- Joined
- Aug 24, 2009
- Messages
- 525
- Points
- 0
When the Merchant's Association in a Minister's GRC organised the Lunar New Year Festive night market in the Minister's ward, there was a quarrel between the association and a fruit shop tenant over the rental of a lot.
The fruit seller wanted the lot right in front of his shop which is situated in the main thoroughfare but was rebuffed by the association. He was told that the most popular lots had been reserved by the committee members of the Merchant's Association.
It culminated in the meeting of 'toughs' between the two sides who turned out to know each other. In the end, the fruit seller got his lot but a few lots away, the "committee member" subleased the lot to another fruit stall which undercuts the prices of the tenant fruit seller.
It begs the question if it is ethical for the Merchant's Association to behave like a cartel in their own area of influence. After all they are part of the People's Association and naturally part of the Minister MP's political structure.
So is this corruption or is it leegal?
The fruit seller wanted the lot right in front of his shop which is situated in the main thoroughfare but was rebuffed by the association. He was told that the most popular lots had been reserved by the committee members of the Merchant's Association.
It culminated in the meeting of 'toughs' between the two sides who turned out to know each other. In the end, the fruit seller got his lot but a few lots away, the "committee member" subleased the lot to another fruit stall which undercuts the prices of the tenant fruit seller.
It begs the question if it is ethical for the Merchant's Association to behave like a cartel in their own area of influence. After all they are part of the People's Association and naturally part of the Minister MP's political structure.
So is this corruption or is it leegal?