Aspiring hawkers may get a chance to see if they can make the cut at “incubation stalls”, where they will be provided with basic equipment and learn the trade from more experienced hawkers.

This was one of the recommendations in the report submitted by the Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources yesterday.

Mr Wong Kok Weng, 36, who quit selling mobile phones to start a salad stall in Amoy Street Food Centre in 2015, said having incubation stalls is a great idea.

The first six months were an uphill struggle, he said.

“At first, I wasted a lot of food and time as I didn’t know how much and when to prepare.”

Despite being surrounded by food, he was eating one meal a day.

“I didn’t dare to eat as I didn’t know when customers would turn up,” he recalled.

“Over time, fellow hawkers gave me advice on the peak hours, and I also learnt that some items can be prepared the night before. But not all stalls are so helpful, as they may be worried that you will take business away from them,” added Mr Wong, who runs a one-man show.

Mr Douglas Ng, 26, who started a fishball noodle stall in Golden Mile Food Centre in 2014, said the incubation stalls would be a good start.

He said that whether they really help budding hawkers would depend on whether the hawkers would need to pay rent and other costs during their stint.

This was not specified in the recommendations.

When he started out, Mr Ng forked out $2,500 a month in rent from his savings, and broke even after 11/2 years.

Mr Fabian Toh, 36, who sells Cantonese dessert in Chinatown food centre, represents the latest generation in a family business that goes back to 1966.

He said many new hawkers try too hard to be creative, offer too many varietiesor are overconfident about recipes, which could lead to disappointment.

“If you want to cook something, just cook that something and make sure you do a good job. The rest doesn’t really matter,” said Mr Toh.

Mr K.F. Seetoh, founder of food guide Makansutra, said implementing the incubation stalls idea would not be simple, as “some dishes require more than basics as a start”.

“For example, a bak chor mee (stall) requires blanching stations, mise en place sections and a back wok station to make sauces and sambal, differing from, say, a chicken rice stall,” he noted.

“So, this has to be properly managed to meet the expectations of a new and eager set of street food chefs.”

Automation and pooling resources the way to go for food centres

At Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, hawkers do not have to wash their own dishes or utensils.

Instead, they pay a fee for their dirty crockery and cutlery to be taken away and washed at a factory, and returned the next morning.

For Madam Irene Koh, 58, that saves her about $400 – the additional amount of money she would have had to fork out each month to hire someone to help her clean up.

“It saves time, labour and water… It has made our lives easier,” said Madam Koh, who runs Mei Ji Fish Ball Noodle with her husband.

A central dishwashing service was among the recommendations proposed by the Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee yesterday, to improve productivity at hawker centres, a move that can help keep costs lower for hawkers and, in turn, patrons.

Pooling resources and buying in bulk from suppliers, and using equipment to automate repetitive tasks such as the chopping of vegetables, were also highlighted.

Hawkers interviewed said they were open to buying common ingredients such as noodles, rice, salt and sugar in bulk as that would drive down their expenses, though they would still have to buy their own key ingredients such as prawns, for instance.

As for new machinery, some pointed out that this would be difficult because their stalls were too small.

However, automation made sense for Mr Raymond Tan, 59, who runs a dumpling stall in Block 50A, Marine Terrace, as he got weaker with age.

Last year, he spent $15,000 on a customised wok that stirs its content automatically.

Now, he is able to fry 20kg of pork at a go, double the previous amount. “I think this machine will help me stay in business longer,” he said.

Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor, the committee chairman, noted that hawkers are wary of any additional costs, and said the team has suggested that the Government consider an incentive scheme to get them on board such productivity-enhancing initiatives.

“Hawker centres are close to the hearts of Singaporeans, and our recommendations are aimed at supporting Singaporeans who aspire to join the hawker trade, while at the same time ensuring that the public will continue to have access to affordable and tasty food in a clean and pleasant environment,” she said.

samboh@sph.com.sg

linyc@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 4, 2017.
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Hawker centres are set to reinvent themselves.

They could be remodelled into spaces hosting community events and a training ground for future generations that will keep the trade alive.

This is the vision of the Hawker Centre 3.0 Committee, tasked with breathing life into a sector suffering from an ageing workforce and a shortage of new blood.

The 14-member committee, which spoke to more than 800 people over the last year, has made proposals that could change the hawker centre as we know it.

Centres could come with free Wi-Fi, for instance, or have a centralised dishwashing service and even stalls where aspiring hawkers can try their hand at the trade, according to the committee’s report submitted yesterday.

One major issue is the growing demand for food sellers, particularly with 20 more hawker centres expected to be built by 2027.

However, it has been hard to attract younger Singaporeans to what they see as a back-breaking profession. Today, the median age of hawkers is 59.

To make the sector more appealing, the committee’s proposals are geared towards supporting new hawkers and raising the productivity of existing ones.

They also aim to turn food centres into social spaces for community events and even performances.

This idea is also to encourage a considerate hawker culture – where patrons return trays, for instance.

Said committee chair Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources: “The vision is for our hawker centres to be appealing and vibrant social spaces where people from all walks of life can enjoy affordable and tasty food… and where hawkers can continue to make a decent livelihood.”

Mrs Rosa Daniel, committee member and chief executive of the National Heritage Board, pointed out that hawker centres today are more than just places where people gather to eat.

“If you can make it a space where experiences are memorable and enjoyable, that would be better,” she said.

This effort has already started, with hawker centres featured on heritage trails, for instance.

The committee proposed that a few stalls in some centres be used as “incubation” stalls for aspiring hawkers to experience the profession for some time, and provide structured training in cooking hawker fare and running a hawker business.

Centralised dishwashing services so that hawkers do not have to wash their own dishes, cashless payment systems, as well as equipment that automates repetitive tasks like the chopping of onions and chilli, were also suggested to raise productivity and keep costs low.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said his ministry is studying the report.

Hawkers and patrons welcomed the proposals, though some pointed to the hurdles.

Ms Grace Ow, 36, who runs a Hokkien noodle stall in Bukit Timah Food Centre, pointed out that about $10,000 is needed to start off as a hawker, which deters many.

“The incubation stalls allow them to know if they like the job before taking the plunge,” she said.

Foodie K.F. Seetoh, founder of food guide Makansutra, felt some ideas were not new.

“But we need action and a diligent call for it,” he said.

Administrative manager Karen Kan, 42, said that while the idea of having performances in hawker centres could make them more vibrant, most people just eat and go.

“Moreover, hawker centres are already buzzing with noise and chatter,” she said.

samboh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 4, 2017.
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Alexandra Hospital feels more like a chalet than a hospital.

The three-storey hospital blocks – comprising several linked buildings – are spread across sprawling grounds of 130,000 sq m, surrounded by greenery.

It even has a football field.

Its corridors are wide and airy and the hospital’s main entrance at Block 1 overlooks a butterfly garden facing Alexandra Road.

Mr Lee Yan Chang, an executive architect from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), says: “The intention was to provide airy spaces and encourage fresh air to circulate through the grounds so patients could recuperate – fresh natural air was considered ‘health giving’.

Furthermore, there was no air-conditioning back then, so that is why the buildings are more spread out.”

Members of the public are encouraged to enjoy the greenery at the hospital, especially the butterfly garden.

Mr Lee says: “The butterfly garden is a unique community landmark of the area that offers a quiet sanctuary everyone can enjoy. It is worth a visit if you are in the vicinity.”

But beneath the serenity of the hospital’s grounds lies an unsettling history: Staff and patients at the hospital were massacred by Japanese troops on Feb 14, 1942, during the Japanese invasion.

In recognition of the hospital’s WWII history, the National Heritage Board marked it as a Historic Site in 1998.

Built in 1938 by the British Armed Forces, it was originally known as the British Military Hospital until it was handed over to the Singapore Government in 1971 for a symbolic $1.

It was then opened to the public as a general hospital.

Mr Lee adds that it is rare to find old hospital buildings which still function as hospitals today.

“Look at the Old Changi Hospital – it’s no longer used as one,” he says, referring to the hospital’s old premises in Halton Road in Changi.

It moved to new premises in Simei in 1997.

Alexandra Hospital’s simplified neo-Classical-style buildings, typical of military buildings built in the 1930s such as the former military camp Gillman Barracks, are made of reinforced concrete with walls filled with local bricks.

However, the centre protruding structure at the front of Block 1 is not part of the building’s original architecture.

It was added during one of the many renovations the hospital underwent from the 1970s to 1990s – the exact year it was added is not known – to provide shelter at the drop-off point.

During the renovations, the original glass louvres and mild steel frames at Block 1 were replaced with tinted full-glass windows and its pre-cast concrete cross balustrades on its facade were filled up.

This allowed the hospital to extend the rooms for additional space to meet the growing needs of its patients.

Three blocks – 1, 2 and 6 – were gazetted for conservation by the URA in June 2014.

“What’s unique about Singapore’s redevelopment is that it is a nice balance between keeping the heritage and meeting the modern needs – in this case, helping to meet the increase in demand for hospital beds,” says Mr Lee.

“In terms of heritage, we get to keep the most significant buildings of Alexandra Hospital as a reminder of it being a military hospital and its involvement in WWII.”

alywoo@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 4, 2017.
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The co-owner of a popular popiah store in Joo Chiat died in 2012 after taking a dangerous mix of medication.

But it was just by accident.

The coroner had earlier ruled his death a suicide.

The Court of Appeal finding now entitles his estate to claims of $1.2 million from personal accident insurance policies.

In judgment grounds released on Thursday, the apex court overturned a ruling last year that dismissed his family’s insurance claims against AIA Singapore, clarifying what makes for an accident as described in a personal accident insurance policy, in order to qualify for an insurance payout.

The Court of Appeal had to consider the question: Did Mr Quek Kiat Siongknow it could end his life when he took the medicinal drugs that caused his death?

According to the forensic pathologist, he died from multi-organ failure with acute lung bleeding due to mixed drug intoxication.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said in a written judgment that the evidence points to a 50-year-old who was resilient, made plans for the future and had no lack of desire to carry on with life.

On Aug 4, 2012, Mr Quek was found lying unresponsive on his bedroom floor.

Besides previously being admitted to hospital for back pain, he was treated for anxiety, depression and insomnia, and was prescribed 14 drugs by different doctors.

His family’s bid to make insurance claims in 2013 was rejected, after his death was ruled a suicide by the coroner.

His elder sister Victoria then took out a civil case in 2014 against AIA to seek payouts on two personal accident policies.

Defence lawyers Lim Tong Chuan and Joel Wee of Tan Peng Chin LLC said AIA was not liable as Mr Quek must have intentionally overdosed, and his death was not accidental or involuntary, as drug consumption is not an involuntary act.

Last April, Justice Judith Prakash ruled that Mr Quek “probably deliberately consumed more medication than he should have”, causing his death.

His family, represented by lawyers Melanie Ho, Chang Man Phing and Tang Shangwei of WongPartnership, appealed against the decision.

They said he might not have consumed more than was prescribedand his state of mind did not suggest he had planned to take his life.

The apex court found that the quantity and variety of drugs prescribed to Mr Quek were at the high end.

Even in the prescribed doses, they could result in the adverse reactions that led to his death.

The forensic pathologist said the combination of medication killed him.

The court also found that Mr Quek seemed to be in a positive mood in CCTV footage the night before he was found dead.

He also bought two second-hand luxury cars in the previous month despite never owning a motor vehicle before, and moved to a house in Everitt Road to avoid falls at home and cope with his back pain.

These were positive signs, and it was likely he took his medication as prescribed, not expecting it to cause death, the Chief Justice said.

Even if Mr Quek did not follow the prescription, he would still be within the scope of the insured risk if he did not intend or expect to suffer injury, added the Chief Justice.

In response to queries, AIA Singapore said it “will be in touch with the Quek family soon to arrange for payment to the insured’s estate”.

Read Also: Insurance suit: Man’s death ‘not accident’

‘Death of family hero a great loss’

Mr Quek Kiat Siong was found lying unresponsive on his bedroom floor in the family’s Everitt Road house on Aug 4, 2012, after consuming medicinal drugs.

He had been prescribed 14 drugs by different doctors and was taking up to 26 pills every day, the written judgment revealed.

“His death was a great loss to the family,” said his elder sister Victoria, 60, who also helps to run the family business which their father started in 1938 in Joo Chiat Road.

Mr Quek, who was single, had lived in the Joo Chiat Road premises for most of his life with Ms Quek and another sister.

She said her brother would be up at 5.30am every day to get the family business going.

The co-owner of the popular Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah & Kueh Pie Tie would prepare the dough for the popiah skin and fix up the hot pan before having his breakfast, said Ms Quek.

“After his national service, it was the same routine for him every day,” she told The Straits Times.

“He was very actively involved in the family business.”

The fourth youngest in a family of 16 siblings, Mr Quek stopped the heavy lifting only after seeking treatment for a back injury in 2009.

He developed symptoms of depression when he was no longer able to carry out many manual tasks.

In July 2012, Mr Quek was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital because of his back pain.

He was also receiving treatment for anxiety, depression and insomnia.

In January 2013, the family was told the insurance claim was not payable because the coroner had found his death to be a suicide.Later in the year, AIA added that Mr Quek “must have sustained bodily injury in an accident before the sum assured is payable”.

“We were sure that he would not have taken his own life,” said Ms Quek.

“He had been making major plans, such as how to expand the family business and how to get the children involved.”

Besides its day-to-day operations, Mr Quek handled the strategic decisions and administrative work, she said.

“To all of us, he was a hero,” Ms Quek added.

He was generous to his nieces and nephews, even buying a car for one of his nephews.

“He was the uncle who was able to rally the younger nephews and nieces to learn the trade of popiah-making. He mentored…seven of them to come on board,” she said.

One of his nephews, Mr Michael Ker, 40, gave up being a pharmacist to succeed Mr Quek after his death.

On the appeal result, Ms Quek said: “It’s not about the insurance money; it’s about who he was as a person and the honour of our family.”

Read Also: Insurance battle over unusual death

byseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 4, 2017.
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A childcare centre that was ordered on Tuesday by the authorities to close next month, was yesterday told that it can remain open, on the condition that the amount it owes be paid by March 7.

Character Montessori in Punggol was served a lease termination notice after owing the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) two months of rental fees.

After factoring in interest for the late payment and GST, the outstanding sum is about $72,000.

About 90 children are enrolled at the centre.

There are four other centres in the pre-school chain, but they are not affected, according to Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao’s report on Thursday.

The centre had been given “numerous e-mail reminders” and two “notices of demand” since Nov 10 last year, and was told its lease would be terminated on March 31.

Its founding principal Grace Yong told The Straits Times that after she e-mailed Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin on Thursday to appeal for help, the centre was told yesterday morning that it could remain open, provided it pay the outstanding sum, as well as the February rent of about $32,000, by March 7.

Responding to queries, an SLA spokesman said the centre had been “persistently late with rental payments” since February last year, and SLA issued 14 notices of demand, followed by four termination notices from May to November. However, these were withdrawn after the centre made late payment of its rental arrears.

Last December, SLA learnt that the centre was under receivership.

After the centre did not pay rent that month and last month, SLA issued notices of demand.

SLA said the centre made a proposal to settle the outstanding amount, and “should (the centre) adhere to its proposal and settles all outstanding arrears, it can continue operating at the premises”.

The centre told parents on Wednesday that two incidents had “drained our financial buffers significantly”.

An administrator allegedly embezzled more than $120,000 over two years till the middle of last year, when the deed was discovered during a financial audit. She was sacked and has been arrested.

The centre has also had to pay more than double its previous rental rate, after bidding for its site at 420, Punggol Road, in 2014.

The site was up for tender then as the centre’s lease was due to expire.

Ms Yong said she is “confident” of meeting the deadline to pay the amount owed.

“We’ve taken cost-cutting measures since the last quarter of last year, such as reducing the headcount at our HQ.”

Said housewife Q. Ren, 34: “I’m somewhat relieved that the centre won’t close, as the teachers are really good. But I hope the management will keep to its promise (of resolving the issues). It’d be a pity if the teachers leave because of this.”

Rental rates in the spotlight

Character Montessori’s monthly rent in Punggol Road is an eye-watering $32,050 for a building with an indoor space of under 500 sq m.

That it was almost forced to close down after being in arrears in payments to its landlord, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), has cast a spotlight on the rents that childcare centres face.

What Character Montessori paid is not unusual in the sector, based on checks of other recent open site tenders.

Some centres in Housing Board void decks pay monthly rents of about $20,000 for sites with a floor area of about 500 sq m.

This is despite efforts by the authorities to curb rental costs. In 2013, the Early Childhood Development Agency and the SLA stopped the practice of awarding sites to the childcare firm that offers to pay the most.

Such a practice often sparked bidding wars among operators and pushed up fees for parents.

In the new tender-evaluation process, the bid price makes up only half the score, with the rest – the “Q-score” for quality – made up by other criteria such as the fees the childcare centre charges as well as its track record.

In the case of the Punggol Road site, the last open tender took place in 2014.

There were 12 bidders.

The highest bid was $32,555 and the lowest was $19,000.

Character Montessori – which had occupied the site since 2007 – bid $32,050, more than double the rental rate it had paid previously.

The top bidder, Kindle Preschool, did not get the site as it had a low Q-score of nine points out of 50.

Character Montessori tied with Knowledge Universe at 89 points overall out of 100, with equal scores in the bid price and quality components.

It was eventually selected through a random ballot.

Character Montessori’s founding principal Grace Yong blamed the high rent as a reason it had delayed making payment.

“The doubling of rent increased our costs significantly and impacted our cash flow more than expected,” she wrote in appeal letters to MPs.

Queried over why the company had gone ahead to bid at a rate that it could barely afford, Ms Yong argued that the bid price “still plays a key role” in the awarding of sites.

“If the bid price we offer is less than the average price among the bidders, we lose some points (in the score),” she told The Straits Times.

The average bid was about $25,710 for the Punggol Road site.

The proportion of operating costs that goes to rent varies across centres, as this partly depends on how many teachers the centre hires, and can range from 10 per cent to as much as 50 per cent.

But cost pressures come mainly from rent and staff costs.

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 4, 2017.
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