SINGAPORE – It is important for Geylang Serai to maintain its character and spirit even as it undergoes redevelopment, said Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin today (May 4).

He said this at the closing ceremony cum community lunch for Pasar Geylang Serai, where 5,000 gathered for a nasi biryani lunch.

Mr Tan said: “So, as you evolve you can have new physical forms but how do you keep the character, how do you keep the cultural heritage, how do you keep the spirit and how do you continue to make this place a good place where the Malay community continue to gather every day, every weekend – and that’s really the key. You know building things is easy, but it’s really the software part, the people part. And that takes the community to come together.”

He told reporters alongside the event that this spirit can be retained by continuing to provide good food through the hawker centre, and by making sure that there are diverse products available at competitive prices so that the reasons for visiting the area remain.

“But when people naturally come (to Pasar Geylang Serai), they will also become to establish activities of their own,” he said.

Pasar Geylang Serai, one of Singapore’s oldest markets, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The area is set to have its own civic centre called Wisma Geylang Serai by 2017, a building that will be linked to the market via a pedestrian bridge.