A chicken rice stall owner and his employee were involved in a violent altercation at Whampoa Drive Block 90 Food Centre on the evening of 20 September. The dispute escalated to the point where the employee chased the owner with a chopper. Both men, aged 54 and 62, were subsequently arrested for affray. The police, responding to a call for assistance at around 7:50 pm, also placed the 62-year-old employee under investigation for criminal intimidation.
## Background
The conflict reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the employee’s salary. According to an eyewitness interviewed by Shin Min Daily News, the employee was dissatisfied with his pay. The argument turned physical when the employee stood up angrily and began waving his fists. The owner defended himself, and the two exchanged blows before the employee grabbed a chopper from the stall. To avoid further escalation, the owner fled the hawker centre, with the employee in pursuit. The police arrived shortly after, took statements, and seized a 20-cm long vegetable knife. CCTV footage of the incident was also retrieved.
## Cleaner begged on knees for employee to put down the knife
During the altercation, a cleaner at the hawker centre intervened by kneeling and begging the employee to put down the chopper. This act of bravery helped to calm the employee. The cleaner’s supervisor praised her courage, noting that it took significant bravery to attempt to stop the fight.
## Employee only worked for 14 days, wanted salary for days he was not working
The chicken rice stall owner, who has been running the shop for a decade, had hired two employees to assist with operations starting from 4 September. Due to a three-day cleaning period at the food centre, the employee had only worked for 14 days. The eyewitness mentioned that the employee had informed the owner of his intention to quit on 19 September, stating that 20 September would be his last day. The employee, who earned S$140 per day, demanded payment for the three days the food centre was closed for cleaning, which the owner refused.
## Previous incidents at Whampoa Food Centre
This incident is not the first time violence has erupted at Whampoa Food Centre. In a separate event on 1 December, a fight broke out between two groups of people who were drinking beer and chatting. Additionally, in May, a 60-year-old man who had been a long-time nasi lemak vendor at the centre died in a blaze at his nearby HDB flat. These incidents highlight ongoing tensions and safety concerns within the community.
## Future implications
The recent altercation underscores the need for better conflict resolution mechanisms and safety measures at hawker centres. Authorities may need to consider implementing stricter regulations and providing support for stall owners and employees to prevent such violent disputes. The community will be closely watching how this situation unfolds and what steps will be taken to ensure a safer environment for both vendors and patrons.
