• The Mandarin term “巴刹马兰” is the transliteration of the Malay term pasar malam (“night market”).
• Night markets in Singapore typically sell a wide variety of goods, ranging from food and snacks to clothing, furnishings, toys, household items and even books. Most of the items are inexpensive. The stalls are usually brightly lit and often play loud music.
• In the 1950s, there were weekly night markets organised by stallholders to cater to workers at Singapore’s military bases.
• In the early 1960s, roving stalls came to characterise pasar malam, with hawkers moving around various parts of Singapore, regularly setting up their stalls at different locations. There were as many as 40 night markets a week, at locations such as Balestier Road, Farrer Road and Jalan Bukit Ho Swee.
• In the 1970s, owing to the inconvenience caused to residents by problems of sanitation, pollution, and traffic congestion, the Government decided to gradually phase out night markets, and move the stallholders into hawker centres.
• In the 1980s, the Government allowed the operation of night markets again, but operators had to abide by stricter regulations.
• In 1991, night markets made a comeback to housing estates. This initiative by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore and several town councils was aimed at promoting business and injecting new life into older housing estates such as Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh.
• Since 1991, night markets have also been used by community groups and grassroots organisations as venues for fundraising activities, usually lasting up to three days and coinciding with festivals like Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali.

Under the bright sun, the “night market” is still operating, with a variety of stalls from the usual ones to those that will surprise you. (Lianhe Zaobao, 24/7/2009)