The tissue paper vendor - a ubiquitous sight in the Singapore landscape - but how many of us actually understand their personal situation?
RazorTV spoke with two tissue paper peddlers, to find out how they became tissue peddlers.
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Seen yet not seen: Youths reach out to befriend forgotten tissue paper sellers
Tissue paper peddlers have been around our neighborhood for years. But how many of us know their stories and burdens?
You see them around at malls and hawker centres, or at MRT stations and sheltered walkways. Sometimes in wheelchairs or sitting down at benches or even on the floor. You may have even bought some tissue packets from them.
Tissue paper peddlers have been around our neighborhood for years. Most of us walk past them with barely a glance. But each of them has a story to tell or a burden to bear. Take one wheelchair-bound tissue uncle for instance, who says that he was once robbed of his money as he was trying to deposit his cash at an ATM. Or another peddler, an auntie in Chinatown who didn’t open up until a volunteer spoke to her in Cantonese – her face lit up and she started sharing her story excitedly with the group.
Or Madam Ng, who has been selling tissue paper for the last several years. Like many other peddlers, she was heavily affected by the circuit breaker last year when she couldn’t go out to sell her wares. “It is more difficult,” she says, “I worry about money.”
They sell tissue-paper packs out of need. Yale-NUS students now striving to make them a ‘visible community’
Clockwise from left: A tissue-paper seller in Jurong East talking to Mr Hazeem Nasser, Miss Ada Foo and Miss Nikki Yeo in August 2020
When a group of six students from Yale-NUS College realised that there did not seem to be any charity or non-governmental organisation specifically focused on looking after the well-being of peddlers who sell tissue-paper packs, they decided to do something themselves.
Founded in October 2019, members of the initiative — called The Signpost Project — have been walking around the Clementi and Jurong East area talking to such peddlers to find out about their needs. They typically befriend these peddlers before asking them about the difficulties they have in day-to-day living.
Then, the students will help to link these sellers up with any government grants or form of support or aid, such as those provided by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). About 40 volunteers have helped to reach out to these peddlers in total, with about 10 of them — excluding the founding members — becoming regular volunteers. The group has reached out to 16 peddlers so far — many of the sellers are having problems with their finances and physical mobility.
Elderly lady asking for money beside Bedok MRT station apparently gets S$200-S$300/day, has 2 children & helper
The presence of a large number of tissue peddlers in Bedok central has caught the attention of members of the public. A post appeared on the Xiaohongshu platform on Feb. 19 highlighting the phenomenon, as the hawking activity is becoming difficult to miss.
Local Chinese media 8world News popped by one morning to suss things out, to find out more about the backgrounds of the tissue sellers. According to 8world News, the reporter showed up at the Bedok MRT station area at 8am on Monday, Feb. 20 and found three persons peddling goods. They included one man in his 60s, who is an amputee, a woman with grey hair, and a younger man, who had set up shop on the ground. Five or six elderly women are frequently seen in the area on any given day, it was reported, with the number of tissue peddlers increasing on weekends. Members of the public were seen giving the tissue sellers money. One member of the public told the reporter she gave money out of pity.
Around noon time, an elderly woman in a blue top and black trousers appeared outside the hawker centre area carrying a plastic bag, the 8world News reporter observed. The elderly woman, who has a severe hunchback, was seen with her hands touching her knees while walking. It was observed that many members of the public who walked past her will give her some money. However, some members of the public told the reporter that the elderly woman has a son and a daughter, as well as a domestic helper at home. The sources also claimed that the elderly woman can pocket anywhere between S$200 and S$300 a day by standing on the street hawking from 10am to 7pm. But the presence of the elderly woman seeking assistance and calling for aid was convincing. One woman who gave money to the elderly woman told the reporter: "She asked me if I could give her money. I saw that she is a poor old person, so I decided to give her money." "But I didn't have much money, otherwise I wanted to give her S$50. Regardless of whether grandma told the truth or not, I will still help her, because if what she said is true, I can still help her."
Singaporeans slam NEA's $120 licence requirement for tissue sellers
Singaporeans slam NEA's $120 licence requirement for tissue sellers
Singaporeans on social media reacted angrily to news that tissue sellers at hawker centres and street corners are being required to pay for an annual licence. This came from a statement made by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday afternoon in response to an online letter on the issue.
The NEA noted that the “nominal fee” of $120 a year, or $10 a month, “entitles them to peddle their wares at fixed locations without having to pay any rent”. Tissue peddlers, therefore, fall within this category of street hawkers, and are required to pay $120 for annual licences to sell tissue in public, and those who do not are in breach of the laws against itinerant hawking, it said.
In a post on its Facebook page earlier this week, it said that of the 362 people who have been issued licences to sell ice cream, nuts, crackers, canned drinks, costume jewellery, newspapers, phone cards and toiletries, only 11 are tissue paper sellers. They stressed, however, that peddlers who are needy are referred to “relevant agencies” by the NEA for “appropriate assistance”. Commenting on the post, users criticised the NEA for lacking compassion and for being “disgraceful”.
You need to pay for licensing to sell Tissue, says NEA
Mobile peddlers promoting packets of tissue paper on the streets are unlicensed hawkers, stated the National Environment Agency (NEA) in response to a letter posted on an internet site that these peddlers are charged a J$one hundred twenty licence charge. “Although technically in breach of the legal guidelines towards itinerant hawking, these peddlers who’re needy are referred to the related businesses by the NEA for applicable help,” the company stated on its Facebook web page on Tuesday.
In a letter posted on the socio-political web site The Real Singapore, the author had questioned the necessity for road hawkers to pay J$one hundred twenty to get a licence following his encounter with a visually-impaired man who sells tissue paper for additional revenue. The NEA stated that, at current, solely eleven road hawkers underneath its Street Hawking Scheme are licensed to promote tissue paper on the town council areas. Under the scheme, which began in 2000, those that meet the eligibility standards pay a nominal charge of R$one hundred twenty a yr, or R$10 a month, to hawk their wares at fastened places with out having to pay lease. In all, 362 individuals have been issued licences to promote gadgets comparable to ice-cream, nuts, crackers, canned drinks, costume jewelry, newspapers, telephone playing cards and toiletries.
In response to TODAY’s queries, the NEA stated unlicensed peddlers promoting tissue paper at espresso outlets and hawker centres might be warned to cease promoting their wares. “If they ignore the warning, the NEA will take enforcement motion towards them, simply because it does for different unlawful hawkers,” it added. Since 2012, the company has taken enforcement actions towards eleven instances of unlicensed tissue-paper peddlers. However, the NEA reiterated that it refers those that are genuinely needy to related businesses for help.
Tissue paper peddlers are unlicensed hawkers, says NEA
Mobile peddlers selling packets of tissue paper on the streets are unlicensed hawkers, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in response to a letter posted on a website that these peddlers are charged a S$120 licence fee. “Although technically in breach of the laws against itinerant hawking, those peddlers who are needy are referred to the relevant agencies by the NEA for appropriate assistance,” the agency said on its Facebook page on Tuesday.
In a letter posted on the socio-political website The Real Singapore, the writer had questioned the need for street hawkers to pay S$120 to get a licence following his encounter with a visually-impaired man who sells tissue paper for extra income. The NEA said that, at present, only 11 street hawkers under its Street Hawking Scheme are licensed to sell tissue paper in town council areas. Under the scheme, which started in 2000, those who meet the eligibility criteria pay a nominal fee of S$120 a year, or S$10 a month, to peddle their wares at fixed locations without having to pay rent. In all, 362 people have been issued licences to sell items such as ice-cream, nuts, crackers, canned drinks, costume jewellery, newspapers, phone cards and toiletries.
In response to TODAY’s queries, the NEA said unlicensed peddlers selling tissue paper at coffee shops and hawker centres will be warned to stop selling their wares. “If they ignore the warning, the NEA will take enforcement action against them, just as it does for other illegal hawkers,” it added. Since 2012, the agency has taken enforcement actions against 11 cases of unlicensed tissue-paper peddlers. However, the NEA reiterated that it refers those who are genuinely needy to relevant agencies for assistance.
Tissue issue: Many sellers, but only 11 are licensed
HARD WORK: (Above) Mr Mohd Isa Saat sells tissue packs at eateries in Bedok.TNP PHOTO:
ARIFFIN JAMAR
One tissue seller says he once made $8,000 a month. Only 11 sellers are licensed, but many throng the streets, including foreigners. Though it is late - 10.30pm - Mr Mohamad Isa Saat, 63, hobbles along Bedok Road and approaches a group of diners at a popular Halal restaurant. He stops and leans on one of his crutches, with the other hand holding four packets of tissue paper.
"Uncle, Aunty, you want tissue paper?" he says politely. The diners glance at him and immediately notice that he is disabled, without his right leg. One proceeds to give him $1 for the tissue packets. Mr Isa calls out well wishes to the buyer: "May your wishes come true and God bless you." He then hobbles to the next table. He is part of a small group here - one of the few people who have a licence issued by the NEA to sell tissue paper.
The conditions of the licence say that he must sell from a single spot, but Mr Isa goes around the eateries at Bedok. He says he has an "okay" to do so, but will not say from whom. Mr Isa was persuaded to let us shadow him for a day after this reporter explained that The New Paper on Sunday is trying to understand the lives of tissue paper peddlers in Singapore. Mr Isa is grateful for the licence, which he received only a few months ago. He has been selling tissue packets for about two years, after losing his right leg in a car accident in 2009. He remembers only that a car crashed into the taxi he was riding in.
Tissue paper peddlers in Singapore
This paper looks at the existence of tissue paper peddlers in Singapore and attempts to put forth the argument that tissue peddling is a unique phenomenon that arises out of its social context and defies any attempts to classify it neatly into either category.
The practice of tissue peddling extends beyond the conventional understanding of a job or an act of begging. Rather, it is a hybrid of the two. It is a job, a means of livelihood to a segment of the population in Singapore, which incorporates elements of begging. As much as tissue peddlers themselves view it as a job no different from the usual commodity exchange, it involves the commodification of emotions as part of the process of negotiating authenticity.
Multiple understandings of the nature of tissue peddling stems from the active construction of identity by tissue peddlers themselves, as well as those around who attempts to decipher the meanings attached to the act of tissue peddling.
Tissue paper seller counting money outside Bukit Batok MRT station approached by SMRT staff
Was he doing anything wrong?
A tissue paper seller outside Bukit Batok MRT station was told by SMRT staff not to solicit there after they received a complaint.
The complaint was made by Stomper Sam, who said it happened on March 9 at 4.15pm. "The tissue paper seller was not handicapped. After counting the money, he was able to stand up and walk," said the Stomper, who shared a video of the incident.
"Confronted by the SMRT officers, he apologised, quickly packed up and moved off." The video shows a man sitting on the ground near the Old Chang Kee outlet at the station with luggage beside him and counting a bunch of $10, $5 and $2 bills.
Police called in after rival tissue sellers squabble over their 'turf' outside temple
It's a competitive job market out there. Even for tissue sellers. A feud between two tissue vendors got so heated recently that police had to be called in.
The incident occurred outside the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street last Friday (Dec 16), at around 3pm. Police were seen questioning an auntie and an uncle, both of whom are tissue sellers. The auntie, 60-year-old Huang Xiuyu, told Shin Min Daily News that she has been selling tissues outside the temple for over eight years. She said that the man, who is on crutches, arrived to sell tissues around two months ago. She believes that he is out to snatch her territory by setting up stall in such close proximity.
Ms Huang added: "Everyone has their own spot here and they shouldn't come so close. However, he insists on sitting behind me to peddle his wares and wants to chase me away." Not only does the man swear frequently, he also tries to 'snatch business' by calling out loudly to passers-by who want to buy tissues from her, said Ms Huang. On the day of the incident, both parties got into a quarrel again and the man called the police.
Battle of the elderly tissue sellers: 5 of them within 10m at Woodlands MRT station
Competition is fierce among elderly tissue sellers at the MRT station and the bus interchange in Woodlands, with at least five of them within a distance of 10 metres. Shin Min Daily News reporters visited the scene on Saturday (Aug 17) after receiving a tip-off.
They noticed that there were five vendors from the MRT exit to Causeway Point, all within a distance of no more than 10 metres. Most of these vendors were elderly people on wheelchairs and held tissue paper that they tried selling to passing crowds. One tissue seller auntie, who declined to be named, said competition was intense with close to 10 vendors in the area during peak hours.
"We sell at a fixed price of three packets for $1, but there are people who spoil the market by selling two packets for $2, making customers doubt [our intentions]," she added. The auntie also shared how neighbouring vendors would snatch business by calling out loudly to her customers while they were buying tissue paper from her. Some would also get upset when Good Samaritans buy her food. Mr Cai, a 66-year-old man who has been selling tissue paper for four years, said he takes the first train from Kallang Bahru to Woodlands, where he operates till around 2pm daily.
Visually-impaired tissue seller seen reading newspaper in Tampines says he's not a cheat
An elderly tissue seller who was photographed reading the newspaper despite having a "I am blind" sign next to him has spoken out with his side of the story. The photo was first posted in a Facebook group with the caption: "Spot the mistake".
It shows the elderly man reading the papers while seated outside Tampines MRT Station. A trolley of tissues can be seen next to him, along with a red sign that reads:
I am blind, unable to workI can only sell tissue paperPlease help meThank you for your support
The image subsequently went viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, with many netizens pointing out its irony. Some even labelled the man a cheat and accused him of pretending to be blind. Reporters from Shin Min Daily News visited the scene and located the man, identified as 72-year-old Liu Zhenxian. Mr Liu said he has been selling tissues in the area for less than a year, typically arriving just before noon and leaving before 8pm. When asked about the speculation regarding his eyesight, Mr Liu showed reporters his certification from the Singapore Association Of The Visually Handicapped.
Seen but not noticed: The blind tissue uncle
Tissues sellers, they are everywhere. They stand outside MRT stations and shops, and sometimes they come to your table when you are having dinner at open air eateries or hawker centres, selling tissues packs at three for a dollar. Stomp spoke to one of them recently.
He is 66-year-old Singaporean Steven Aw. Steven went blind after suffering from a serious eye condition known as glaucoma. Although his eyes were operated on three times, doctors could not save them. He has been blind for 13 years. He worked as a storeman for SBS for 30 years, but his employment was terminated as he could no longer perform his duties. With a wife and a daughter to support, Steven trained as a foot massage therapist at the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). He then found employment at a massage shop for a year but found it a struggle to make ends meet as competition was stiff.
Now, he freelances as a massage therapist and to supplement his income, he sells tissue paper outside an MRT station in the east side of Singapore. It is illegal to sell tissues without a permit and he has been given warnings by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Yet, he continues to sell them as he feels he has no choice. Although you might think his family is able to support him, the sad truth is that they are not Singapore citizens.
Auntie accused of faking disabilities to sell tissue paper at Tiong Bahru Plaza
An auntie was apparently seen going from being able-bodied while having her meal to walking with a limp when selling tissue paper at Tiong Bahru Plaza. A netizen had spotted the auntie during lunch at the third-floor food court at around 2pm on June 17, and recounted the incident in a Facebook post on the same day.
According to the netizen, the auntie was eating and talking on the phone while seated at a table. The auntie, who looked to be in her 50s, then went to buy a bowl of dessert and was walking normally. When the netizen finished her lunch, she went to downstairs to shop around. That was when she heard a familiar voice selling tissue paper. The netizen then turned around and was shocked by the sight that greeted her. She told Lianhe Wanbao: "The same auntie from the food court was now walking with a limp!
"When she came over to ask me if I wanted to buy tissue paper, I noticed that her mouth was crooked and she was not speaking coherently. "It was totally different from when I heard her on the phone earlier." Suspecting that the auntie was putting on an act to gain sympathy, the netizen tailed her for around 10 minutes. She also took four videos of the auntie's behaviour. In the videos, the auntie appeared to have mobility issues. She was carrying a black bag and had a few packets of tissue paper in her hands.
Chinatown Food Centre peddler sells 3 tissue packets for $2, but takes $5 and leaves a single pack
A tissue peddler has been accused openly cheating patrons of a food centre in Chinatown. In one instance, he was reportedly heard asking for two dollars for three packs of tissue, but when the patron handed him a five dollar note, he took the money and gave just one pack before leaving, reports Lianhe Wanbao.
A customer told reporters that he encountered the uncle while he was having lunch at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, and felt that his ‘sales tactics’ were downright immoral. According to the customer, he and a few friends were having a meal just in front of a claypot rice stall, when the peddler, an elderly man in his fifties or sixties approached them, carrying a plastic bag with one hand, and holding another three packets on tissue in his other. Said the customer: “In the past, the rates were always three to four packets for a dollar, but he asked for two dollars for three packets right off the bat.
“At that time, I thought to myself, “So expensive!”, but I thought that perhaps prices had risen with inflation.” He also said that the uncle would come very close to the customers and touch their hands or shoulder in a bid to get them to buy. A woman seated at a table opposite his who could not put up with the man’s ‘peruasion’ and ultimately forked out two dollars. However, the peddler’s attitude immediately changed after getting the money, simply leaving a single pack of tissue on the table and leaving immediately.
64-year-old woman arrested for 'robbing' blind tissue seller of earnings in Yishun
A 64-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday (May 8) for allegedly stealing from a blind tissue seller in an underpass near Yishun MRT station.
Stomp previously reported that police were investigating the incident that occurred on April 30, at around 7.20pm. Facebook user Jessica Vincent said that a woman had snatched the tissue seller's bag, which contained her earnings for the whole day, and then fled. The Facebook post has garnered over 13,000 shares to date.
In a statement on Thursday (May 9), the police said they established the suspect's identity and arrested her in the vicinity of Woodlands Street 12 for theft.
Plight Of The Tissue Peddlers
Most of us might have heard stories of the elderly and disabled resorting to selling tissue paper for a living. Some unscrupulous “businessmen” even take advantage of the unfortunate by running tissue peddling syndicates, leaving a cut of the profits for themselves.
Last year, the National Environment Agency (NEA) was slammed for imposing a $120 license fee for tissue peddlers. NEA was derided for adding on to the plights of these tissue sellers and was accused of lacking compassion, but part of the reason for imposing the license was so that tissue peddling can be regulated, and these syndicates can be stopped.
The elderly lady that Minister Tan talked to has two daughters and a husband who works. Whether the old lady is a retiree or not is unclear, but she appears to be selling tissues because she has nothing to do, rather than because she is hard-up on cash; something Minister Tan wouldn’t have found out if he hadn’t chatted with her.
Street Vendors of Bygone Days
Parked at the entrance of Peace Centre in Selegie Road is the last bastion of Singapore’s yesteryear snack culture. Over the past two decades, a humble pushcart peddling an eclectic assortment of kachang puteh (“kachang” refers to nuts and “puteh” or “putih” means white in Malay) has remained a fixture along the bustling street.
Simply known as “Kachang Puteh”, the metallic pushcart is crammed with 20 types of nuts, legumes and crackers that are housed in bright red-capped bottles. Popular nibbles include cashew nuts, tapioca fritters, sugar-coated peanuts, prawn sticks and murukku. For those who prefer to pop something warm into their mouths, there are also lightly-salted boiled peanuts and chickpeas that are served warm from an electric steamer. Customers can pick and choose which munchies to fill up their folded paper cones (from $1 for two types of snacks).
Mending the stall is Amirthaalangaram Moorthy, a third-generation kachang puteh seller, who arrived here in 2004 from his native Tamil Nadu to continue his family business. The Singapore permanent resident hails from a family that has a long-standing history with kachang puteh. The 51-year-old says that many kachang puteh sellers live in his ancestral village in southern India due to the abundance of nuts grown in the area.
