale when TODAY spoke to him in the evening. He used to earn between S$60 and S$80 a day at the Sungei Road market. “Saturday and Sunday, see how (it goes),” he said.

Mr Peter Chou, 72, who sells and repairs fans and other home appliances, had earned slightly over S$30 since setting up his stall on Thursday.

While business has been sluggish, he was nonetheless “happy to have a place to sell” his items.

“We need more support from the public,” said Mr Chou, who earned up to S$200 on certain days at the Sungei Road market.

The community-run Facebook page, Save Sungei Road Market, posted photos on Friday (July 21) and urged the public to visit the hawkers in Sembawang, who will operate from noon to 10pm until July 30.

A regular customer of Mr Chou’s was spotted at his stall with a fan that needed repair. Mr George Tan, 80, said he has known Mr Chou for 12 years and also read about the hawkers setting up shop in Sembawang in the news. He said of the sheltered site: “It’s nice, good, because (the vendors) don’t have to suffer from the sun every day.”

Another patron of the fair, Sembawang resident Nasuha Hamdi, 26, was also supportive. “For some of (the vendors), this is their pastime (and) they’ve been doing this for quite some time,” she said.

There were about 200 hawkers at the Sungei Road Thieves’ Market. According to an update in Parliament from Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor earlier this month, 29 have been allocated a lock-up stall at hawker centres, while 16 have applied for stalls at flea markets at various locations. Some indicated to the authorities they would stop their trade with the closure of the Sungei Road market.