SINGAPORE - Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Monday that he has instructed the National Environment Agency (NEA) to remove a licence condition that prohibits hawkers from selling "restaurant type of dishes" unless they have been authorised to do so.
Dr Balakrishnan was responding to a Facebook photo and comment posted under the profile of Daniel Goh on Jan 10, who questioned the definition of "restaurant type of dishes" and pointed out the restrictive effects of the rule.
"Does this mean an enterprising young F&B hawker aspirant can't set up a taco stand because a
Mexican restaurant sells tacos, unless he gets the go-ahead?" said Mr Goh in the post.
The post was shared by Dr Balakrishnan on his Facebook page with the comment: "I agree with Daniel, and have instructed NEA to remove this archaic rule from the hawker stall licence with immediate effect.""
I NEVER did realise that such a rule even existed in Singapore! :-)
Lessons for me are:
1. it is indeed unhelpful to say: "we always do it this way." or "we have never done it that way." if we want to innovative and enjoy some breakthrough ideas or actions;
2. this episode reveals the power of social media or cyberspace comments when read or seen by SOMEONE in position of power who RESPONDED! By one wave of Minister Bala's magic wane, NEA took out this 'original intention need to be understood' condition. Magical!;
3. it will be interesting just to understand the logic and intention of this 'no restaurent type foods' as it will be a wonderful historical trivial questions to play with!
So, hawkers hawkers all over Singapore, let your imagination run wild and free and come up with many 'restaurent type foods' BUT at hawkers center price. Can? :-)
Dr Balakrishnan was responding to a Facebook photo and comment posted under the profile of Daniel Goh on Jan 10, who questioned the definition of "restaurant type of dishes" and pointed out the restrictive effects of the rule.
"Does this mean an enterprising young F&B hawker aspirant can't set up a taco stand because a
Mexican restaurant sells tacos, unless he gets the go-ahead?" said Mr Goh in the post.
The post was shared by Dr Balakrishnan on his Facebook page with the comment: "I agree with Daniel, and have instructed NEA to remove this archaic rule from the hawker stall licence with immediate effect.""
I NEVER did realise that such a rule even existed in Singapore! :-)
Lessons for me are:
1. it is indeed unhelpful to say: "we always do it this way." or "we have never done it that way." if we want to innovative and enjoy some breakthrough ideas or actions;
2. this episode reveals the power of social media or cyberspace comments when read or seen by SOMEONE in position of power who RESPONDED! By one wave of Minister Bala's magic wane, NEA took out this 'original intention need to be understood' condition. Magical!;
3. it will be interesting just to understand the logic and intention of this 'no restaurent type foods' as it will be a wonderful historical trivial questions to play with!
So, hawkers hawkers all over Singapore, let your imagination run wild and free and come up with many 'restaurent type foods' BUT at hawkers center price. Can? :-)
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