Swift Ground Support brings Double Joy for Aljunied GRC Zero Litter Gampaign

• TWO MARKET AND HAWKER CENTRES GET ‘SINGAPORE OK’ AWARD FOR CLEANLINESS AND HYGIENE
• FOUR FOOD OPERATORS BEAT CHALLENGE TO GET UPGRADE FOR THEIR STALLS AT HAWKER CENTRE IN KOVAN
  

Singapore, 14 May 2009 - Two out of three market-cum-hawker centres managed by the Aljunied Town Council have been picked for the Singapore OK Awards by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for their cleanliness and good hygiene.

These awards come close on the heels of four food stalls at Blk 209 Hougang Street 21 which have secured upgrades to B from the previous C by the NEA. The four food stalls are Tian Cheng Shen Shui Gan Zhe (Fruit Juice stall, #01-22), Wen  Sing Shu Shi (Teochew porridge stall, #01-29), Bedok Cooked Food (Roast Duck stall, #01-32), Jun Ji Coffee Stall (Drinks stall, #01-65)

These four hawker stalls were given the challenge to get themselves upgraded for their cleanliness and hygiene by the Member of Parliament Madam Cynthia Phua when she launched the Zero Litter Campaign on 3 May. She gave the stall owners two weeks to get their stalls cleaned up and improved so that they can be reviewed by the NEA. But, they did it all within a week.

Applauding the NEA awards, Madam Phua, who is also the chairman of the Aljunied Town Council which was responsible for the campaign launch, said: “It is indeed very encouraging to see our two centres winning the Singapore OK Awards. We are grateful to our stall operators for their good support.

“I am also very pleased that our stall operators reacted in a very responsible manner and I applaud them for their support. What impresses me was that they were able to get things organised within a week, well ahead of the deadline we set together.”

There are altogether 152 food stalls and 313 market stalls at the centres managed by the Aljunied Town Council, namely:

1. Kovan Hougang Market and Food Centre at Blk 209, Hougang St 21;
2. Hainanese Village Centre at Blk 105, Hougang Ave 1;
3. Pasar Makan@Reservoir, Blk 630, Bedok Reservoir Road.

The campaign, which is a collaboration between the NEA, the Town Council and various Aljunied GRC grassroots groups including the hawkers and merchants associations, was held as part of the GRC’s annual Zero Litter Month.

The timely campaign saw Madam Phua and fellow MP, Mayor Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs) reaching out to the stall operators to promote the hygiene message. The current H1N1 flu outbreak and the recent food poisoning cases are stark reminders of the need for personal hygiene and cleanliness, especially among food handlers.

The NEA will present the Singapore OK award for Blk 209 Kovan Hougang Market and Food Centre on 15 May (Friday) at 2.30pm.

The presentation of the award for Blk 105 Hougang Ave 1, Hainanese Village Centre will be held on 16 May (Saturday) at 9.30am. Madam Cynthia Phua will be present at both presentations together with officials NEA and the Town Council.