ALL 82 of the government-run wet markets in Singapore will remain in government hands, along 'with the smell, the sound and the sight', Minister for Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim told Parliament on Monday.

As for the rest of the 19 wet markets run by private companies, he reiterated that approval from the Housing Board would be needed for their sale and any change of their uses.

He gave these assurances in light of the outcry following news that a supermarket chain, Sheng Siong, is taking over six markets and replacing them with air-conditioned markets.

Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) had asked for the preservation of wet markets, which she described as close to the hearts of Singaporeans and part of Singapore's heritage.

She also asked for the profile of stallholders and the occupancy rate of wet markets.

Dr Yaacob said the median age of a stall holder is 60. As for the occupancy rate, he said this has gone up from 78 per cent 10 years ago to 91 per cent on Tuesday.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.