SINGAPORE: Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, has defended the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) policy requiring hawkers to be physically present at their stalls, stating that the rule is essential for maintaining affordability and accessibility in Singapore’s hawker culture.
The issue gained public attention after NEA required an expectant hawker, Mrs Noorman, to be physically present at her Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, despite her ability to manage it remotely.
Fu acknowledged that many sympathised with Mrs Noorman’s situation, given the challenges of running a business while heavily pregnant.
However, she maintained that the requirement is necessary.
“NEA has clarified the rationale for this requirement. This requirement matters,” she said in a Facebook post on Friday (21 Feb).
She explained that hawker stalls are intended to provide Singaporeans with opportunities to start and run small food businesses.
Expanding hawker stalls into chains, she warned, could drive up rental costs, make it harder for individuals to secure a stall, and eventually lead to higher food prices.
Addressing claims circulating on social media that the stall is part of a chain with over 20 outlets, Fu noted that the operator had proposed appointing a nominee to take over temporarily.
She stated that NEA would investigate these claims and follow up with the hawker centre operator.
“Day in, day out, our hawkers work long and hard to satisfy our hunger and food cravings with local fare at affordable prices,” she added.
Fu emphasised the importance of balancing the needs of hawkers and consumers, stating that the rules in place are meant to benefit all Singaporeans and protect the country’s shared hawker culture.
Controversy Over NEA’s Warning
The debate began after hawker Noorman Mubarak, the husband of a stallholder at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, shared his frustration on Facebook.
On 18 February, he revealed that his wife had received a warning from NEA for not being physically present at their Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang stall.
His post quickly went viral, gaining over 1,400 shares. Many sympathised with his wife’s situation, noting that she is heavily pregnant.
Noorman argued that while the tenancy agreement requires stallholders to manage their businesses, it does not explicitly state that they must be physically present at all times.
The couple, who have run their stall since 2017, initially operated it themselves but later transitioned to handling administrative tasks while their staff managed daily operations.
Yishun Park Hawker Centre clarified that the stall is registered under Noorman’s wife, while Noorman is not a registered stallholder.
Under NEA regulations, stallholders must operate their stalls but may appoint a joint operator who is physically present for at least four hours daily.
“In view of Mrs Noorman’s absence, we engaged her multiple times to explore solutions,” the hawker centre said, adding that despite repeated requests, no joint operator was appointed, leading to two reminders.
NEA defended the rule, stating it prevents subletting, which could raise rental and food prices.
It noted that stallholders unable to be present can appoint a joint operator or nominee.
“This policy applies to stalls in hawker centres managed by NEA and our operators,” it said.
Hawker Disputes Claims and Criticises Policy
In response to Fu’s statement, Noorman refuted her claims in the comments section, stating that his facts had been misrepresented.
“My facts have been skewed. Seven of us young hawkers received the warning letters,” he said.
He clarified that his wife operates only one hawker stall and has not expanded into a multi-stall brand.
“My other shops are all in private sectors. We are not a multi-hawker stall brand. Only one more stall in Ci Yuan is owned by a different person, and another in Jalan Berseh is run by myself,” he explained.
Noorman also criticised the effectiveness of the policy, arguing that it does not prevent subletting.
“The owner can just be there and still sublet. The policy is moot at most,” he said.
He emphasised that his fight is for the dignity and respect of hawkers, particularly young hawkers in Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHC), where rental costs range from $3,000 to $5,000 a month.
He argued that hawkers should have the flexibility to manage their work without being penalised for adopting modern business practices.
Debate Over Hawker Stall Regulations
Noorman’s response sparked further discussion online, with users sharing differing perspectives on the issue.
One user argued that hawkers who disagreed with the rules could operate elsewhere, such as in coffee shops or food courts, but likely avoided them due to higher rental costs.
They criticised the expectation of enjoying lower hawker stall rentals while rejecting the accompanying regulations.
Noorman replied that he was not against the rules but believed they should be improved. He emphasised that he had followed the regulations but wanted them refined to better support hawkers.
One user questioned the rigid enforcement of physical presence, especially for Mrs Noorman, who could manage her stall remotely while pregnant.
They argued that regulations should prevent large chains from dominating hawker spaces without penalising individuals in exceptional cases.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all rule, they called for case-by-case exemptions.
Another user disagreed, stating that hawkers who could afford staff should move to private setups instead of relying on subsidised stalls.
They accused some of exploiting public sentiment for sympathy.
Noorman countered by highlighting that corporate-owned stalls at SEHC were not subject to the same rules.
He questioned why hawkers had to comply while companies could operate public hawker stalls with different conditions.
Concerns Over Policy Consistency and Sustainability
Another user pointed out contradictions in government policies. While rental prices and regulations pushed hawkers to innovate, the insistence on traditional operations discouraged such efforts.
They questioned the inconsistency and suggested raising the issue in the upcoming Committee of Supply (COS) debate. They also noted that rising costs were driving many long-time hawkers out of business.
A different commenter criticised NEA’s requirement for hawkers to be physically present, comparing it to ministers and MPs delegating responsibilities while managing national duties.
They argued that if delegation was accepted in governance and business, hawkers should also have flexibility, especially in exceptional cases.
While supporting NEA’s efforts to prevent abuse, the user called for a more balanced approach, suggesting case-by-case exemptions with proper oversight.
They stressed that practical and compassionate policies would encourage more people to enter and sustain the hawker industry.
The post Minister Grace Fu defends NEA’s hawker presence rule amid controversy, hawker calls it ineffective appeared first on The Online Citizen.
