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‘What else can I do?’: S'pore ice cream vendors plan to keep selling for 'as long' as they can, but how long will that be?

Gracia Yap — 2026-08-13T12:30:28

I remember the constant ringing of the cart's bells when I was a primary school student, a kindly uncle materialising, almost by magic, a great chunk of ice cream to put in between a slice of rainbow bread. That was a constant sight (and drain on my pocket money) for years.

Lately though, the ringing has become less frequent.

Not just around my neighbourhood, but Singapore in general.

Wanting to find out just how many of them were left (and have some ice cream with company funds), I began my islandwide search for these nostalgic carts.

Over 50 years

One of the first few people I spoke to was Uncle Soh.

At the age of 16, Uncle Soh went into a trade that not many teenagers would think of doing full-time — selling ice cream.

"I just needed a job," said Soh, now 72.

After getting his licence in 1974, he has been a traditional ice cream vendor for over 50 years.

Operating his cart two to three days a week in Rochor, Soh pointed out that being in this line of work is not easy.

He noted that whether or not business is good varies depending on the day, as he said it gets troublesome when it rains.

Citing other factors such as price hikes and his age, he said he simply takes things day by day.

"I earn just enough for myself," he added in Mandarin.

Photo by Mothership

Vendors in business for decades

He is among a number of traditional vendors who spent the past few decades selling ice cream at different locations around Singapore.

That number is declining with the cessation of licenses. I initially had a hard time locating them as well, but the good thing about these vendors is the pattern in areas serviced.

A quick check online showed some folks endearingly referring to a Chinatown ice cream uncle.

And sure enough, there was Uncle Tang.

Tang has been selling ice cream for about 20 years after he got his licence in 2006.

He said that he did not have a job then and went into the business after seeing his friend do so.

Photo by Mothership

Tang's story was similar to some other vendors I talked to.

A 61-year-old vendor who wished to remain anonymous said he has been selling ice cream for over 20 years after getting his licence in 2004.

The vendor, who operates his cart in MacPherson, had to enter the business out of necessity after getting retrenched.

Noting that he needed a source of income at the time to feed his three children, the vendor wrote to a Member of Parliament (MP) requesting help in applying for a licence.

At 7am on Jul. 14, 2026, he was loading his cart with supplies at Chip Guan Heng to prepare for the day's business.

The vendor explained that he earns about S$40 to S$50 a day, just enough for him to get by, before ending work at about 6pm to 7pm each day.

Photo by Mothership

The revenue, however, varies according to the location.

Selling until no longer able to

An 80-year-old vendor near Joo Chiat, he said he starts his day early each morning, earning about S$200 to S$300 per day.

He is unsure of how long he can run his business, but plans to do so for as long as he can.

A familiar face outside Orchard Road's Takashimaya Shopping Centre is traditional ice cream vendor, Uncle Chieng.

Photo by Mothership

After serving a long line of customers, Chieng said he has been selling ice cream for more than 60 years, over 30 of which have been outside Takashimaya.

He added that it can get very hot and it is also troublesome when it rains, but he enjoys talking to people while operating the cart.

Noting that this is his first job, Chieng said he went into the business as his children like ice cream, and will continue to sell ice cream until he is no longer able to or when his licence expires.

Sunset industry

Speaking to Mothership, director of local ice cream supplier Chip Guan Heng, Kenneth Goh, said the broader trend in the industry is one of "gradual decline", especially because "many ice cream uncles are ageing and retiring".

He pointed out that one of the biggest challenges facing the traditional ice cream trade today is regulatory in nature.

"As no new street hawking licences are being issued, the trade has naturally shrunk over time as older hawkers retire from the industry," Goh said.

Calling it a "sunset industry", a Chip Guan Heng admin and operations manager who wanted to be known as Greg, said that since there is no renewal of licences, the vendors would likely work until they are no longer able to.

Though unsure how long the vendors could continue selling ice cream, he estimated that the traditional business of ice cream carts could possibly go on for another five to 10 years, but noted that "we have to see how the economy evolves as well".

On top of selling ice cream, the vendors also have to restock their supplies, such as the wafers and bread served with the ice cream.

As such, transportation could become a challenge as they grow older, he added.

Restocking

When I visited Chip Guan Heng on Jul. 1, 2026, it was filled with supplies including cups, biscuit wafers and ice cream from different brands.

Vendors would come by at different times of the day to restock their supplies, said Greg, adding that it could be as early as 7am to 9am or in the afternoon.

Photo by Mothership

At 6:30am on Jul. 14, workers at Chip Guan Heng were packing items such as dry ice to be delivered to vendors’ individual ice cream carts.

Other items such as bread used to wrap the ice cream, as well as ice cream, were seen being prepared and packed.

Photo by Mothership

An individual explained that the vendors may come by before or around 8:30am depending on where they stayed or operated.

Vendors began streaming in from 7am to 10am, where they stocked up on supplies such as dry ice, ice cream and bread.

Noting that vendors are struggling as "they earn from their little margins", Greg said that they also have to "keep up with the cost" due to price hikes.

He added that while there may be a perception that traditional ice cream vendors are still selling at their previous prices of S$1 per ice cream, the price may now have increased to S$1.50 to S$1.80.

Licences

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said the Street Hawking Scheme is intended to provide temporary assistance for unemployed individuals in financial need and is not meant to be a permanent livelihood.

All street hawking licences are personal-to-holder and non-transferable.

As of January 2026, there were 135 street hawkers licensed to sell ice cream.

Preferences evolve, nostalgia remains

As consumer preferences evolve, operating costs have increased, and younger consumers now have many more dessert options available, Goh said.

This includes the opening of yogurt and gelato brands, as well as ice cream shops, leaving people spoilt for choice.

The change comes as Goh added that "businesses such as ours have had to pivot and adapt beyond relying purely on the traditional street hawker model".

This meant expanding into areas such as events, corporate activities and modern retail customers, including those who request traditional ice cream carts at weddings for nostalgia.

Goh noted, however, that while the traditional street hawker scene has become much smaller, there is still "strong public affection for it".

"Many Singaporeans still associate the traditional ice cream cart with childhood memories and local culture, which is why we feel it's something worth preserving."

Man, 26, to be charged for allegedly operating massage shops without valid licenses, causing a fire in unrelated incident

Gracia Yap — 2026-08-13T12:23:47

The police will be charging a 26-year-old man in court on Aug. 13, 2026 for his suspected involvement in operating massage establishments without valid licences, causing or contributing to the risk of a dangerous fire, and other alleged offences.

Allegedly operated 5 massage shops without valid licences

According to an Aug. 12 police news release, the police conducted several enforcement operations on massage outlets islandwide between June 2025 and December 2025.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly operated five massage outlets without valid licences at Little India, Beach Road, Macpherson Road, Serangoon Garden and Balestier Road.

Fire, other offences

Further investigations revealed that he was previously involved in two other separate cases.

In October 2021, he allegedly dropped a lit cigarette over the ledge from the fourth floor of a building along Admiralty Street, which subsequently caused a fire.

In September 2024, he allegedly relinquished his bank account and i-banking credentials to a criminal syndicate for S$500.

The release noted that his bank account was subsequently used to facilitate scam operations.

Offences

He will be charged for carrying on businesses of providing massage services in establishments for massage without licences under Section 5(1) of the Massage Establishments Act 2017.

The offence carries a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both.

Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to S$20,000, a jail term of up to five years, or both.

The man will also be charged for causing or contributing to risk of dangerous fire under Section 285(1)(c) of the Penal Code 1871.

This offence carries a jail term which may extend to 18 months, a fine, or both.

In addition, the man will be charged for abetting to secure unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) read with Section 12 of the Computer Misuse Act 1993.

This offence carries a fine not exceeding S$5,000, a jail term not exceeding two years, or both, for first-time offenders.

Repeat offenders are liable to a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both.

He will also be charged for facilitating the retention or control of another person's benefits from criminal conduct under Section 55A(1)(a)(i) read with Section 55A(1)(b)(ii) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992.

The offence carries a fine not exceeding S$50,000, a jail term not exceeding three years, or both.

Regular enforcement checks

The release noted that the police will continue to conduct regular enforcement checks on massage establishments and take firm action against those found to be operating without valid licences.

Members of the public are advised to reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy pay-outs.

This includes for the use of their Singpass accounts, bank accounts, or allowing their personal bank accounts to be to be used to receive and transfer funds for others.

Individuals found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable, the release stated.

NEA advisory for Hungry Ghost Festival: Clear offerings after prayers, items left behind may constitute littering

Belmont Lay — 2026-08-13T12:16:59

Those who make offerings during the Hungry Ghost Festival should keep shared spaces clean while paying their respects, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in an Aug. 12 advisory on Facebook.

The 2026 seventh lunar month runs from Aug. 13 to Sep. 10.

The offering of food and burning of joss paper to honour ancestors is observed by Taoists and Buddhists.

Joss paper should not be burned along common corridors, on staircases or at lift lobbies, but at designated areas, NEA said.

“Do not toss or scatter joss paper, and clear your offerings after prayers. Leaving items behind may constitute littering,” NEA added.

The agency also said: “Burn offerings based on sincerity, and burn smaller amounts of joss paper to reduce smoke and ashes.”

Immersive AR game, spooky storytelling & more at Hungry Ghost Festival event in CBD from Aug. 13 to Sep. 10

Branded — 2026-08-13T11:59:53

We all grew up hearing warnings about the Hungry Ghost Festival (or Zhongyuan Festival): don't swim during the seventh month, don't stay out too late, and don't step on offerings left by the roadside.

Beyond these familiar beliefs, the Zhongyuan Festival is a time when many Chinese Singaporeans honour their ancestors, offer prayers, and make ritual offerings to wandering spirits. These practices are believed to help ensure their ancestors' peaceful passage in the afterlife while appeasing hungry ghosts.

Throughout the month, believers burn incense and joss paper, prepare food offerings, while communities organise getai performances to entertain the spirits.

Now, these age-old traditions are being showcased in ways both old and new. The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) is launching its inaugural Zhongyuan Festival event from Aug. 13 to Sep. 10, where you can find a diverse lineup of programmes to learn about the festival's rich cultural heritage through interactive and contemporary experiences.

Little Ghost Explorer

Photo courtesy of SCCC

Visitors can discover the history, traditions and customs of Zhongyuan Festival through the Little Ghost Explorer augmented reality (AR) game, guided by the character Xiaogui. There will also be game-based challenges that encourage participants to explore different stations around SCCC, uncovering the festival's customs and beliefs through interactive activities on their mobile devices.

Mr Zhou’s Ghost Stories

Photo courtesy of SCCC

If you enjoy a good spooky story, you are in for a treat. LOVE 972 DJ Dennis Chew will bring his well-known “Mr Zhou's Ghost Stories” to audiences through an exclusive podcast and vidcast. Beyond the thrills, the programme also offers a deeper look into the festival's traditions while exploring themes of remembrance and filial piety.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts: Egg Fried Rice

Photo courtesy of SCCC & Robot playground media

This 20-minute animated short is the opening course of “A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts”, an upcoming anthology of animated horror tales featuring iconic Chinese dishes inspired by betrayal, vengeance, and forgotten sins, from the award-winning team behind “The Violinist”.

Set in 1920s Shanxi, “Egg Fried Rice” transforms one of the world’s simplest and most beloved dishes into a macabre tale of love, loss, greed and supernatural retribution.

Date and Time

Aug. 29 (ticket sales starts on Jul. 29)

Price

S$3

Language

Mandarin with English subtitles

Happy Sing-Along (Zhongyuan Special)

Photo courtesy of SCCC

Think getai, but with a modern twist. SCCC’s popular “Happy Sing-Along” presents a special Zhongyuan Festival edition, transforming the event into a lively getai-inspired banquet. Set across 80 tables in traditional jiak tok (banquet-style), visitors can tuck into a feast while enjoying nostalgic Mandarin and dialect hits.

More details here.

Zhongyuan Festival 2026 at SCCC

While you may still associate the seventh month with spirits and superstitions, experiencing these activities at SCCC might just let you learn something new about the Zhongyuan Festival.

Beneath the spooky stories and age-old taboos lies a rich history and fascinating cultural traditions that continue to bring communities together today.

Address: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906

Date and time: Aug. 13 to Sep. 10, 2026

More details here.

This branded article made the writer feel less scared about the Zhongyuan Festival.

S'pore woman, 37, books helper's 2-way flight to visit sick mother, she allegedly becomes uncontactable afterwards

Gracia Yap — 2026-08-13T11:43:18

A 37-year-old employer in Singapore who booked her domestic helper's flight to Myanmar says that her helper became uncontactable afterwards.

Angeline Lim, posted her experience on Instagram, where she said that the hardest part was not her helper leaving.

Speaking to Mothership on Aug. 11, Lim said she has since cancelled her helper's work permit.

She is also working on hiring a replacement.

Lim added that she asked if her helper had reached the airport, to which she said yes.

That was apparently the last Lim heard of her.

Photo via angel_limst/Instagram

2 helpers

Lim, who is a mother of three, said in her post that one of her two helpers, who had been with the family for five months, wanted to return home as her mother was unwell.

Her post mentioned that with three young children, both helpers had separate roles.

One focused on caring for her youngest toddler boy, while the helper who wished to return to Myanmar managed the cooking and cleaning.

Her post stated that her husband's work requires his full focus, "and the only thing I can do for him is try to protect that focus".

As such, "the invisible load of running our household and managing three children's schedules" largely falls on her.

"I outsource the cooking, cleaning and laundry so I can work, manage the groceries, handle all their class pick-ups — and still be present for my three young children," she said.

Wanted to visit sick mother

At the time, the text from her helper who wished to return read: "I don't want to stay. I want to go home and take care my mom. I can't stand to see my mother cry. If something happens to my mother, I might die.

I want to go back home and live next to my mother. If you don't buy me a plane ticket? I buy my own ticket."

Photo via angel_limst/Instagram

Lim told Stomp that her husband, who is a doctor, determined from the medical reports that it "wasn't a life-threatening emergency".

She said in her post that she still allowed her helper to return to Myanmar as she understood that she wanted to be with her family.

"I knew we could manage temporarily," said Lim, adding that her remaining helper would cover the cleaning.

They would also split the cooking and toddler care between them.

Helper said would return

Lim, noted, however, that she needed to know if her helper would be returning back to Singapore.

Before buying her helper's return ticket, Lim asked her directly: "Do you want to go home for good, or are you coming back."

She wrote that either answer "would have been okay" as she just needed the truth to plan accordingly.

Lim then purchased a two-way ticket at S$437.40 as her helper reportedly said she would return.

Allegedly uncontactable, never boarded return flight

Following this, her helper replied "Thanks Mdm" when Lim asked her to check in.

However, a screenshot of Lim's correspondence with her helper showed that she did not reply Lim's subsequent messages.

Image from Lim's Instagram

Lim also told Stomp that her helper reportedly did not board the return flight.

Noting that she "half expected this to happen" and was searching for a replacement, she found it "wasteful" to have paid for a return ticket she did not end up using.

She also told Stomp that with regard to her helper's mental state before leaving, she supposedly "seemed ok".

Her Instagram post read: "I'm not angry that she chose to leave.

"I'm disappointed that she chose to lie and take kindness for granted."

She added: "If she had told me the truth, I would have avoided paying for a return flight she never took."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Angeline Lim (@angel_limst)

M'sian man, 23, caught with fake staff passes & stamps with Supreme Court and MHA emblems at Woodlands Checkpoint

Belmont Lay — 2026-08-13T11:36:46

A Malaysian man, 23, was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug. 11 allegedly in possession of official-looking stamps and fake employee passes bearing his photograph.

The items are believed to be for the purposes of carrying out scams.

The inking instruments bore the emblems of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

SPF

The man was directed for enhanced checks at the arrival bus hall by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.

Investigations revealed that he had no employment history with any of the organisations whose passes were found on him, the police said in a statement on Aug. 12.

The police said: “Such counterfeit passes and official-looking instruments are tactics commonly employed by scammers to lend credibility to their operations, deceiving victims into believing they are dealing with representatives of a legitimate organisation.”

The man is set to be charged in court on Aug. 13 with the offence of making or possessing a counterfeit instrument with intent to commit forgery.

The offence carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.

Sun Xueling announces loan of noise blankets, free earbuds for Punggol residents amid Cross Island Line construction works

Chloe Loh — 2026-08-13T11:32:27

Residents in Punggol affected by the ongoing Cross Island Line construction will be able to borrow noise blankets or collect free noise-cancelling earbuds to help reduce noise disruptions from construction works.

Noise caused by the construction of a diaphragm wall

In a Facebook post on Aug. 10, Punggol GRC MP Sun Xueling said she is aware of the significant noise affecting residents of Waterway Terraces 1.

In a video accompanying the post, Sun said the noise is caused by the construction of a diaphragm wall next to Block 308A Punggol Walk.

She explained that the wall is a key structural component of the Cross Island Line project, as it retains surrounding soil and protects nearby buildings and roads from collapsing.

Noise blankets available for loan

Acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the works, Sun said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will make noise blankets available on loan to residents until the diaphragm wall construction is completed.

The blankets, which measure 2m by 1m, can reduce noise levels by between 15 and 17 decibels.

LTA will install and remove the blankets, and no drilling is required, she added.

However, she noted that the blankets are "quite thick" and, while they provide sound insulation, they will also block out some natural light and airflow.

Those who prefer not to install the blankets can instead collect free noise-cancelling earbuds from the Waterway Residents' Network, Sun said.

She also encouraged residents to share their feedback with her, adding that they will do their best to expedite the completion of the Cross Island Line.

Xinmin Secondary School students & staff evacuated after bomb hoax

Khine Zin Htet — 2026-08-13T11:19:46

Students and staff of Xinmin Secondary School in Hougang were evacuated on Aug. 13 morning following a bomb threat, according to The Straits Times.

The school reportedly said in a message to parents and guardians that it was alerted to the threat and immediately activated its evacuation procedures at 8:28am.

The police have conducted a "thorough search" of the premises, and no suspicious items were found, it said.

All students and staff were accounted for, it added.

Students have since returned to their classrooms, and the regular timetable has resumed.

Over 500 fake websites impersonating MHA, 7 Home Team agencies including SPF & SCDF taken down

Khine Zin Htet — 2026-08-13T11:11:01

More than 500 fake websites impersonating the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and seven Home Team agencies were taken down, the ministry said in a press release on Aug. 12.

Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) detected the websites on Aug. 10, and all identified websites were taken down by Aug. 11.

The seven agencies included the HTX, Singapore Police Force (SPF), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Prison Service (SPS), and Home Team Academy (HTA).

Replicated branding

The fake websites replicated the official branding and publicly available content from the websites of MHA and the affected Home Team agencies, MHA said.

This could have potentially misled members of the public into believing that they were accessing official MHA or Home Team agency websites, the ministry noted.

There was no evidence that the fake websites were used to perpetrate scams or phish for information from members of the public, it added.

There was also no evidence that the systems of MHA or Home Team agencies were compromised or accessed without authorisation.

Advisory

The ministry advised members of the public to remain vigilant when accessing websites purporting to belong to MHA or Home Team agencies.

They are advised to take the following precautions:

Verify the website address: Official Government websites end with .gov.sg. Always check the website address carefully before providing any personal or sensitive information.

Look out for irregularities: Be alert to unusual website addresses, spelling or grammatical errors, poor-quality images, broken links, or pages and functions that do not work as expected.

Access Government services through official channels: Where possible, access Government websites through official agency websites, the gov.sg portal, or by typing website addresses directly into browsers instead of clicking on links from unsolicited messages, emails, social media posts or advertisements.

Those who encounter any suspicious websites purporting to be official MHA or Home Team agency sites are encouraged to report them to the Police via the ScamShield Helpline at 1799, or through this website.

MHA said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the relevant agencies and partners to identify and take appropriate action against any websites that impersonate MHA or Home Team agencies.

Over 2.4 million S'poreans to get up to S$600 special payment from Sep. 9, 2026

Belmont Lay — 2026-08-13T10:42:31

More than 2.4 million Singaporeans will get between S$400 and S$600 under the Enhanced Budget 2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment from Sep. 9, 2026, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Aug. 13.

The special payment is for adult Singaporeans living in Singapore who have an assessable income of up to S$100,000 and own no more than one property.

The payout amount depends on the assessable income and annual value of the home of the recipient.

The special payment was first announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong during Budget 2026.

Eligible Singaporeans were to receive between S$200 and S$400.

In April 2026, Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said the one-off special payment will be topped up by S$200.

This is to provide "more support for the lower-income", MOF said.

Eligible Singaporeans will automatically receive their payments from Sep. 9 and can refer to the GovBenefits website to check their eligibility.

Recipients will receive an SMS notification before and after the payment is credited.

A letter will be sent to the address listed on one's identity card for those without a mobile number registered with Singpass.