Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar's $1 vadai seller committed to 'low price' tradition; other stalls, visitors feel pinch of rising costs

SINGAPORE — The Geylang Serai Bazaar, celebrated for its lively atmosphere and diverse range of goods, is back in full swing after it opened last Friday, and will go on until 10 April. Unsurprisingly, given the recent increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 8 per cent to 9 per cent, several food stalls have adjusted their prices.

However, at least one stall owner is standing firm on his commitment to keeping prices low and accessible. Raj Govin, the 66-year-old owner of vadai stall Mr Wadeh, which Yahoo Southeast Asia interviewed in 2023, has been a fixture at the bazaar for over 18 years.

"It has been our tradition to maintain the lowest price at $1," he said when Yahoo caught up with him at this year's bazaar on Thursday (14 March). Even with the GST increase, Raj insists that his products can still be sold at this price point.

"We have made adjustments in various areas to keep costs down. For instance, my daughter, son, and I manage the stall ourselves, with only two staff members," he said.

"My daughter, son and I have taken a pay cut of about 30 per cent, which is lower than the staff we employ," Raj added.

Lower rental this year thanks to rental cap

Raj reiterated that his stall's primary purpose is not profit maximisation. "For the past years, it's been our tradition. My late wife said to give back to society. We are here not to make money but to serve people."

Despite the operating costs at the bazaar, Raj said he remains committed to keeping prices affordable. He also anticipates a pickup in business over the weekend, despite potential initial slowdowns due to the beginning of the fasting season.

Raj explained that rental costs are significantly lower than last year's. They incurred expenses totalling over $20,000, including electricity utilities last year.

However, this year, with a maximum rental cap of $15,000 and an additional $2,500 allocated for their utilities, the total comes to about $17,500. This averages to about $500 per day, marking a decrease from the previous year.

Egg-throwing incident at Mr Wadeh stall

With the bazaar hosting 500 stalls this year, down from 700 stalls last year, Raj observed that the stalls are "quite repetitive".

"For example, within a small area, there are six vadai shops and seven biryani stalls," he said.

He also addressed concerns about potential competition, stating, "There are some competitors who think we are undercutting their business, but that is not our intention.

"Our goal is to serve our customers and our community. I cannot imagine taking too much of money from them. I don't want to, but they inadvertently feel that their business is affected."

Raj recounted an incident on Wednesday in which two eggs were thrown into his stall after he had left. He said he prefers not to speculate on who could have done it, and has informed the organisers.

"Organisers have been informed of the incident and will step up the security patrol to deter such incident from happening," a Wisma Geylang Serai spokesperson told Yahoo on Saturday (16 March).

Despite it all, Raj remains steadfast in his intention.

He said, "God willing, we will come back again next year, and the price will still be $1. Even if GST increases to 10 per cent, we will still be $1."

Other bazaar stalls navigate GST hike and rising operational costs

The pressure is mounting for stalls like Ahae Taiyaki, which specialises in an assortment of fish-shaped Japanese pancakes with various fillings. Ahae, the owner, expressed concerns over the impact of the GST hike and the high cost of hiring workers in night markets.

She said, "The GST is also expensive, and hiring workers in the pasar malam is $15 per hour, compared to the usual $10 to $12."

She also mentioned the challenges of maintaining profitability amidst rising costs, particularly due to imported ingredients from Japan, such as butter and milk, which are essential for her recipes.

Jom Lekor, another stall known for its house-made lekor — a traditional Malay fish keropok — with different variations like Nutella or cheese mayo, had to increase prices at the bazaar this year.

Syazani, a staff member, said that despite the necessity of increasing prices due to the GST hike, the stall still received a positive reaction.

"We've up the price of our lekor to $7 from $6.90 last year," he explained. "The reactions from the customers are unexpected. They are happy to see us here."

Consumer concerns rise as bazaar prices increase

Beyond the vendors, visitors to the bazaar are also feeling the strain of increasing costs.

One visitor, Hazimah, acknowledged the necessity of higher prices to offset rental costs, but admitted that it would have an impact on consumers like herself.

She also noted a shift towards fusion items at "hiked-up prices", and felt the bazaar was missing the traditional options of previous years.

"As a consumer, it feels like it's a little too much," Hazimah said. "But because it's 'once in a green moon' occasion, I understand it is necessary... The prices are making me only go for what I want and not indulge in many things."

Students Sarah, 21, and Melody, 18, echoed the sentiment that prices at the bazaar were steep, leading them to consider their purchases carefully.

For example, Melody highlighted the high cost of certain items, such as fried dim sum, which is priced at $3 or $5 for three pieces.

Meanwhile, Sarah said there was a temptation to indulge in various foods during fasting, but she also recognised the need for discernment, turning to platforms like TikTok for recommendations on worthwhile purchases.

Unsurprisingly, amidst a bustling sea of rising prices at the bazaar, Mr Wadeh's vadai stands out. As Hazimah said, "The $1 vadai was a welcoming change."

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