Preserving Singapore's Ageing Hawker Culture: The New Wave | Hawkers In Our Centre | Part 2/2

With veteran hawkers retiring, and few young people entering the trade, can our hawker culture survive? Will we lose our heritage?
Catch up on Hawkers In Our Centre: • Hawkers In Our Centre ...
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About #HawkersInOurCentreCNA: From street peddlers to food masters in hawker centres, hawkers have been feeding Singaporeans for over a century. How did this humble trade become our national culture? Can this heritage survive?
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#CNAInsider #Singapore #HawkerCulture #UNESCO
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[@CNAInsider]

Learn more about the history of Singapore hawker culture, from street peddlers to food masters, in the first part of #HawkersInOurCentreCNA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqiUoH-brap6sNE

[@ultimatekoko]

subtitles on 8:42, its 时下 (currently/present times), nothing to do with ten 十

[@maggielim5751]

Kkj up0​@@ultimatekoko

[@iamweich]

Like the good doctor said, keep rental costs low, let the hawkers decide when they want to open. Allow prices to be set by the hawkers as long as it is reasonable. If the food is not good and expensive, people will not buy from them. There is also no need to worry about the hawker centres not being vibrant by the stalls not opening. Hawkers get the stalls as businesses so they will open to get the business. Don't change the hawker centres into corporation operated food courts, where employees operate stalls and see it only as a job.

[@MsEverAfterings]

I definitely endorse raising the price of hawker food, and I am willing to pay for it; to ensure that the culture stays profitable for the current hawkers and be attractive for the next generation. It does not make sense that we shell out money for fast food and restaurants, but gasped when hawkers raise their prices.

[@lukeaw634]

should talk about the rent of this shops every years gets more

[@chialiulian2881]

Luke here, their prices also increased mah. No choice mah.

[@shyeo2702]

Just spoke to one of the hawkers.. he said he's closing shop cause rental keep increasing cannot earn enough to cover.. jialat man

[@mandmgolf]

@@shyeo2702 its depend on goverment ? im from thailand and love every hawker've visit its more food than i imagine . but if story of rental is that bad feel so sorry :(

[@dimasnov4436]

@@mandmgolf its pretty different in singapore its really expensive :"

[@lioneltan2742]

Y can't gov just charge less..hawkers aren't earning much these days..then when they save on their ingredients, the customers also get smaller portions..n sub standard quality

[@Tramuntanamaki]

Singapore is really a successful model for the whole world. Because of its multi culture and tolerance , CNA is my fav. channel. Love Singapore you people are great. Thanks

[@kwchew3302]

Most people takes their meals at the hawker centres because the prices are affordable for all income groups. In order to keep the food affordable, and to maintain the hawker food culture. Suggestion is for government to subsidize all the rental at the hawker centre and keep the rental free. This will help the hawkers to still made profit and hawker centre will become a well seek after place to have their own business. Government can set ruling to maintain the hawkers cultures with traditional, authentic tasty food, so that not anyone can just come in to turn the place into an expensive eating place with all the new creations.

[@lifeinjenneralx]

I agree with you. Unless the government does this, hawker culture and centers might no longer exist in 10-20 years when the older hawkers retire.

[@Kkulchong.]

A smile that comes from little girl who enjoys her food at 20:02 is trully blessed and cure my depression.

[@joe_tipakuah4880]

Hello Singaporeans I'm from Sarawak..and I wish to visit Singapore one day after the pandemic ends.Because there's a similarity between the hawker centre in SG and Sarawak, especially the food.Greetings from Sarawak, Malaysia

[@kaiserlow652]

Yes there are many similarities because our Chinese ancestors came from the same country.

[@mickcardiff3044]

The best food I ever tasted was in Singapore. Chilli fried crab, satay and nasi goering, black crab curry, fish dumplings and noodles, cup cakes with pickled radish shrimps chilli. And of course, lashings of Tiger beer..

[@johnw281]

My respect and admiration to the new and old generation of hawkers.

[@dasani7903]

IT IS THE SOUL OF A MULTICULTURAL NATION..... HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY SHOULD BE INJECTED INTO THE INDUSTRY.... IT MUST BE PRESERVED....

[@selfreflection2117]

I love how Singapore maintains it's cleanliness. 👍

[@ualuuanie]

They keep complaining nobody want to take up the trade. Have they ever consider the overhead cost ( Rent. Salary and Ingredients ) so high what little earning they have left? Heard from a Nasi Lemark store aunty that her rent is $5k/mth. Imagine how many packets she need to sell to break even.

[@jaygee3594]

$5k? aunty rent the stall directly from NEA?

[@ualuuanie]

@@jaygee3594 Not sure did not go into detail she just told me her rent was 5k a month

[@ventin75]

you have been smoked.

[@chirpnun]

So much respect for these guys and girls.

[@stephaniesim173]

Thank you for this very informative mini-series, enjoyed it immensely!

[@ngrick1586]

last time browse food in hawker centre is just stand and see the few lorongs, now must walk in circles until lost to see all the food options..

[@daphniedulansi4309]

Very nice documentary about the hawker centers in singapore. I hope UNESCO will recognize it as a cultural heritage. Can't wait to go again in Singapore and try all the food in the hawker center. I would enjoy it more as I am aware of the story behind it.

[@SuccessforLifester]

Yes already recognised. Announced a few days ago

[@nikkoosiones520]

been looking forward for this!

[@AzmanSamer]

World Class Animation, amazing work with the animation CNA Insider! just wow!

[@vincenttan6303]

36:22, that's the right way of making prawn stock! I think a lot of sellers just boil them.

[@marktan8074]

Any idea where this stall is located?

[@b.s.1302]

They are so hardworking!!!

[@bienkee5278]

Hawker Foods are an integral part of our lives, since childhood till now. A unique wide variety of Malay, Indian & Chinese dishes.

[@nlorens]

The animation in the intro is very well done!

[@ajisenramen888]

This is Singapore’s true Superhero - Hawker!

[@lofoten8315]

Wow awesome voice .. the best voice i hear on duco on you tube..

[@lanceli4002]

It should be preserve for our next generations of hawker centers owner. 🇸🇬

[@funwithrandom360]

“Use technology to preserve tradition“. Well said!

[@mohmeegaik6686]

Hawkers food signify great taste affordable price for ordinary people in Asia and SE ASIA.

[@johnnydep8979]

Exorbitant monthly high rentals r killing them one by one. All thks 2 u kno who greedy landlords....

[@SheldonJPla]

Kan d awal d kasih tau yg memfasilitasi hawker centre itu pemerintah jd ya pemerintah singapura lah Landlord nya

[@lifejourney08]

You must look further - above the landlords!

[@nitemoonz]

It's the large foodcourt operators that are taking a big cut from the earnings of these hardworking hawkers. Rental is too high, causing the hawkers' profit to be incomparable to the hard work they put in.

[@darrenwithabigl312]

The animation in the video is underrated

[@maricarpatubo7581]

Love this

[@bienkee5278]

Terbaik nampak Mohd dan Isteri buat bisnes makanan Nasi Lemak. Most Favourite Local Food especially for Breakfast.

[@lifejourney08]

Instead of subtly advocating an increase in the prices of food to preserve tradition. Tell us the truth that the biggest slice of the takings (including those that customers aren't aware of) goes to rental and etc! Don't disguise Exploitation for Preservation.

[@gha9543]

Rental and cleaning services together with the packaging for takeaway has become a big expense for hawkers .

[@wh6055]

Real talk, man. Big dose of shifting the blame to consumers in this docu. Which is a shame because I really enjoyed this series until the last segment, trying to guilt-trip us left a bad taste in my mouth. They kept handpicking soundbites to focus on revenue, forgetting that the bottom line is made up of both revenue AND costs.

[@geotham]

@@wh6055 8

[@artisdeath998]

Well said

[@marktan8074]

The reality in land scarce Spore is that high rentals is applicable across all sectors of the economy, be it retail, offices or F&B. There is no justification that one particular segment should get preferential treatment. And it has been proven too with the initial concept of low rentals offered to hardcore poor hawkers that as a result of which they exist just to subsist, not to think of ways to improve their business. In addition, having newer hawkers paying mkt rate rentals existing side by side the subsidized ones made these newer hawkers even harder to survive as the competition is not level ground.

[@KaveriMulay]

Hawkers are just the best in Singapore

[@tAiLspo0n]

CNA should be talking about the white elephant in the room as compared to stating the obvious time and again - RENTAL THAT IS KILLING OFF SINGAPORE FOOD CULTURE. Sg food culture is already EXTINCT. if you have tasted food in the early 90s you jolly well will get what im saying

[@sitechca70]

So nice to see a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-religion society come together. Life is good without crazies from the left or right. Please find a way to keep hawker culture going.

[@roshanbaby1]

Hawker culture must be adapted in Singapore,provided they are given subsidies rental,cause this has been in Singapore for ages,let’s not make it extinct,We,Singapore,have the best food availability in all of the world,24hours

[@beyourself2444]

The only country in Asia I truly respect... My country and Singapore were virtually the same level economically during the 60s and 70s and then their leadership did the right thing while my government didn't... crying shame really!!! Smh

[@lioneltan2742]

Portions were so much bigger then...

[@partokompo9754]

Nice footage Big like and 🔔🔔

[@Truth433]

Fantastic

[@annieteo7169]

It is not just the rent only. In kovan hawker centre, each stall holder needs to pay $600 to cleaner on top of their $6000 per month stall rental. And Gas usage could be another $800 to $1000 per month. Not forgetting manpower cost. And one day off from operations.

[@xthene]

our hawker or food court system is severely flawed - how can the rental fee be soooooooo high?

[@acevictory3587]

9:11 sibeh leng?

[@user-xp9mm3we8h]

Preserving Singapore's medical halls, acupuncture treatment & herbal therapy. 67年历史中药店， 后继无人而结业。 针灸，药材店 的技术 将成为绝技和古迹， 分外惋惜。 听得出视频的主人翁 感触很深 情随事迁，感慨系之

[@kwchew3302]

Strongly agreed, these are Singapore heritage which started by our forefathers. Maintaining Singapore heritage's trades made Singapore a unique country and a great attraction to the tourists. Needs government efforts to preserve and support our heritage before it is too late !!

[@dixcreative]

It’s sad the hawkers are buried with high rent. You will be faced with only McDonald and KFC like Australia.

[@mugen18]

in my opinion as diverse is the food culture is here, we still cant compare with our neighbor.

[@appl2597]

Are you talking about Malay food or Chinese food? In Singapore we have so many different types of food from so many different Chinese dialect groups. I use to traveled to Senai, Pasir Gudang and Penang for work and for me JB is very similar to Singapore but with much less variety and on average the taste is inferior. It's cheaper but trust me if you stay there for extended period of time you get sick of it real quick. Penang is better, the food is different, good and cheap but you can't say Penang food is better because it's different. I've never eaten Malay food in Malaysia.

[@Kurosaki80]

I can’t understand why must hawker centre be run by private company. You just pay for your shop and settle your own shop.

[@silofathirramashinatrya5792]

Mantab👍❤️🙏

[@gauravkolambe7327]

So they have organized hawkers

[@dt4737]

Lovely Couple

[@user-xp9mm3we8h]

Watch this another youtube video call 狮城有约， 67年历史中药行 后继无人而结业 后继无人而结束营业 在这疫情期间 听到这种消息 分外依依不舍 和惋惜 要珍惜 情随事迁，感慨系之 到时候 后悔莫及

[@deschan2246]

Those who contributes to diminishing Hawker try to revive it is a Joke

[@sallieceelee5660]

This is the funny thing about Singapore getting UNESCO recognition for its "hawker culture". First of all, the way hawkers operate today is far removed from how our grandparents and great grandparents experienced it. It's a sterilized version of the vibrant atmosphere which was the original Singapore food scene. They forced travelling vendors off the streets and forced them to operate from one premise only at hawker centers. My late grandmother told me that the now gentrified Arab Street used to be abuzz with itinerant hawkers, some of them were residents of the shophouses who set up stall just in front of their front door. They know their customer's preferences by heart as they were neighbours and family. Then the Government swoop in and all these old neighbourhoods don't have any of their original communities anymore. My grandma said this is so different from when she was young. The sights, sounds, smells, and sense of community is not there anymore. And now they introduce this western notion of sending your own tray. That's not part of the Singapore experience. UNESCO should review "Singapore hawker culture" from its list of intangible cultural heritage because it is being changed to something even Singaporeans can't recognize.

[@godsamazinggrace5331]

hawker centres vs coffee shops

[@BlueflagAlpha]

of course Hawker

[@minitureoc9333]

Wait isn't they are the same term but coffee shop is like a smaller version than hawker center

[@purspike]

Market leaders, the government and media/social stars need to step up and speak on behalf of hawkers in Singapore to raise prices for all across the board. The prices must be aligned with market rates to ensure profitability. For customers of lower income bracket, there must be concessions provided to still make eating hawker food affordable for them similar to CHAS card

[@lifejourney08]

FYI- those that you have mentioned had already squeezed the hawkers dry. Don't promote profiteering here! As I have said, some disguised 'preservation' for their 'exploitation'. You see 3-tiers of profiteering above every struggling hawker.

[@troygundam]

How can he says we shouldn't build hawker center which look like hawker center. this guy is must be out of his mind . once private sector take over a hawker center its confirm hawker center is dead due to vary high rental n all the cost added to it.

[@asdf56953]

i can see the foodking sticker

[@lihoo1456]

Rental so expensive. Who going to bare

[@akosiwerlo]

The guys of Dot Sugar are really cute.

[@cakdwik2050]

From a bunch of fisherman into dozens of skyscrappers. What a history 😂

[@MrBoliao98]

You have to evolve a few thing. First like the transition to air con hawker centre is needed. Like all those old strata mall like lucky plaza and that 90s kopitiam is actually easier on people. Some humid days, hawker centre really too difficult. And right if the income is 5k doing hawkering, if I know how to do it, I don't see why not. Really right people need to transition to a air con mode of hawker centre, cos if the weather really that hot those 35 degree weather I ask myself I legitly cannot dong.

[@thanamjoseph5115]

9

[@MrBoliao98]

Honestly I don't know why people don't want be hawker, you go count the salary, if you're a uni grad you also wonder why you pay NUS the 32k fees

[@bsolutions525]

Uni grad sit in air con office, don't do much, few years will get promotion and pay rise Hawker... Good money but who wants to wake up before dawn to do manual labour for the whole day? Not many

[@MrBoliao98]

@@bsolutions525 chomp chomp the Hokkien Mee son got a NTU cert, down there carrying hokkien mee for the father.

[@slaiyfershin]

They can earn a lot more but the hours are a lot more and the type of hours you put in is pure manual labour. Apart from price increase or expanding the business, you will also never see any wage increase. Not forgetting your life trajectory is set in stone. Not many are willing to throw all ambitions out the door unless hawker or general FNB is their passion in the first place. You must be a hawker then considering you think it's such a clear and easy choice. If not, ask yourself the same questions.

[@bsolutions525]

@@MrBoliao98 family business. He most probably take over the stall when his father retires. Don't see many uni grads without family in hawker business become hawkers lol

[@user-xp9mm3we8h]

We have a lot of international patients that travel to Singapore to get acupuncture treatment! Need a diagnostic prescription to give a good result. In no time, these Singapore heritage trades i.e. tui na, foot reflexology, acupuncture treatment, herbal therapy, classical chinese medicine & medical halls will vanish. These people talents and expertise; as we know their work is of a very high calibre.

[@remymartin1326]

CNA is a piece of work. Do you expect the oldies to work till their last breath? Who in the right mind would quit 8-5 corporate jobs? And, would you want your sons and daughters to work the back breaking 16-18 hours to orient government propaganda. There's a reason to it. Think.

[@insasiable]

Oh food. I shouldn’t watch this hungry.

[@ramatgan1]

These people think they are so hip to make it into a hipster stall selling the latest stupid craze. The hawker center is a institution. Just leave it alone.

[@bangla996]

ppl like to talk about how the govt should step in to save the hawkers but complain when hawkers raise their prices 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@ahyapchow2459]

LOOKING DELICIOUS , NOT ALIENS.

[@BaeLasso]

8:56 Bad make up.... LOL

[@cliffrichard5950]

nobody is wearing a mask> why>

[@funwithrandom360]

Ern because it was filmed before COVID ravaged the world?

[@jadedsucker6553]

not eating or gg to timbre anymore

[@bonkersblock]

I had lunch over one of that shasty stall that nearly killed me! 🤣🤮

[@nicrulez12345]

ashamed of this from being proud. ask abt their rent. go. stupid article. propaganda.

[@yyekso2229]

poor singaporean. rich yet still poor. the effect of capitalism. sigh

[@kaiserlow652]

What do u mean?

[@jonxu6856]

these are not "hawkers" as they are not "hawking" they are food court operators.

[@pickmeup2323]

just get more msians to do it lor. it's the same. like the boys in 7:21

[@tacocado89]

oh please

[@matbond4658]

#doneclaim

[@deschan2246]

Hawker centre value n spirit is no longer ard. Y bother?

[@BlueflagAlpha]

unfortunately, hawkers will eventually die out because the young ones refuse to take their family job