'Rats moving along the beams': Infestation at ABC Brickworks Food Centre frustrates vendors
Vendors at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre are struggling to keep their stalls clean as a worsening rat infestation sees droppings scattered across the site.
Shin Min Daily News reporters who visited the food centre at Jalan Bukit Merah observed a steady stream of diners, most of them office workers from nearby buildings, throughout the day
However, vendors said the rat problem has negatively affected their business.
Vendors frustrated by rat infestation
Mr Chen (transliterated), 38, who runs the Kine burger stall, told Shin Min that he moved into the food centre in April and did not notice any rat droppings in the first few months.
"I later started noticing more and more droppings and suspected it was rats," he said. "Previously, the surveillance camera was pointed at the stall and no rats were seen. When it was aimed higher, we saw rats moving along the beams."
He reported the issue to the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Federation of Merchants' Associations, Singapore (FMAS), but the situation did not improve despite investigations and follow-up action.
The issue was temporarily eased when NEA personnel successfully caught three rats on Nov 16.
An employee at a vegetarian stall, who opens her store at 4.30am, said the rats are often gone by the time she arrives, but their droppings remain. This leaves vendors with the unpleasant task of cleaning to maintain hygiene at their stalls.
Another vendor, 58-year-old Ms Hu (transliterated), who runs a bread stall, said accumulated debris and construction waste may provide breeding and hiding spots for rodents.
"Since then, the infestation has never been fully eradicated. I cover my ingredients tightly every day to prevent rats from gnawing on them," she said.
Ms Hu added that FMAS and Tanjong Pagar Town Council destroyed a rat nest in the ventilation ducts last year, but the problem has returned. "The authorities plan to meet vendors and improve things during next year's renovation."
A fruit stall owner, who declined to be named, added that he sometimes finds rats have chewed his oranges and must throw them away.
Vendors set up rat traps
Some vendors who set up rat traps were shocked to have caught rodents up to 15 cm in length.
Mr Cai (transliterated), who runs a vegetable stall, said he has been using traps for several years and catches a rat almost every two days.
"For a while, I couldn't catch any rats," a flower stall owner said. "Maybe they've become smarter."
'Rats are naturally drawn to places that offer food and shelter': Town Council
In response to queries, a Tanjong Pagar Town Council (TPTC) spokesperson said that exposed food remnants spotted overnight at ABC Brickworks likely attracted the rats.
"Rats are naturally drawn to places that offer food and shelter, and lapses in housekeeping, such as food waste left on floors, surfaces, or in uncovered bins, can make any environment more attractive to pests."
Since early November, the town council has also strengthened its comprehensive rat-control programme across the food centre and nearby housing estates, with ongoing night culling operations.
"We are also working closely with NEA and the Hawkers' Association to reinforce hygiene and housekeeping standards and have requested stronger enforcement support from SFA."
TPTC also urged vendors and residents to cooperate by keeping the area clean of food waste.
