[Bigiron]

Proposals to modify hawker stall rental system may lead to higher rents: Koh Poh Koon https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/p...h-poh-koon

[Bigiron]

Proposals to modify hawker stall rental system may lead to higher rents: Koh Poh Koon https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/p...h-poh-koon

Analysis of "Proposals to modify hawker stall rental system may lead to higher rents: Koh Poh Koon"
 
Title: Proposals to modify hawker stall rental system may lead to higher rents: Koh Poh Koon
 
Source: The Straits Times, published on November 13, 2024.
 
Author: Not explicitly mentioned.
 
Article Summary:
 
Theme: The article discusses the debate in Singapore's Parliament regarding proposals to modify the hawker stall rental system. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon argues that proposed changes may lead to higher rents, contradicting the intended goal of supporting hawkers.
 
Core Points:
 
- Opposition MPs proposed changes to the hawker stall rental system, aiming to reduce costs for hawkers.

- Koh Poh Koon argues that rental costs are not the main factor impacting hawkers, with food ingredients and manpower costs being more significant.

- He highlights that the current tender system, while not perfect, has kept rental prices affordable and benefits many hawkers.

- Koh refutes specific proposals, arguing that they could lead to unintended consequences like increased competition and higher overall rental costs.
 
Inconsistent, Bias, Ambiguities, Flaw, Weasel Words, Loaded Language, and Fallacy:
 
Inconsistent:
 
- The article presents a one-sided view, focusing primarily on Koh Poh Koon's arguments against the proposed changes without providing equal weight to the opposition MPs' perspectives.
 
Bias:
 
- The article leans towards supporting the government's stance, presenting Koh's arguments as more credible and valid.
 
Ambiguities:
 
- The article doesn't clearly define the specific proposals made by the opposition MPs, making it difficult to assess their potential impact.
 
Flaw:
 
- Koh's argument relies on the assumption that the current tender system is effective and benefits hawkers, which may not be entirely accurate.
 
Weasel Words:
 
- Phrases like "may lead to higher rents" and "could encourage bidders to bid more competitively" use vague language that avoids making definitive claims.
 
Loaded Language:
 
- Terms like "frivolous applications" and "excess demand" carry negative connotations and may prejudice the reader against the opposition MPs' proposals.
 
Fallacy:
 
- The article employs the "straw man" fallacy by misrepresenting the opposition MPs' proposals and then refuting these misrepresentations.
 
Overall:
 
The article presents a biased and incomplete picture of the debate surrounding hawker stall rental system changes. It lacks a balanced perspective and uses loaded language and fallacies to undermine the opposition MPs' proposals.

Inconsistencies in the article. Here's a breakdown of some key inconsistencies:
 
1. Focus on Rental Costs vs. Other Costs:
 
- Koh's Argument: Koh emphasizes that rental costs are not the main factor affecting hawkers, highlighting food ingredients and manpower as more significant.

- Inconsistency: The article then focuses heavily on the rental system and Koh's arguments against the proposed changes, giving less attention to the other cost factors he initially mentioned. This creates a sense of imbalance, as if the article is downplaying the importance of food and labor costs.
 
2. Claim of System Effectiveness vs. Acknowledging Outliers:
 
- Koh's Argument: Koh claims the current tender system is effective and has benefited many hawkers.
- Inconsistency: He then acknowledges the existence of outliers, like the $10,158 stall tender bid, which suggests that the system isn't entirely perfect and may have flaws. This creates a contradiction, as if the system can be both effective and have significant outliers.
 
3. Stressing Affordable Rents vs. Mentioning High Bids:
 
- Koh's Argument: Koh argues that the current system keeps rental prices "reasonably affordable."

- Inconsistency: The article also mentions that the median successful tender price for cooked food stalls was about $1,800, and that one in five stalls were awarded at tender prices at or below $500. This suggests that some hawkers are paying significantly higher rents than others, which contradicts the claim of affordability for all.
 
4. Emphasis on Government Support vs. Lack of Hawker Perspectives:
 
- Koh's Argument: The article emphasizes the government's efforts to support hawkers through the rental system and other measures.

- Inconsistency: The article lacks perspectives from actual hawkers, making it difficult to assess whether the government's policies are truly beneficial or whether hawkers themselves perceive the system as fair and affordable.
 
Overall:
 
These inconsistencies create a sense of imbalance and bias in the article. It appears to favor the government's viewpoint while downplaying potential issues and concerns. A more balanced and informative article would address these inconsistencies and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the debate surrounding hawker stall rental systems in Singapore.

[Wy:Nox]

If the system cannot serve its purpose, scrap it. if the Minister cannot do his own job, remove him.

[teaserteam]

Unless there is a good way to tweak the hawker rental tendering system,  the hawker stall rental will never come down.  One other way is to build more hawker centers,  yet another way is to change the habits of the residents so that the demand for hawker food will be reduced,  Both of these other methods are never welcomed because they cut the earnings of the hawkers and might cause hawker to raise the food prices.  However, the 95% high occupancy rates for cooked food stalls suggested that the Government should continue to attempt to bring rent down by building more or larger hawker centers or allowing more private hawker centers to be built.

[Bigiron]

Here are some roundabout answers from the article "Proposals to modify hawker stall rental system may lead to higher rents: Koh Poh Koon | The Straits Times":

1. On the Impact of Rent on Hawkers' Overall Costs:

- Roundabout Answer: Dr. Koh highlights that rental costs make up less than 10% of operating costs for hawkers, with food ingredients accounting for nearly 60% and manpower costs taking up about 20%.
- Why it's Roundabout: This response avoids directly addressing the PSP's concerns about the impact of high rents on hawkers. Instead, it focuses on the relative proportion of rental costs compared to other expenses, implying that rent is not the primary concern.

2. On the Tender System and Rent Determination:

- Roundabout Answer: Dr. Koh defends the current tender system, stating that it's "open, transparent and straightforward" and "enables market mechanisms to work at hawker centres." He also emphasizes that the government doesn't use rent for cost recovery and that bidders can obtain stalls at low rental rates, with some even winning bids at $1.
- Why it's Roundabout: This response deflects from the PSP's proposal to move away from the tender system. Instead, it focuses on the perceived benefits and fairness of the current system, highlighting examples of low bids and the government's lack of profit motive.

3. On the Effectiveness of Existing Measures to Moderate Rents:

- Roundabout Answer: Dr. Koh lists measures taken to moderate rents, such as disallowing subletting and staggering the downward adjustment of rental rates. He also points to high occupancy rates and the fact that more than four in 10 bidders secured their bids below the assessed market rent.
- Why it's Roundabout: This response avoids directly addressing the PSP's concerns about the effectiveness of these measures. Instead, it focuses on actions taken and positive outcomes, implying that the existing system is working well enough.

4. On the PSP's Proposed Fixed-Rent Model:

- Roundabout Answer: Dr. Koh raises practical challenges with the PSP's proposed fixed-rent model based on gross turnover, such as the need for point-of-sale systems and the difficulty in determining a fair fixed rent. He also argues that using the assessed market rent would result in higher costs for many current hawkers.
- Why it's Roundabout: This response avoids directly addressing the merits of the PSP's proposal. Instead, it focuses on perceived difficulties and potential negative consequences, implying that the PSP's idea is impractical or unfair.

5. On the PSP's Proposed Ballot System for Stall Allocation:

- Roundabout Answer: Dr. Koh argues that a ballot system could lead to frivolous applications and excess demand for stalls at popular locations, potentially disadvantaging prospective hawkers with genuine intent and patrons.
- Why it's Roundabout: This response avoids directly addressing the PSP's proposal for a more equitable allocation system. Instead, it focuses on potential drawbacks and unintended consequences, implying that the PSP's idea is flawed.

Overall: The article highlights a disagreement between the PSP and the government regarding the best approach to managing hawker stall rents. While the government acknowledges that there is no perfect system, it appears to be more cautious and less receptive to the PSP's specific proposals, focusing on the perceived benefits of the existing system and potential drawbacks of the PSP's suggestions.