Latest news with #hawkers
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
‘They're not souvenirs.' Hawker at ABC Brickworks says more can be done to stop utensil theft
SINGAPORE: Ray Chen, who opened Kine Burgers at ABC Brickworks Food Centre and Market just three months ago, went viral last month when he shone a light on a problem that hawkers have of people taking home their cutlery and tableware. In a June 15 Instagram post, he shared a video of a whiteboard at his stall that read: 'Dear customers, in the past 10 operating days, 41 forks and 10 plates have been stolen. As a small Singapore business promoting sustainability, we kindly request their return. Authorities will be involved soon. Thank you and God bless.' @kineburgers #stopstealingfromhawkers #kine #KineBurgers #ai #aidesign #LactoseFree #BurgerLovers #HealthyGut #SGHawkerLife #BurgerSquad #hawkerculture #burger #abchawker #hawker #newhawker #sgfoodie #foodietiktok #singapore #openingsoon #burgersg #entrepreneur #michellin ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim After media outlets wrote about the issue, Mr Chen further posted about what he termed a 'nightmare' for Singapore's elderly hawkers, calling it a betrayal of the people who work long hours to serve up delicious food, day after day. 'It's not as though hawkers earn a lot,' Mr Chen told The Independent Singapore in a video interview earlier this week, when we caught up with him to ask him about the issue. He told us that the thievery has slowed down somewhat, but then Kine Burgers has made the switch to disposable forks instead of the small, elegant silver ones they originally used. These became a favoured take-home item within the first week after the stall opened in April, and the square silver plates followed soon afterwards. Photo: Screengrab from r/SingaporeRaw/user illiterate populist 'People treat them as souvenirs,' he told us wryly. When he reported the issue to the authorities, he was told there was not much that could be done. He was also advised to treat the vanishing forks and plates as part of the business' operating expenses, as this is a longstanding problem, so he should get used to it. Sometimes diners don't necessarily mean to steal, Mr Chen added. An older hawker told him about a woman who did not buy food at his stall but asked to borrow utensils, saying she'd bring them back. She never did. The police have told Mr Chen that it would be hard to identify the people who took home Kine's and other hawkers' utensils and plates, particularly since some of these items are quite small. When asked whether the mindset that hawker centre utensils can be treated like souvenirs can change, Mr Chen says he believes so. Even something as simple as the police putting up posters can serve as both a deterrent and a reminder to people to leave cutlery and tableware in hawker centres. He also feels that a few more CCTV cameras in place would be a big help as well. This hawker life That life can be difficult for hawkers can be hard for people to understand, unless they personally know some hawkers, he told TISG. 'People think we're grumpy because we don't stop to chat with customers. We work at least 12, 13 hours a day, and every minute we spend not working means less earnings for us,' the former pastry chef said, adding, 'We are busy… constantly working.' In addition, staffing is a constant challenge. Rental rates, fortunately, are still all right. Since Kine Burgers is currently under the National Environment Agency's Incubation Stall Programme, his rent is discounted. We asked the 38-year-old Mr Chen, who's about to become a first-time father in the coming weeks, if he would ever encourage his child to follow in his footsteps as a hawker. 'Only if it's her passion,' he said, 'only if it's what she wants.' /TISG Read also: 'Heartbreaking betrayal' of elderly hawkers: Stallholder calls out plate and utensil theft at ABC Brickworks
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
DBKL says it gave Desa Pandan stallholders ample time to vacate site
Screenshots from a video showing the man brandishing a parang at Desa Pandan yesterday. PETALING JAYA : Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said today it had ordered hawkers in Desa Pandan to vacate a site in January, following a brief standoff between enforcement officers and a parang-wielding man yesterday. DBKL said it wanted the area on Jalan 2/76 cleared to carry out road works and upgrade facilities. In a statement, it said it had engaged and informed the stakeholders, including the hawkers and their associations, of its plans. The hawkers were officially told to vacate the site on Jan 15, it said, and a final notice was issued on July 4. 'Demolition work was to be carried out on July 15, but it was put on hold due to the commotion at the site,' it said. Police arrested a 43-year-old man after he brandished a parang at DBKL officers during an operation to demolish the illegal structures at Desa Pandan. The man is said to have confronted the officers at about 11.15am during the operation, which also involved the police, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and Air Selangor. Wangsa Maju police chief Lazim Ismail had said the man shouted profanities at the officers before being calmed down by members of the public.
CNA
14-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Over S$2.3b in CDC vouchers spent, with more than half going to hawkers and heartland shops
CDC vouchers have pumped over S$2.3 billion into Singapore's economy since its launch, with more than half going directly to hawkers and heartland shops. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling gave this update, adding that the scheme has not just boosted footfall, but also strengthened community ties. Total usage of CDC vouchers is projected to cross S$1.4 billion by end-2025. Already, some S$43 million worth of SG60 vouchers that were launched earlier this month have been spent at hawkers and neighbourhood shops. Caitlin Ng reports. CDC vouchers have pumped over S$2.3 billion into Singapore's economy since its launch, with more than half going directly to hawkers and heartland shops. Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling gave this update, adding that the scheme has not just boosted footfall, but also strengthened community ties. Total usage of CDC vouchers is projected to cross S$1.4 billion by end-2025. Already, some S$43 million worth of SG60 vouchers that were launched earlier this month have been spent at hawkers and neighbourhood shops. Caitlin Ng reports.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Extend subsidised LPG exemption to all food operators, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong ( pic ) says the government should extend the exemption from the subsidised LPG usage ruling to all food operators nationwide, including mamak stalls, kopitiam, canteens and small eateries. Referring to a recent statement by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Dr Wee said the 2021 regulation limits small traders to three subsidised LPG 14kg cylinders at a time. However, he pointed out that the interpretation is debatable. ALSO READ: Small-time food traders can continue using subsidised gas, says Armizan 'According to the 2021 regulation, there is a limit of three gas cylinders before one must apply for further supply, but it doesn't specify whether these are subsidised or commercial cylinders,' the MCA president said in a statement on Wednesday (July 2). 'In fact, since the regulation was gazetted in 2021, it has never really been enforced. "Ultimately, enforcement depends on the discretion of government officers," he added. Dr Wee welcomed Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali's latest decision to exempt small traders from the ruling, especially those who provide affordable meals to the public. 'While this... is a step in the right direction, it's still not enough,' he said. He called on the government to either extend the exemption to all food vendors or halt enforcing the policy, considering the current economic challenges. 'If enforced, this policy risks triggering another wave of inflation, and ultimately, the public will bear the burden," he said, adding that the government's reversal came after continuous pressure from the public. ALSO READ: Gas tank ruling not for hawkers He pointed out that the MCA had also been criticised for constantly raising the issue. 'We've brought this up repeatedly in the media and directly to the relevant ministry. "This is a clear example of what persistence and pressure can achieve,' he said. Dr Wee said the party would continue to fight for fair and just policies, not just for small traders, but for everyone in the food industry. "Let's not waste time, and let's not burden the people any further. "As I have said from the beginning, there is no need to amend any law. The minister only needs to change the regulation," he said.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- The Hindu
Drive against footpath encroachments every Saturday
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is going to begin a weekly drive against footpath encroachments, especially by the commercial establishments. A circular has been issued to this effect by Commissioner R.V. Karnan on Thursday, which said the drive should be conducted every Saturday. Issued to Zonal and Deputy Commissioners and marked to the Chief City Planner, Additional Chief City Planners, and the City Planners, the circular also directed for the drive to be carried on a minimum of one stretch per circle every week, in a joint operation with the Traffic Police as part of the 'Operation ROPE' (Removal of Obstructive Parking & Encroachments). Under Operation ROPE, a large number of hawkers and vendors are already being removed from the road margins and footpaths. Recently, the displaced hawkers conducted a demonstration in front of the GHMC corporate office, demanding that the harassment be stopped. MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, during a meeting, raised this issue and questioned if the GHMC wanted the vendors to become pickpockets. Officials assure that the new phase will not target the vendors but the commercial entities which occupied footpaths to install their extensions such as steps, sign boards, kiosks, poles and other such impediments. They are invoking the powers of the GHMC Commissioner under Section 405 to remove obstructions on the street, drain, channel etc. The objective is stated as having ease of traffic movement and facilitating pedestrian movement on footpaths. This is not the first time GHMC is taking up such a drive. A similar drive was taken up after establishment of Enforcement, Vigilance & Disaster Management wing as part of GHMC, in 2018. Armed with excavator machinery, the EVDM personnel destroyed not mere sign boards, but even the ramps and steps built onto the road & footpath portions. However, no attempt was made to build footpaths or roads on the reclaimed space. After a while, the shop owners rebuilt the steps or started using iron ladders instead.
