74-Year-Old Fishball Mee Hawker Can't Bear To Retire After 50 Years Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

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For just S$3, you can get a bowl of Sim Ah Tee's ko ko mee - an ‘upsized’ teochew fishball noodle dish with roast pork (char siew) and fish dumplings - that's made just the way he and his father used to sell it from their pushcart along Sungei Road 50 years ago.
The name 'ko ko mee' comes from the way hawkers back then would knock on bamboo sticks to attract customers.
These days, at age 74, Ah Tee still wakes up at 3am to open his stall at a coffee shop in Jalan Berseh, despite his children, friends and even doctor telling him to retire.
But the dine-in restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have hit his business hard, forcing Ah Tee to sometimes pay rent out of his own pocket. His coffee shop stall doesn’t qualify for rental waivers and subsidies offered by the National Environmental Agency. He also finds it difficult to navigate food delivery platforms.
Ah Tee also has a deformed leg from an operation and long hours of standing. But he can't find the heart to give up his hawker lifestyle and his legacy.
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Опубликовано:

16 июл 2021

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Комментарии : 132

@teslabullsingapore8656 3 года назад

It is the life style this uncle choose to live with, he has been working tirelessly his entire life, I pray he will stay healthy and energetic, be happy and satisfactory with what he loves doing.

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

Plain dumb,,so being dumb is happy pigeon, water life..but ok,,be a pigeon

@godsamazinggrace5331 3 года назад

Waking up at 3am is his body's clock Do not call this elderly uncle crazy!! Serving $3.00 traditional fishball noodles is hard to come by these days!! Show some respect and appreciation for his tireless efforts!

@eddyr1041 6 месяцев назад

He is amazing

@tradingwithtornada123 3 года назад

I respect these elders so much, no words can describe.

@godsamazinggrace5331 3 года назад

Indeed Tirelessly hardworking!!

@laksanaadi878 3 года назад

he has found what we call "ikigai". and that means everything to someone like him. let him live in it. because if you guys force him to stop, he will get depressed. trust me

@citizenearth71 3 года назад

He is still feeding those who need it most. More power to him.

@s._3560 3 года назад

To Uncle, this is his legacy, his dedication, his achievements and memories of families he fed with food he had prepared. These days, I see young people eating at some fancy Korean restaurant but the army stew looks like maggi noodles cooked with processed sausages, processed cheese with a broth tasting like instant noodle soup packet furthermore you have to cook it yourself. How many more old hawkers will retire early due to this pandemic and with them, our local food - hawker food will be lost and gone, leaving only foreign franchises remaining. Learn to appreciate our local food identity and support our local SMEs like uncle's stall during this difficult time!

@bayuendarto310 3 года назад

Stay healthy Uncle. And keep active and productive. But please don't forget to a break time and quality rest.

@sulaihabeevi2512 3 года назад

I am a hawker and I start work at 2 a.m. I know I'm not crazy and I love my job. When you love your job, time doent matter.

@salmahkadir8422 3 года назад

Honest and hard-working man.

@soonpohtay4794 3 года назад

This is not crazy...this is the dogged attitude that made Spore what it is to today! Commitment and discipline.

@jayar3775 3 года назад

Very brave and if it keeps him happy, he shouldn't give up. Hope he gets some help. Retiring is not always for the best. Many kids believe that it is time for parents to rest but sometimes work keeps them sane.

@123waynemark 3 года назад

the food is the lifeblood of the community catering to the poor, he knows that if he retires, people will go hungry. He chose to continue for the people but his sons don't see that value the stall has to those people. Money is good, I agree but I guess we have to give charity and think of other people too.

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

U right ..when u selling fishball? Talk talk talk..donkey talk

@justsaus9897 3 года назад

@@chinchowpowpook when you selling fishball? smlj kind of comment are you typing??

@mihmih2129 3 года назад

Lost spirit in Singapore or Asia in General. Tough life, work hard and still happy-- this is the spirit that our ancestor and senior have... Nowadays, pp work hard a bit then tired and ache here and there, start complaining, take MC and quit easily

@leephui63 3 года назад

He helped his dad at Selegie Road selling a bowl of fishball soup at 20cents, dry noodles at 30 cents in 1960s. Only fishball and fish cake in the noodles regardless soup or dry. Also have 2 helpers beside his father and him

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

A classic example of fishball slave,,only special is he is a slave and he is also a master.

@lastwaltz86 3 года назад

After this pandemic is over, i will go visit your country, Uncle! Please wait for me!

@rmnathan5923 2 года назад

I respect him. Let him carry on...... God bless you uncle..

@kwm9315 3 года назад

I really respect and admire him🥺

@valt5062 3 года назад

Hard work, salute uncle! May God bless you always. Will feast on my fav Mee pok!

@yeahzeeroo 3 года назад

The only reason I think he should retire is because its not profitable anymore. I really admire his dedication to work even up to old age. No excuse is acceptable to the man. Thank you for showing this minidoc.

@adiosbaby612 3 года назад

dude he doesnt do this for money anymore lol

@someone-jh6hw 3 года назад

@@adiosbaby612 yeah, usually people that old and active, the moment they retire their health drop significantly, because they lose the reason for waking up everyday

@ifaaaifoo 3 года назад

He's just like my grandfather. My grandpa is 81 years old this 2021 and refuse to retire. He's an ENT doctor and just finished renewing his medical licenses in the middle of this pandemic. AND! he still managed to fix stuff around the house including triming trees and making furnitures. He's just ... active 🤷🏻‍♀️

@boonliew4420 3 года назад

Typical of Chinese hawkers in South East Asia ,Taiwan and Hong Kong self resilience hard working 🙏🙏🙏my utmost respects

@noproblematallmate 3 года назад

Government should stop subsidised NEA stalls from being sublet regardless of the excuses that the 'landlords' are using. They usually claim their sub-tenants are their workers. This raises rental of all stalls as less stalls are available for public bidding while 'landlords' earn free monthly income from subsidised rental stalls. CNA should do an exclusive to find out how many of these hawker stalls are sublet. Can check their licence name whether match the person manning the stall and you should know the story.

@leehyunsong7001 3 года назад

NEA also letting the stalls at market rate, they are no charity.

@noproblematallmate 3 года назад

@@leehyunsong7001 Yet people are renting out their stalls at above market rate to earn at least $1-2k a month. See why hawker stalls at some popular places bid till $4-6k a month? Because too many people sublet causing too few stalls to be up for bidding.

@user-wr9jr4pp9n 3 года назад

尊重他的職業精神，其態度的溫良恭儉讓我感動。有一回他不收我3元，並解釋要收擋了，料不足，堅持收2元，用勞力賺取微薄的生活費但一點都不貪婪。

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

你脑有问题

@M3gart0443 3 года назад

When he used to work like that...once you forced him to retired usually his time will be over soon too. I knew this from experienced. I hope his son let the old man do whatever he likes in his late life although it was not profitable. At least you can see him for another 10years.

@kamalkaus8769 3 года назад

Agree. My father is still active at 77 years old. The activities plus good sleep discipline keep him healthy, physically and mentally

@ylein6508 3 года назад

Looks so delicious, his sn should be able to help with delivery platforms.

@maricarpatubo7581 2 года назад

Humble sweet uncle

@Vinod_Kumar827 3 года назад

God bless him. He should not retire but instead, continue his work as he loves to do that

@spacekave1 3 года назад

that's the hardworking spirit of the Chinese.. especially the elderly...

@Vb-fy4sv 3 года назад

When I see SOME of the youths (NOT ALL ) who don’t want work and quite happy to live on benefits most of their lives ,and then you see men like this gentleman 90 years old and still working ,he puts them to SHAME !!!

@happycook6737 3 года назад

His food looks delicious! 👏🥇🏆👍😍😘

@hinns4286 3 года назад

Fishball noodle is my most favorite daily lunch when I was a PR and worked in Suntec City for many years ago. I still miss fishball mee, I cant get as good as in Singapore where I live now 😔

@meditadz 3 года назад

If I can travel to Singapore, I want to try the ko ko mee. Looks delicious

@poolfans 3 года назад

He loves his job. Loves his lifestyle.

@theboringtube 3 года назад

He cant retire, because his body get used to it. Once he retire he will bug down because his muscle can no longer do the same movement as he do.

@GigaZX91 3 года назад

w/o him, best mee in SG is legit good guy you have to support this uncle ...best in JB some sat batangas

@ngrobert5054 3 года назад

Government should help the hawker center

@dinoteng8882 3 года назад

His stall is in private coffeeshop not in hawker centre so no rental waiver or reduction of rental fees in this pandemic period.

@maryngshwuling9916 3 года назад

Thanks for sharing 🌻

@kevinkwn 3 года назад

Stay safe & healthy uncle ❤️

@tatakalsum864 3 года назад

Good UNCLE!!! sehat terus yah

@alanlovebeer7952 3 года назад

The government shd be more flexible to this group of hawker who not under nea Management...thks 😁

@easyrecipesanddeliciousfoo2954 3 года назад

💖🌷💖🌷💖Love the channel !

@mocky126 3 года назад

Government should provide rental waivers to hawkers, private coffee shops inclusive. Come on, you can’t make much selling a bowl for $3

@enjoyinglifeish 3 года назад

I know of private coffee shops increasing rental during this covid period. Terrifying isnt it

@Strik3Fr33dom2 3 года назад

Government does rental waivers for public hawkers but end of the day private is up to their own T&C .

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

What is smart? It means there must be some silly to know there’s smart..u smart or silly? Everything also kowbeikowbu gov

@jingmok 3 года назад

Touching to watch uncle

@FforfreeNet 3 года назад

I can retire today if I can

@RizkiRonaldo 3 года назад

Uncle in my neighborhood die because his son forced him to retire, because he never rest just always work and work, his son doesn't want see her father keep working cause old age but not long after his son force him to retire he die so sad

@kiatsan5781 3 года назад

Hawkers are generally generous people. Unlike some leaders.

@ahchoon9067 3 года назад

unlike your mcb knnbccb everything also like to politics fo mcbf oppigs

@ahchoon9067 3 года назад

people like you knn must get f then happy

@khmerfooddelicious5117 3 года назад

I like this menu. Looks delicious

@kentondoeslife 3 года назад

Comments saying he should retire because it’s not profitable, it’s not working because of the pandemic, he’s injured, he’s ill… If he retires, he gives up his life. I’m sure he would rather die at the stove rather than retiring and dying at home. He has had the stall with his father, one connection to his past. He used the stall to provide a living with his family. It’s his legacy. It’s his life. I respect him. Even though I wish he would retire, I can understand why he wouldn’t. Would I retire? For sure, but I come from a different generation where I can use online platforms to make money, to provide, to give my life meaning. He can’t even use a smartphone. So unless he gets support from his kids to use the food delivery services, or ways to make his product sellable without going to the stall, it won’t work out for the next year. Mad respect for him.

@nelsongao6487 3 года назад

I don't think he needs to retire, he can continue to sell $3 noodles. He just need to add maybe some additional noodles or other dishes at higher quality for higher prices. People who wants to support him can buy either one and he continues his business. I respect his work ethic and hopes everything works out.

@lfc1981 3 года назад

where is this stall? no exact location other than saying it is jalan berseh.

@edtejasukmana 3 года назад

Sehat sehat uncle, salam Mie dari Jawa

@yongchen8204 3 года назад

His business is actually doing much better than most working class Singaporeans before covid pandemic and during pandemic.

@Daniel-ld7xs 3 года назад

Uncle take care of yourself ya

@mrjoelchung2224 3 года назад

Cute uncle, claps for him

@itzluizzz1159 3 года назад

Support💪🏼

@megalaikannairam4050 2 года назад

Food looks nice

@kelvinng3703 3 года назад

Please do not retire, 74 is the new young age, I see him bringing the fish ball mee to a new height in this era. He looks physically fit to carry on till 90, not an issue.

@louong93 3 года назад

3 to 4 sing is extremely cheap. In Malaysia this type of noodles is about Rm 5.50 to Rm 7. If I am living in Singapore I would pay him 5 sing for his efforts.

@justinteoh2115 3 года назад

Who is from Singapore they should very like to eat this ko ko mee

@ratedchamp1 3 года назад

In Singapore , you can retire but have to be cleaner or security guard , he rather contribute by serving good food .

@Strik3Fr33dom2 3 года назад

So all the retirees are cleaners or security guard?

@ahchoon9067 3 года назад

tc you referring to your parents is it?

@thinkingallowed5365 3 года назад

@@Strik3Fr33dom2 , I am very sure not all are. However, if you go around and check how many cleaners and security guards in Singapore are retirees, you may not be very agreeable or happy with the situation here in Singapore. Why create job classes for a start (deliberately or otherwise) : foreign workers' jobs. Singaporeans' jobs, old people's jobs, young people's jobs, female jobs, male jobs, jobs based on race, etc ..... And the PAP keep bragging that Singapore is an inclusive society! But it's okay ... We are a doomed nation and a doomed people already !!! Brought down by the moronic 61.2% !!!

@ronnietan211 3 года назад

singapore?

@vincentchua5194 Год назад

$400/500 a day. Most people will miss that if it is gone.

@leephui63 3 года назад

I have eaten the noodles made by his father. At times he roam the street with the tock tock sound made by knocking a bamboo stick onto a piece of bamboo announcing that noodles is available. Then you ordered through him and later about 15 minutes the order has arrived. When you finished the noodles, you just leave the bowl on the sidewalk which will be collected by him. The noodles made by his father is much tastier than his.

@maccheese8379 3 года назад

Yeah he kind of mention it in the longer version video

@ubergrab1325 3 года назад

Does anyone know where is his shop located?

@leephui63 3 года назад

Behind Jalan Berseh Hawker Centre, that is kelantan Lane coffeehouse which also sell laksa

@ubergrab1325 3 года назад

@@leephui63 thank you. (:

@woffydo 3 года назад

Some people prefer to be slaves to the capitalist and corporate world, like robots without a thinking mind. Doing a business, or continuing a family tradition is more honorable.

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

More jialak, more dumb,,wasted life..live under somebody’s shadow

@laksanaadi878 3 года назад

definitely agree

@SyarifAhmad-ark 3 года назад

he is superman.

@mr.qwerty5475 3 года назад

You can't bear to retire but government could shut you down

@woonchungliong4173 3 года назад

Can someone please share the address of the stall? TQ

@leejames9318 3 года назад

27 Jln Berseh, ah tee ko ko mee, Singapore 200027

@woonchungliong4173 3 года назад

@@leejames9318: TQVM!

@leejames9318 3 года назад

@@woonchungliong4173 🙏

@kazuhaa4918 3 года назад

@@leejames9318 THANKYOU!

@MomoSu88 3 года назад

Everything is simple, until the Internet Nation attacks.

@user-ru8ex3ei2d 3 года назад

Say lanjiao eng, you thing sibeh geng ah?

@godzillamothra5983 3 года назад

Old Chinese who own businesses don't retire. For them, their businesses, especially if they built it from scratch, are their children. You don't retire from parenthood.

@AxelRaffasyaold 3 года назад

Noodles

@IKNFLY666 3 года назад

Interesting, I’m a Teochewese living in Shenzhen China, i understand 60% of this uncles Hokkienese.

@cathypei88 3 года назад

Actually he speaking Teochew

@CCPLord 3 года назад

This second HA gonna force many FB SME into oblivion

@AxelRaffasyaold 3 года назад

Fishball

@ic3yboy 3 года назад

Hit hit noodles

@markmk44 3 года назад

If he is kind n generous - he should just open up n pick 5 disciples for free training. Like what the old kungfu masters started their schools. Each disciple just contribute. For modern term - it’s called apprenticeships

@SheldonJPla 3 года назад

I think he should find someone else to continued his "legacy"

@bryanleeyf87 3 года назад

Dont think he can. That's why he doesnt want to retire, because if he does, his legacy is gone. And ideally he wants his children to do it.

@godsamazinggrace5331 3 года назад

Tf lw Take a deep look at what your restrictive measures has done to the simple elderly and their simple lifestyle and livelihood!!

@gamingspec-yp9ib 3 года назад

how to appreciate uncle? how to at least try maximize energy induced from his good food? contribute data share your thoughts what needs to be done start from here

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

He clever leh..sell fishball also sell koyok in RU-vid,,the only things ko Kok sound don’t need

@MrBoliao98 3 года назад

His pig oil in the noodle look good

@megalaikannairam4050 2 года назад

But honestly,,,hmmm....nevermind

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

50 years of experience,,other people food business booming,,yours not..it say something wrong ,,perhaps is not nice foods for past 50years

@andrewtanoto333 3 года назад

#Lifer #EverydayHeroes

@AW-tc4hy 3 года назад

Work is hard but good money.

@andrewng265 3 года назад

Aiya better close and rest don’t waste your time $3 very small bowl not consider cheap 🤣🤣🤣

@kennethlooh4492 3 года назад

Malaysia food better

@yoshilim3265 3 года назад

Recently bought a few packets of his koko mee. Although I was not hungry. I just try to help out. The takeaway. I threw them in a rubbish bin

@chinchowpowpook 3 года назад

He sell fish balls or even sell his own balls what’s new? None of everyone business

@hazelnut1824 3 года назад

Chill. Did you have to be this crude and vulgar? This is just a mini documentary to show a snippet of a hawker's livelihood, how does that offend you so much?

@justsaus9897 3 года назад

Then you care for what? Need to make such a stupid comment? None of your business

@escapiee 3 года назад

Income tax people will pay you a visit. You will have to pay up those years of under declare income. You said one day 5 to 600 dollars. About 3K a week, 12k a month, 144K a year. Remember the curry puff seller years back, who boasted his sales, Iras really invited them to drink "coffee".