Interview of a shopkeeper of a shop in Kampong Glam selling textiles

Dana: Hi I’m from Raffles Girls’ School and I’m doing a Social Studies Project so I was wondering if I could interview you about Kampong Glam.

Shopkeeper: Interview? Oh okay.

D: Thanks Auntie, how long have you had this shop?

S: About 16 years already? Quite long, like forever like that.

D: What kinds of customers come to your store?

S: Oh all kinds of people, mostly Malays and Peranakans, they come to buy batik cloth, Peranakan clothes and silk for their baju.

D: Are there young people who come to your shop?

S: Sometimes but usually only the housewives,m the aunties, my regular customers.

D: How’s business here? Do you have many customers a day? I saw many shops selling cloth on my way here, is it very competitive and especially hard to earn money?

S: Business -laughs- okay la. Sometimes good, sometimes no good. Usually only my regular customers, they come for the past 15-16 years already, still coming.

D: Oh, since you’ve been working here for quite long, do you live near Kampong Glam by any chance?

S: Ya I live here, a few streets away, about 20 years already.

D: So you’re quite familiar with this place? The people coming here, has there been anu difference compared to when you first moved here and opened a shop here?

S: Okay la, normally the Muslims, the housewives only. But now got more young oeioke coming to Kampong Glam to buy things, maybe buying for their parents.

D: How is it like living in Kampong Glam?

S: My neighbours are very nice, it’s been very good la. Every morning I will go to the Kampong Glam café for my coffee and breakfast, talk to my friends, the coffee uncle then coming here to open my shop.

D: The shophouses, like this one your shop is in, have been here for many years, how would you feel if it gets torn down and rebuilt to something else?

S: Sad la, of course, the culture and history, all the memories, from when I come until now.

D: Do you feel very attached to Kampong Glam? Like it’s your home?

S: Of course, the people here are my good friends, the shopkeepers, my customers the coffee shop uncle -laughs-

D: Does the CC organize activities for residents like you?

S: Yes, last year the CC organize some gathering, to celebrate Racial Harmony Day I think. I went with the other shopkeepers, the auntie next door.

D: Do you think the activities are good?

S: Ya, we can talk, relax, spend time with our fellow Kapomg Glam friends -laughs- good for bonding la the activities.

D: Would you want more of activities like there? Maybe cooking courses, sports?

S: Ya la can, it is fun, we can relax, and help me keep fit! -laughs-

D: Well thank you so much auntie, I really appreciate your time and your effort!

S: Okay no problem, good luck ah with your project.

D: Thanks Auntie, bye!

(Certain parts were refined; such as the removal of filler words and stutters)