Experience Asean at Hari Raya Bazaar

Mr Rishi Kesan (left), 33, and Mr Syed Mujubur Rahman, 35, who own Sofnade and Thawfeek Cuisine respectively, with their meatball and tulang bucket. Extra long fries with sour cream and onion sauce. Other accompaniments available are tomato, wasabe m — A shopper looking at Myanmar’s traditional longyi at the Asean Street Fair yesterday. The fair, which is part of this year’s Hari Raya Bazaar, features 10 stalls selling goods from each of the 10 Asean countries.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Published
May 18, 2018, 5:00 am SGT

Sip Paksong coffee from Laos, buy embroidered wallets from Myanmar and eat chocolate from the Philippines - all without leaving Singapore.

An Asean-themed street fair was set up at a new cultural hub in Geylang Serai yesterday evening and features 10 stalls selling goods from each of the 10 Asean member countries.

Organised and hosted by Wisma Geylang Serai, the fair is part of this year's Hari Raya Bazaar and opened on the first night of Ramadan. It also coincides with Singapore's chairmanship of the regional body this year.

Ambassadors and high commissioners of all Asean nations attended the fair to break fast together.

Hosting the event, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman said the fair allows Singaporeans and citizens of Asean countries to learn from each other.

"We want Singaporeans to experience the products, the culture of Asean right in the centre of the community," he said in his opening speech.

The Hari Raya Bazaar at Geylang Serai got off to a bright start yesterday as people visited its many stalls and sampled the food offerings on the first day of Ramadan. As part of the celebrations, the first Asean Street Fair was also launched in the new Wisma Geylang Serai cultural hub. The fair, with 10 booths from each Asean nation, is being held in conjunction with Singapore's chairmanship of Asean, and will end on June 14. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

He added that the annual Hari Raya Bazaar was chosen to host the street fair because of its existing infrastructure and popularity.

Dr Maliki, who is also Mayor of South East District, said he is watching rising rental costs at the bazaar: "We're not particularly concerned about who gives the best offer for the different stalls, but really about who brings in unique ideas. This is a time when young entrepreneurs and new start-ups can try their hand at business. We want to promote that."

The bazaar boasts around 3,000 stalls selling food, clothes and festive products. More than 50 light installations stretching more than 2km are illuminating Sims Avenue, Geylang Road and Changi Road.

Based on Malay art and culture, they include depictions of a mosque, kampung house and sampan, as well as flowers and crescents. The street fair's guest of honour yesterday was Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs. It will end on June 14.