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How Singapore’s president spoke up for home businesses amid pressure to ease tighter circuit breaker rules
- Halimah Yacob described why such businesses, initially banned from operating during Ramadan, were important to the Malay-Muslim community
- She was praised for her empathy and leadership
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Picka.treatsg, an online business operating out of a Singapore public flat, saw an increase in orders of its cakes late last month, after the authorities announced commercial snack and drinks outlets would have to temporarily stop operating.
This came amid tighter restrictions during Singapore’s circuit breaker or partial lockdown period, and just before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
With orders growing from three a week to three a day, Picka.treatsg owner Nur Syafiqah Suhaimi sprang into action, renting a car from a rental service to make deliveries from her four-room flat in Ang Mo Kio and ordering more ingredients and packaging.
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She spent more than S$400 (US$280). So when the 23-year-old learned four days later that home-based businesses were not spared from stricter rules to limit the coronavirus outbreak, she was devastated. “I sell my bakes and cakes in boxes and I just bought ingredients, like cream cheese which was quite expensive. So when this happened, I didn’t know what to do and was at a complete loss.”
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Like Nur Syafiqah, other home-based business owners in Singapore selling items ranging from confectionery to sewn costumes, were shocked.
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