Makansutra founder urges policymakers to address rising costs instead of publicizing minor price differences
Singapore food advocate Kf Seetoh voiced concerns about a recent report from the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on local food prices, which he believes could harm struggling hawkers and their suppliers. The IPS report, summarized in a Straits Times article, highlighted price differences for common food items across various regions in Singapore, with an infographic showing that some dishes, like prata and coffee, are cheaper in certain areas than others.
In a Facebook post, Seetoh, known for championing Singapore’s hawker culture, criticized the IPS study’s comparisons, noting that while the report aims to survey food prices to understand the cost of living, it might unintentionally discourage customers from dining in places like Tampines, Queenstown, or Bishan. According to Seetoh, hawkers in these areas already face significant challenges, such as rising food and rental costs.
He questioned the report’s usefulness and emphasized the impact of high operational costs, suggesting that policymakers should focus on supporting hawkers directly. Seetoh argued that solutions such as eliminating high-bid practices for hawker stall rentals and rethinking policies that push hawkers to keep prices low could help keep small businesses afloat. He also pointed out that some hawker stalls face monthly rental fees as high as $12,000 due to recent record-breaking coffeeshop sales in Tampines and Yishun.
As Seetoh remarked, Singaporeans already know where to find affordable meals in their neighborhoods. He concluded by urging leaders to help guard against rising operational costs that impact hawkers’ livelihoods rather than simply highlighting food price variations.
