A rare act of honesty sheds light on the struggles faced by Singapore’s hawkers.
SINGAPORE: A heartfelt Facebook post by Ms. Yi Lin Sng has gone viral, recounting a rare and moving interaction with a stallholder at Geylang East Hawker Centre. The encounter highlighted the challenges hawkers face daily and left the hawker auntie visibly stunned.
Ms. Yi had visited the hawker center to buy chwee kueh and chye poh, a combination priced at S$2.20. However, the stallholder mistakenly charged her only S$2.00. When Ms. Yi pointed out the error, the reaction was unexpected.
The auntie froze, staring silently before admitting, “You are the first person to tell me that I undercharged.” She explained how customers often complain about being overcharged, especially for extras like chye poh, or criticize her for not serving more generous portions.
Ms. Yi empathized, acknowledging the time and effort it takes to prepare chye poh, noting that even though the raw ingredient may be inexpensive, the labor, electricity, and care involved in cooking it add significant value.
The hawker auntie shared her daily struggles, revealing that some days, after balancing operational costs and ingredient expenses, she earns only a few dollars. “She might as well just stop operating,” the woman said, mentioning how she often debates closing the stall with her business partner.
Deeply moved, Ms. Yi expressed her helplessness in the face of the hawker’s plight but promised to return next month for more of her comforting food. Her Facebook post in the Can Eat! SG group has since garnered widespread attention, sparking discussions about the hardships faced by Singapore’s hawkers.
Netizens lauded Ms. Yi’s honesty and the compassion she showed the stallholder. One commenter, a former F&B industry professional, wrote:
“We need more people like you. Many don’t realize the time, effort, and sweat that goes into meals. They still expect 1970s prices, unaware of how tight margins are today.”
As hawkers face increasing challenges in maintaining their businesses, stories like this remind us of the human stories behind our favorite meals and the value of kindness and understanding.
