Slowing footfall at Geylang Serai Market a concern, more can be done to boost area’s vibrancy: Zaqy

Zaqy was joined on the walkabout on July 26 by Seah, as well as East Coast GRC MP Hazlina Abdul Halim and Jalan Besar GRC MP Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah.

The four politicians were seen going from table to table speaking to patrons and stallholders from about 8.30am to 10am.

The MPs were there to get a sense of the mood and concerns of residents, merchants and stallholders, and how the Government can assure them that Faishal’s work will continue after his resignation, said Zaqy, who is also Senior Minister of State for Defence.

Wisma Geylang Serai and Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre – both are in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, where Faishal was an MP – are the focal point of the Malay/Muslim community, Zaqy said.

“It is important that we continue to create vibrancy and programming, and certainly continue engaging them here, where they congregate every weekend,” he added.

Zaqy said he is also engaging Malay/Muslim organisations and met some of their leaders on July 25.

He added that he will continue Faishal’s work in this area as well, which includes the M³+ initiative. The initiative brings together more groups beyond the existing M³ partnership between self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council.

Zaqy has been meeting various sections of the community at engagements since his appointment.

On July 21, the day after he was appointed acting minister, he held a dialogue with community leaders along with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam.

On July 24, he performed his first Friday prayer as acting minister at Darul Aman Mosque in Eunos, together with MUIS chief executive Kadir Maideen and mosque leaders.