Pasar Malam in Singapore: The Night Market that operates throughout the day

Festive bazaars and night markets have been around for many years, with food stalls offering novelty stuff long they became more widely available here, such as the Turkish Doner kebab and the tea leaf egg. However, the humble pasar malam has come under much flak recently, especially in the case of the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar, where rentals came up to S$25,000 excluding miscellaneous costs, for some stalls, over a 36-day period. It is important to note that the event organisers have clarified that this is not the normal rate, and most of the 800 stalls are rented out at between S$1,000 and S$6,000 for the same duration.

Theme Park rides at a pasar malam

What came to light through a bit of research, is that the cost of organising the said bazaar is in the region of S$5 million, of which around half constitutes the tender sum that will be paid to People's Association (PA) for the rights to organise the event.

Food stalls at a pasar malam

The tender sum for a Heartlands pasar malam of 110 stalls in Sembawang came up to over S$100,000 for a 22-day event. As the tender price forms a significant part of the cost of operating a pasar malam, operators and vendors are concerned that escalating costs and online retail trends may make the pasar malam irrelevant in the years to come. The high costs of operating a pasar malam stall also means that the pasar malam, which is 'Night Market' in bahasa melayu, has to operate throughout the day to generate more sales and to cover the costs.

Claw machines at a pasar malam

As somebody who grew up appreciating the pasar malam for its novelty, it would be a shame to see the pasar malam go the way of the dinosaurs. My own experience with recent heartlands pasar malam has been disappointing, with repetitive food stall offerings and similar food items being able to be purchased at the nearby shopping mall for half the price, and with a more generous portion. A larger scale pasar malam may feature rides for children, but once again, the fares for each ride are also expensive and not as thrilling when compared against theme park rides at Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove. If the pasar malam is unable to reinvent itself to compete with a shopping mall (with already high market rental), then I fear that the days of the pasar malam may truly be numbered.

Is it the end of the road for the pasar malam?

References

'The Big Read: The million-dollar pasar malam industry and Singaporeans' love affair with it'

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pasar-malam-industry-love-affair-million-dollar-big-read-3436986?cid=FBcna

No Touching Please - Contactless sensor buttons

I chanced upon some contactless sensor buttons at elevators/lifts, most likely installed during the covid pandemic to prevent the transmission of virus and bacteria through contact of various surfaces in common areas.

This piqued my interest, as it is something that has been adopted out of necessity and yet makes so much sense, for a surface that is usually touched by many individuals throughout the day.

A quick search online revealed that there are several kinds of contactless button solutions: static infrared sensors with lights or a buzzer, and sensors with kinetic touches to replicate the actual pushing of the button.

Button with static infrared sensor

Button with sensor and kinetic touch (STUCK Design Pte Ltd)

HoverTap from NZ Technologies

Benefits of contactless sensor buttons for lifts/elevators include saying goodbye to the incessant hammering of the buttons, because, let's face it: pressing a button faster and repeatedly doesn't make the lift/elevator move faster, as well as a reduced risk of accidentally pressing the alarm and intercom buttons, which may still retain the tactile contact buttons as the frequency of use is expected to be low and to prevent accidental activation via sensor buttons.

There are currently many types of sensors designed in a lift/elevator, mostly to detect obstruction or motion around the lift/elevator doors, so sensors are not an entirely new technology or concept to be deployed.

According to Fact.MR, the global Contactless Elevator Market is valued at around US$1.85 billion in 2022, accounting for approximately 4.5% of the global elevator market. The development of smart infrastructure and refresh of elevators in old skyscrapers are expected to provide an uplift in the demand for contactless lift/elevator.

Probably one key factor keeping the adoption rate of contactless sensor elevators low is the premium one can expect to pay as compared to a 'normal' lift/ elevator, with premiums running anywhere between 50% to 150% of the cost for a standard lift/ elevator model. This is one space to watch, as individual sensors procured at wholesale prices are relatively inexpensive today. 

Let me know what you think about contactless sensor buttons! 

Water, Water Everywhere

 

When I saw this sight across the causeway, two things came to mind:

1. It's easy to read the water meter without having to get into the drain (a confined space)

2. Bad design, it's a trip and fall hazard and prone to damage by passers-by

Even worse, corroded pipes do not seem to have been removed when replacement pipes are laid, and are just sticking out of the drain cover.

It seems that most drains and water pipes and water meters in Singapore are designed differently.

Source: Guan Howe Engineering

Source: Wonderwall.sg

PUB, NEA and LTA are key stakeholders in the drainage system: PUB to ensure the functionality of the drains in conception storm water, NEA in ensuring no formation of stagnant water which may lead to mosquito breeding, and LTA in maintaining the drain covers as they form part of the footpaths. There are a total of 8,000 drain covers and manhole covers in Singapore.

Source: PUB

Water pipes also do not seem to run inside the drain and storm water and waste water are separately conveyed in the drainage system. Water meters are also usually installed at a convenient location for ease of reading. 

Just some food for thought.

What lies beyond this door?

 

Over the weekend and across the causeway, I chanced upon probably one of the most interesting doors. It didn't seem to lead anywhere and didn't seem to serve any purpose other than to satisfy fire regulations. What is the most interesting door you have ever come across?

Hello World v2.0

Inspired to resume blogging to share my personal observations and musings after chatting with a friend. It has been a not-so-brief hiatus and I look forward to exciting times ahead!

🌐👨‍👩‍👧‍👦