Retailers Can not Demand Orchard Road Mall

A number of retail business in Orchard Road, Singapore, must bear their own losses from flooding this week Wednesday.

The owner of the shop in the basement of Lucky Plaza suffered the biggest losses. Half a day after flash floods occur, they are still cleaning the store and count the losses.

Several store owners said it several times, flooding occurs in the area of Orchard Road, but flooding in June was the biggest in 20 years.

Helen Tan, Managing Director of the All Watches, said, "Flooding is not the first time, very bad, and this is worst than the previous flood. Every year floods occurred twice in Orchard Road ...."
I am sure must have damaged parquet floor. We're still waiting for a contractor who will fix this. Possibilities we have to spend thousands of dollars for these improvements.
- Sunny Ng

Kartini Indrawati, Tunggal Eka owner of Enterprise, said, when flooding occurs there is no business transaction. "We lost all merchandise worth more than 1000 dollars, the human resources of about 300 dollars, 500 dollars and rent. So when the flood occurred, we experienced a 2000 dollar loss," said Kartini.

The other shop owners reveal, the greatest damage comes from the cost of replacing the carpets, furniture, and merchandise. Sunny Ng, Managing Director of the All Watches, said it could not do business throughout the day when a flood struck the Orchard Road. "I believe parquet floor must be broken. We're still waiting for the contractor who will fix it. Possibly we have to spend thousand of dollars for these improvements," he explains.

Elton Chow, owner of Stitchwell Clothiers, adding, "We were not able to claim. None of which can be claimed. We've tried before, and when they come see our store, they (the association) says only minor damage. You can not claim .

"The store owner can not ask the mall management to help finance the improvement," the official said Orchard Road, Business Association, which urged the retailers manage their insurance immediately.

Sng Ngoi May, Chairman of Orchard Road Business Association (New Order), said the heavy rain was the worst ever in mind and this resulted in malls. If the damage included in the premises, retailers should submit to their insurance losses.