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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - SDP confront Teo Ho Pin</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>rainnix <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>4:56 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 3) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>32040.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Exchange between Gandhi Ambalam and Teo Ho Pin
Teo: Rentals will go up and down, it's all private arrangements. Even the government properties, the vendors...
Ambalam: Do you think the 30% increase, by Sheng Siong, after the takeover of the wet market, is it justifiable?
Teo: It depends on market forces. I tell you, the market forces will determine the rental. Right now it's going up or going down, the market forces will...
Ambalam: Now what is your view on this 30% increase?
Teo: No, I will not interfere in any commercial arrangements. In the past Heeton also rented. Different stalls got different rentals. As long as they are able to provide good services to the residents, we'll leave it to the operators. But if they don't provide good services, then they'll be out.
Jufrie Mahmood (off screen): So the Government shouldn't interfere?
Teo: No, we don't interfere. The way we look at it, how we look at it is that, whoever that can provide the best service to my residents, we welcome them. But they have to look at the market forces because our residents will also look at it. If your things are very expensive, my residents won't support you. So I always tell the shops, you have to serve my residents. So we have been telling all the shops in Bukit Panjang, or in fact we have been doing that everywhere you know, the shops must be there to serve the residents. They are business and they need to make a profit, fair enough. But if they make it very expensive, then the residents won't support the shops and they will have to close shop. It's common sense you know, this is market forces.
Ambalam: In other words you are leaving it to the market forces, and while there should be market forces, (inaudible) 30% increase is justifiable?
Teo: That is not up to me to say, that is up to Sheng Siong to say, to tell the residents, the stall-holders, whether that is justifiable.
Ambalam: When we went to the Fajar market, nearly half (of the stalls) were empty.
Teo: What? No, its ok, its ok. What I'm concerned is that, the wet market must be there to serve the residents. A runs it, B runs it, C runs it, it doesn't make a difference to us. As long as they provide good services.
(Inaudible cross talk)
Teo: What is your agenda here? If you are really concerned about the residents, that you don't have to worry, you leave it to me. I am the MP for this constituency, I will know what to do, to serve my residents, you don't have to worry.
Ambalam: Dr Teo, bear with me for a few seconds. We are concerned, because are a political party, and we will be contesting if Bukit Panjang remains a single member constituency-
Teo: If you are contesting it's your problem...I don't know.
Ambalam: You don't know, yourself. If it is still a single member constituency, you can expect a contest from the SDP.
Teo: You are welcome to.
Ambalam: So because of that, we are concerned for the welfare of the citizens, as well as the stall-holders, the vendors and they have expressed their concerns to us. So what is your position?
Teo: You are concerned, I'm also concerned.
Ambalam: No, you are saying you are leaving it to the market forces.
Teo: No, I have got my own things to do, and I know what to do...
Ambalam: Of course.
Teo:...but as far as rental is concerned it's always market forces. Rental, whether it is a public tender, whether it is private, is (subject to) market forces. This is common sense, you know right?
Ambalam: In other words, I've given you the joint statement, which you are not prepared to sign.
Teo: No, I'm not prepared to sign.
Ambalam: Thank you very much.
Teo: Thank you very much. Anyway, we'll see what will happen.
Ambalam: We will continue to make it happen.
Teo: You do whatever you...
Ambalam: One last word. Last week we were there, and half of the wet market stalls were empty.
Teo: My concern is this, as long as the market remains open.
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Teo: Rentals will go up and down, it's all private arrangements. Even the government properties, the vendors...
Ambalam: Do you think the 30% increase, by Sheng Siong, after the takeover of the wet market, is it justifiable?
Teo: It depends on market forces. I tell you, the market forces will determine the rental. Right now it's going up or going down, the market forces will...
Ambalam: Now what is your view on this 30% increase?
Teo: No, I will not interfere in any commercial arrangements. In the past Heeton also rented. Different stalls got different rentals. As long as they are able to provide good services to the residents, we'll leave it to the operators. But if they don't provide good services, then they'll be out.
Jufrie Mahmood (off screen): So the Government shouldn't interfere?
Teo: No, we don't interfere. The way we look at it, how we look at it is that, whoever that can provide the best service to my residents, we welcome them. But they have to look at the market forces because our residents will also look at it. If your things are very expensive, my residents won't support you. So I always tell the shops, you have to serve my residents. So we have been telling all the shops in Bukit Panjang, or in fact we have been doing that everywhere you know, the shops must be there to serve the residents. They are business and they need to make a profit, fair enough. But if they make it very expensive, then the residents won't support the shops and they will have to close shop. It's common sense you know, this is market forces.
Ambalam: In other words you are leaving it to the market forces, and while there should be market forces, (inaudible) 30% increase is justifiable?
Teo: That is not up to me to say, that is up to Sheng Siong to say, to tell the residents, the stall-holders, whether that is justifiable.
Ambalam: When we went to the Fajar market, nearly half (of the stalls) were empty.
Teo: What? No, its ok, its ok. What I'm concerned is that, the wet market must be there to serve the residents. A runs it, B runs it, C runs it, it doesn't make a difference to us. As long as they provide good services.
(Inaudible cross talk)
Teo: What is your agenda here? If you are really concerned about the residents, that you don't have to worry, you leave it to me. I am the MP for this constituency, I will know what to do, to serve my residents, you don't have to worry.
Ambalam: Dr Teo, bear with me for a few seconds. We are concerned, because are a political party, and we will be contesting if Bukit Panjang remains a single member constituency-
Teo: If you are contesting it's your problem...I don't know.
Ambalam: You don't know, yourself. If it is still a single member constituency, you can expect a contest from the SDP.
Teo: You are welcome to.
Ambalam: So because of that, we are concerned for the welfare of the citizens, as well as the stall-holders, the vendors and they have expressed their concerns to us. So what is your position?
Teo: You are concerned, I'm also concerned.
Ambalam: No, you are saying you are leaving it to the market forces.
Teo: No, I have got my own things to do, and I know what to do...
Ambalam: Of course.
Teo:...but as far as rental is concerned it's always market forces. Rental, whether it is a public tender, whether it is private, is (subject to) market forces. This is common sense, you know right?
Ambalam: In other words, I've given you the joint statement, which you are not prepared to sign.
Teo: No, I'm not prepared to sign.
Ambalam: Thank you very much.
Teo: Thank you very much. Anyway, we'll see what will happen.
Ambalam: We will continue to make it happen.
Teo: You do whatever you...
Ambalam: One last word. Last week we were there, and half of the wet market stalls were empty.
Teo: My concern is this, as long as the market remains open.
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