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Chin Soo Fang The Straits Times March 29, 2025 The start time for a $1 Marketplace in Hougang was 10am on March 29, but by 8am a queue of about 300 people had already formed at the venue, Ci Yuan Community Club. These early birds were among 1,000 residents who had pre-purchased a $1 ticket to be part of the event, entitling them to bag groceries worth about $12 to $13, including cabbage, lettuce, oranges and lemons. The produce was provided by the Hougang Village Merchants’ Association in support of the marketplace, which was hosted by the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Citizens Consultative Committee and Ci Yuan CC’s management committee. Mr Darryl David, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, who turned up at about 9.30am and saw the long but orderly queue of mostly senior citizens, decided to start the event earlier. “Don’t worry, don’t rush, take your time. And after you have taken everything, there are many other activities for you to check out here,” he told the participants who came with bags and supermarket trolleys. Homemaker Koh Chai Hong, 70, who was among the earliest to queue, said: “I didn’t suffer any loss, it’s worth it. This is fun and I came early to mingle with the people in the queue since I’m bored at home.” Ms Laxie Mary Sequeira, 76, a retired insurance professional, said she was glad that for $1, she could get something “fresh and substantial” as “every bit helps” to cope with the cost of living.
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