Clementi hawkers rewarded up to $100 for catching rats
Hawkers at Clementi 448 Market and Food Centre have come up with a way to fight a long-standing rat problem - by offering cash rewards for every rodent caught.
The rat-catching initiative rewards participants based on the size of the rat, with the biggest bounty previously set at $100.
Diners spooked by giant rats
According to Shin Min Daily News, a diner who recently visited the food centre said she was horrified after spotting a huge rat on the roof eaves.
"The rat was so big, I lost my appetite right away," she said.
When Shin Min reporters visited the food centre on Oct 31, several stallholders said rats usually appear after closing hours.
Mr Tan, 68, who runs a stall there, said: "The rats usually come out at night, climbing on the metal beams above our stalls."
Another hawker said cleaning up rat droppings along the beams takes time and effort, so stallholders make sure to cover or refrigerate food properly to maintain hygiene.
Reward scheme encourages collective effort to keep area clean
Stall owners told Shin Min that the Clementi Town Shop-Owners' Association introduced the rat-catching scheme to encourage them to take part in pest control.
The hawkers' association's honorary chairman, Xu Chong Yu (transliterated), 66, said the reward system was introduced to get everyone involved in improving cleanliness.
"It's not about the money. It's about getting everyone to work together to solve the rat problem," he said.
According to Shin Min, photos showed hawkers holding up their catches, including baskets of baby rats worth a few dozen dollars and a one-kilogram rat that earned its catcher $100.
The maximum reward has since been reduced to $50, and nearby residents who help can also claim a payout.
Fewer rats, happier customers
Shin Min reported that Mr Xu said the three-year-old scheme has been effective, with records showing 15 rats caught in Jul, 27 in Aug and 21 in Oct, and total payouts between $240 and $520.
"Now there are fewer rats, and we've all worked together to create a better dining environment," he said.
Other stallholders agreed the situation has improved, while diners praised the effort.
Ms Chan, 24, an office worker, said: "Rat problems happen everywhere. What matters is whether people take it seriously. The hawkers' efforts show they care about hygiene and their customers - it makes dining here more reassuring."
