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Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Ex-restaurateur on whether F&B outlets should provide free water: It's about 'sustainability of the business'
An ex-restaurateur shared his perspective on whether F&B outlets should be required to provide free water to customers. Ex-restaurateur on whether F&B outlets should provide free water: It's about 'sustainability of the business' Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. An ex-restaurateur shared his perspective on whether F&B outlets should be required to provide free water to customers. Stomper Ee Chien, who had previously expressed his disapproval of home-based cafés, alerted Stomp to his LinkedIn post about the debate. He wrote it in response to Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam's support for a petition in favour of free water in all F&B establishments started by Dr Yucai Yee. Ee Chien's post reads: "As someone who used to run a restaurant and bar, I'd like to offer a perspective that is often left out of the public conversation. "One of my staff members once strongly disagreed with our decision to stop serving water for free. At the time, I thought it was a small issue. But over time, I realised it was not just about water. "It was about the sustainability of the business." He continued: "If someone has 200 customers a day, and charges just $1 per glass, that would add up to nearly $5,000 a month. That could cover two full-time junior staff salaries. In an environment where rents, utility bills, cleaning costs, and wages keep rising, every small stream of revenue counts. "Water may be inexpensive at the source, but providing it in a restaurant is not. There is cost involved in filtration, chilling, ice, service, glassware, washing, and breakage. It takes real resources and real labour. These are especially significant for smaller operators who are already running on thin margins." He further explained the issue from an F&B establishment owner's point of view. "From recent conversations among my peers, most F&B operators are not trying to profiteer. "One restaurant charges $2 per person for unlimited filtered or sparkling water and waives it without hesitation when a guest objects. Another charges just 50 cents but still receives pushback and frustration. A third offers water for free but finds it difficult to keep up with increasing overheads and customer expectations to give more for less. "Many operators have also shared that more customers now bring their own water bottles, help themselves to ice and occupy tables for long periods with minimal orders. Some even bring outside food. "These behaviours, while understandable, put more pressure on already strained operations. "Some restaurants have considered including the cost of water in menu pricing or offering opt-outs, but these often lead to accusations of being sneaky or dishonest. No approach satisfies everyone." His post sparked discussions among other LinkedIn users with an F&B industry peer in Bangkok commenting: "If you want water, just pay for a bottle of still or sparkling. It is affordable and very common in restaurants in Europe." "Customers should stop this 'me first, self-entitled' mentality and start thinking about supporting restaurants. "Many customers just order a drink and expect to sit for hours despite being informed of a time limit on the table. When the time limit is up, they will look around and say, 'But you are empty, why can't we sit longer?' So why not think differently and say, 'Hey, you guys are empty, let me support you by getting another drink." In his post, Ee Chien summarised the concerns from F&B owners across Singapore. "This is not about refusing to serve water. It's more about context and understanding how a business runs before blindly throwing ideas out. "Perhaps Dr Yee might be open to free medical services as it's a universal right? Most of us want to be hospitable, but we also want to be sustainable. A blanket mandate may unintentionally hurt the very businesses that are already struggling to survive. "I hope future conversations on this topic will take into account both the customer experience and the operational reality of running a food and beverage business in Singapore." Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write in to us at stomp@ or WhatsApp 9384 3761. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Independent Singapore
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Better support system needed for Serangoon seniors for accessing public services, says WP MP Kenneth Tiong
SINGAPORE: Newly minted Member of Parliament (MP) from the Workers' Party (WP), Kenneth Tiong (Aljunied Group Representation Constituency [GRC]), shone a light on the difficulties some seniors in Serangoon, the ward he represents, have with the digital delivery of public services, and added that a better support system is needed for them. In a Facebook post on Monday (Jun 16), Mr Tiong wrote that he had been at Serangoon North last weekend for food distribution and a walk around the area's coffee shops. He shared that some of the feedback he had heard from the people he talked to involved the frustrations of the older residents of Serangoon when it comes to dealing with digital services. 'A lot of our elderly residents are not tech-savvy, and they do not perceive Singapore's Digital-First delivery of public services as an ally in helping them navigate these services. ServiceSG is intended to be a key part of this, streamlining access to digital government functions,' he wrote. See also People still applying to join PSP despite Covid-19 outbreak Mr Tiong outlined the problems a senior resident might face, giving the example of a resident who, having found been unfamiliar with a specific digital platform, would be redirected to a ServiceSG centre for assistance with government digital services. 'This redirection immediately poses a significant hurdle,' he wrote, adding that there are no ServiceSG centres in Serangoon. The nearest one is at One Punggol, which could take around 45 minutes to get to. This would be a substantial effort on the part of the senior, particularly for those who are older, who have mobility issues, or who need to take a leave from work to do so. He also wrote that in February, when his fellow WP MP at Aljunied, Gerald Giam, asked for a ServiceSG Centre in Parliament, Minister Chan Chun Sing said, 'There is no plan in the short term to start a ServiceSG Centre in Serangoon town.' If and when the senior does take the trip to a ServiceSG centre, they may discover that the specific function they need, such as a certain application from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, may not be handled by ServiceSG. 'This critical information is often only revealed after they have expended time and effort to travel to the centre,' he noted, adding, 'This frustrating scenario is exacerbated by the absence of readily available phone numbers for ServiceSG. Residents cannot easily call beforehand to confirm if their specific enquiry can be addressed, or what documents to bring, leading to potentially wasted trips.' In cases when services do fall under the purview of ServiceSG, according to some residents, they were told, 'We cannot help you, please go to the agency.' 'This chain of experiences—from initial redirection, to a lengthy journey (especially for Serangoon residents), to discovering service gaps only upon arrival, compounded by a lack of pre-emptive phone support and sometimes unhelpful encounters—needs improvement to be the supportive, ally-like system we aspire to have,' he added. /TISG Read also: One to watch: WP's Kenneth Tiong may take Leon Perera's place at Aljunied
Independent Singapore
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
WP MP-elect Fadli Fawzi pays tribute to Faisal Manap, holds first MPS at Kaki Bukit
SINGAPORE: Fadli Fawzi, who is part of The Workers' Party's (WP) slate that won at Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on May 3, recently took to social media to reflect on his first Meet-the-People Session (MPS) and pay tribute to Faisal Manap, whose former ward in Aljunied, Kaki Bukit, he is now overseeing. Mr Faisal, well-loved in the Malay Muslim community, served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC for three terms from 2011 to 2020. In the recent General Election (GE), he headed the team of WP candidates at Tampines GRC, which lost by a small margin to the ruling People's Action Party slate led by Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli. About his first MPS, Mr Fadli wrote that a 'bumper crowd' of around 30 residents attended, attributing the large number to the backlog caused by the recent GE. 'MPS is an important platform where we understand more about the lived experiences of ordinary Singaporeans in relation to the laws and policies of the land. It makes me proud to think we are continuing the legacy of David Marshall, who started the practice when he was with the Labour Front,' the MP-elect wrote, thanking the volunteers helping him transition into his new role. He also gave a sneak peek of what these volunteers, whom he called unsung heroes, do, from arranging the venue for the sessions to writing up cases and drafting letters. Mr Fadli also wrote that he had done his share of case writing at Eunos, the ward under WP chief Pritam Singh, during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a recent post, he posted photos from his lunch with Mr Faisal at Tampines before the two headed to Ghufran mosque for Friday prayers. Mr Fadli, who has known the former Aljunied MP for 13 years, wrote, 'There is much to admire about him. His genuine humility, sincerity, and compassion makes him a model of servant leadership.' He called Mr Faisal a 'trailblazer,' adding that he will go down in history as Singapore's first Malay-Muslim opposition MP. 'During his tenure, he was steadfast in his commitment to give voice to the poor, the struggling, and the marginalised in Parliament. As a respected mentor and senior leader of the Workers' Party, he has also been generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with the younger members of the party, including myself,' he added. He wrote that he has benefited from Mr Faisal's service at Kaki Bukit, adding that the residents he meets during house visits and walkabouts speak well of the former MP and that the grassroots team the latter left behind is 'effective and well-oiled'. 'This is a testament to Faisal's hard work over the past three terms. During the lunch, we discussed how I can continue to effectively serve the needs of Kaki Bukit residents. His advice and insights are valuable in these early days of learning the ropes to be an MP. Being entrusted to build on what Faisal has accomplished for Kaki Bukit and Singapore is an enormous task. I am very glad and grateful that I can count on the backing and support of the man himself!' he wrote. /TISG Read also: 'The man of the day,' Faisal Manap is touched by warm welcome at Tampines
The Star
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: WP chief Pritam Singh to remain Leader of the Opposition, says PM Wong
PM Lawrence Wong (right) said Pritam Singh will continue as Leader of the Opposition, with staff and resources to perform his duties. - LAWRENCE WONG/FACEBOOK via ST/ANN SINGAPORE: Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh will remain the Leader of the Opposition with staff and resources to carry out his duties, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. 'The WP fielded a strong slate of candidates, and put up a tough fight in this election,' said PM Wong, who added that he had spoken to Pritam. WP has also consolidated and increased its presence in Parliament, the Prime Minister added in a Facebook post on May 5. The opposition party retained Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, returning 1ten elected MPs to Parliament. As the 'best losers' at the polls - narrowly losing to the ruling PAP in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC - the party will be able to take up two Non-Constituency MP seats in Singapore's 15th Parliament. In the five constituencies that it did not win, WP candidates polled above 40 per cent. PM Wong said: 'I look forward to the contributions of the Workers' Party members in Parliament,' he added. Pritam was appointed Leader of the Opposition by former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after the last general election in 2020, which saw WP win its second GRC - Sengkang. The Leader of the Opposition's role is to lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, Bills and motions. His duties also include leading and organising scrutiny of the government's positions and actions in Parliament. On May 3, WP triumphed in its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, returning its core leaders - including Pritam, its secretary-general - to Parliament. Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the five-member WP team in Aljunied GRC maintained its hold over the constituency, with 59.68 per cent of the vote. In Hougang, WP polled 62.17 per cent. The party also held on to Sengkang, winning 56.31 per cent of the vote. While the party did not win any new constituency, it polled above 40 per cent in the constituencies where it lost, namely the Punggol, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, as well as the Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat SMCs. - The Straits Times/ANN
New Paper
05-05-2025
- Politics
- New Paper
GE2025: WP chief Pritam Singh to remain Leader of the Opposition
WP chief Pritam Singh will remain the Leader of the Opposition with staff and resources to carry out his duties, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. "The WP fielded a strong slate of candidates, and put up a tough fight in this election," said PM Wong, who added that he had spoken to Mr Singh. WP has also consolidated and increased its presence in Parliament, the Prime Minister added in a Facebook post on May 5. WP consolidated its hold over Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC, returning 10 elected MPs to Parliament. As the "best losers" at the polls - narrowly losing to the ruling PAP in Jalan Kayu SMC and Tampines GRC - the party also has the option to take up two Non-Constituency MP seats in the 15th Parliament. In the five constituencies that it did not win, the party's candidates came close, polling above 40 per cent. PM Wong said: "I look forward to the contributions of the Workers' Party members in Parliament," he added. Mr Singh was appointed Leader of the Opposition by former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong after the last general election in 2020, which saw the WP win its second GRC - Sengkang. The Leader of the Opposition's role is to lead the opposition in presenting alternative views in parliamentary debates on policies, Bills and motions. His duties also include leading and organising scrutiny of the Government's positions and actions in Parliament. On May 3, WP triumphed in its traditional strongholds of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, returning its core leaders - including Mr Singh, its secretary-general - to Parliament. Despite a national swing towards the ruling party, the five-member WP team in Aljunied GRC maintained its hold over the constituency, with 59.68 per cent of the vote. In Hougang, WP polled 62.17 per cent. The party also held on to Sengkang, winning 56.31 per cent of the vote. While the party did not win any new constituency, it polled above 40 per cent wherever it contested, including in Punggol, East Coast and Tampines GRCs, as well as Jalan Kayu SMC.
