Due to rising prices, one can barely afford a hawker centre meal for S$5 nowadays. And the meal is hardly enough to keep anyone full. That has raised much public concern, especially since many choose hawker centres in Singapore over pricier food courts to save money.
57-year-old Khoo Kah Yang who prefers hawker centre food because it’s cheaper, said, “Prices now have increased. A meal costs at least $5 to eat out. Even then it is only barely enough to fill the stomach.”
Singapore celebrity foodie Moses Lim says Singaporeans still prefer hawker centre food and are still keen to patronise hawker stalls. “During weekends and public holidays, Singaporeans still like to visit hawker centres for nice food, and long queues can be seen forming at the stalls.”
Food prices have risen by 2.9% compared to the previous month, despite the Monetary Authority of Singapore announcing that Singapore is facing its first deflation of 0.3% in the past 5 years.
Four years ago, the government announced the building of 10 new hawker centres. The first of these 10 will be completed this year in Bukit Panjang.
Environment Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said then that his main objective is to “ensure that there continues to be a variety of good, affordable food stalls so that Singaporeans can have a choice”
