Hawker Stall Assistant Allegedly Threatened Hawker With Knife Over a Wage Dispute

Money has always been a sensitive issue among Singaporeans — from GST to wages, there’s bound to be someone unhappy whenever the topic of money is raised.

In fact, the money issue is so sensitive that over in Whampoa, a hawker stall assistant attempted to punch his boss over a wage dispute. The hawker stall assistant allegedly even went to the extent of attempting to chase after his boss with a knife.

Hawker Stall Assistant and Stall Owner Throw Hands Over a Wage Dispute

On Friday (20 September), Singaporeans digging into dinner at Whampoa Hawker Centre, located at Block 90 Whampoa Drive, had their meals interrupted by a heated dispute between a hawker stall assistant and his boss.

Not the dinner entertainment we wanted, but okay… 

According to Shin Min Daily News, a hawker stall assistant and his boss from Millennium Hainan Chicken Rice, located within Whampoa Hawker Centre, were initially seated at a table in front of the chicken rice stall to discuss the stall assistant’s wages.

All of a sudden, the stall assistant, who was donning a black t-shirt, stood up and raised his fist at the stall owner. In response, the stall owner also stood up and assumed a defensive posture.

The stall assistant then tried to attack the stall owner. Fortunately, the stall owner was able to defend against the attack. However, the stall owner then proceeded to punch the stall assistant.

Hawker Stall Assistant Allegedly Threatens Stall Owner With Knife; Chased After Stall Owner While Holding Knife

If you thought that was the end of the dispute between the two, you’re wrong — it gets worse.

After a brief scuffle between the two, the stall assistant went back into the chicken rice stall and picked up a knife, presumably wanting to threaten the stall owner with it. CCTV footage of the incident showed that the stall assistant, while holding the knife, attempted to chase after his boss, before eventually returning to the stall.

Aiyo… Should have just called MOM lah.

During this time, the stall owner and his wife ran out of the hawker centre to call the police. The couple only returned to the chicken rice stall once the police had arrived.

However, when the police arrived, the stall assistant had already left the stall.

According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), two men, a 54-year-old and a 62-year-old, were arrested after the incident. The two men who were arrested are presumably the stall assistant and the stall owner.

The 62-year-old is also under investigation for criminal intimidation.