AMK Hawker Allegedly Called the Cops As Buskers Singing Christmas Songs Were Too Loud

Police Halt Buskers’ Festive Tunes at AMK Food Centre Amid Noise Complaints

On the afternoon of 8 Dec (Friday), the joyful performance of three buskers at Ang Mo Kio Central Market & Food Centre was abruptly halted by the police for being excessively loud.

Around 12pm, two women and a man, donning Christmas hats, were performing at the food centre located at Block 724 of Ang Mo Kio Ave 6.

Their setup included an electronic piano accompanied by two long speakers, each about half the height of an average person.

To add to the festive atmosphere, fairy lights adorned their setup, as Christmas was just around the corner.

Slow Seranades; Singing Not Too Bad

A 53-year-old witness, Mr Tan from the drinks stall, shared that the buskers were primarily singing slow songs.

To Mr Tan, the music was serenading and even enhanced his mood, given the fact that their skills were pretty decent.

He also mentioned that he knew the father of the male busker, who had previously joined in the busking, playing the harmonica.

Mr Tan had even offered the father a drink during that time.

Another hawker, speaking with Lianhe Zaobao, echoed Mr Tan’s sentiments, stating that the music did not disrupt the hawker centre’s business.

He expressed understanding towards the buskers, acknowledging that everyone is trying to make a living.

Loud Noise Affects Nearby Businesses

However, not all shared Mr Tan and the other hawker’s positive views.

Some hawkers found the busking volume disruptive, making it difficult to hear their customers’ orders.

Others were concerned that the music might not appeal to all customers, potentially driving some away and impacting their business.

Additionally, the association of hawkers at the food centre had convened a meeting to decide whether to permit busking within the centre.

The decision was a definitive no.

Hong Mingde, the chairman of the association (name transliterated from Chinese), firmly represented the consensus of the hawker centre – busking inside the centre was not allowed.

So, where could the buskers perform?

There is a stage outside the food centre designated for such performances.

According to the National Arts Council Singapore regulations, buskers with a busking card should apply for permission to perform, even on the stage outside the hawker centre.

However, obtaining a busking license in Singapore is challenging.

Buskers must audition to ensure consistent quality in their performances.

Successful applicants must book slots through an e-service to perform at designated locations for a specified validity period.

After this period, they must reapply.

This raises the question: did these buskers have a license?

Mr Tan (from the drinks stall) confirmed that they did possess licenses. So, why didn’t they register to perform on the stage outside the hawker centre?

The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced that “busking zones” would be introduced in Ang Mo Kio from April 2020.

These zones would comprise clusters of busking locations, offering flexibility for buskers to move between them.

One proposed location was near the hawker centre at Block 724. However, the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions that began around that time cast doubt on whether the Ang Mo Kio zone was established.

Currently, only AMK hub and Jubilee Square are confirmed available for booking.

A cleaner, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed Lianhe Zaobao that the police intended to refer the case to the relevant authorities.

The investigation into whether the buskers violated any rules is ongoing.

In the meantime, for those seeking Christmas vibes, why not explore other locations where you can experience a truly “white” Christmas this year to celebrate the birth of Christ?