Funan says stairs not meant for eating food after shopper alleges she was chased away minutes before breaking fast
Intending to break their fast on the steps of Funan, a group of shoppers were dismayed when they were told to leave just minutes before their dinner.
The incident took place on Feb 26 at around 7pm, said Stomper JH, who was at the mall with a group of friends who were fasting.
The group had purchased food and gone to sit at the "large staircase at the top level". A photo shared with Stomp indicated that JH was referring to the steps in the atrium of Funan.
The Stomper claimed that there were no visible signs prohibiting food consumption. She also said she had eaten there on previous occasions without being stopped.
"About five minutes before it was time for my friends to break fast, a security guard approached and told us that food and drinks were not allowed in that area, and asked us to leave," JH recounted.
According to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), those who are fasting could break their fast at 7.22pm on the day of the incident.
JH and her friends were shocked. Given they were just minutes away from breaking fast, they asked if they could remain in the area briefly to do so before leaving.
While the security guard did not accommodate their request, JH noted that other groups "of various races" were also asked to move.
Though they were frustrated, they went to an open space near a friend's office to break fast.
The Stomper recalled returning to the same area between 9pm and 10pm, only to see multiple groups of people eating on the steps without being stopped by the security guard on-site.
"We did notice a small sign at the bottom of the staircase stating that food and drinks were not allowed," she added.
"However, the sign was not prominently displayed, and given the number of people regularly eating there, the enforcement appeared inconsistent."
JH said she understood the need to respect food consumption policies in malls and did not blame the guard, but felt that being told to leave just before breaking fast was "insensitive".
Funan: 'Atrium steps not intended for food consumption'
In response to Stomp's queries, a Funan spokesperson said that it welcomes shoppers to designated public dining areas with comfortable seating, such as the food hall at B2, which has no restrictions on outside food and drinks.
"The atrium steps are not intended for food consumption, for safety reasons, given the potential for slips from spills," explained the spokesperson.
The mall has since counselled the security service team involved, emphasising the importance of consistent and clear communication, such as providing guidance for Funan shoppers to head to the designated dining areas.
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