Enough malls, use land for other activities (Forum letter)

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After the recent openings of the JCube and JEM shopping malls in Jurong and with the coming opening of Westgate mall in Jurong at year’s end, it feels like Singapore is becoming one big, endless mall.

Whether one visits Orchard, Jurong, Tampines or Woodlands, the shopping mall is ubiquitous, filled with standard brands and shops.

While this reflects the increasing wealth and consumerism in Singapore and is, in a way, a positive barometer of the living standard, I wonder if these spaces could instead have been set aside by the Government to encourage new leisure activities and add to Singapore’s vibrancy.

For example, land could be set aside for arts spaces in suburban areas, parks where we can encourage buskers and food trucks, or even a farmer’s market to add to the vibrancy of an area. These activities will add to Singapore’s “soul” and increase our vibrancy both as a nation and as a tourist destination.

Chua Sheng Yang