SINGAPORE – Even as a toddler, Ms Hani Isnin-Racine would pester her parents to let her help with the family’s food business.
She was already in the kitchen carefully peeling eggs when she was two years old.
Now 40, the law and economics graduate from the National University of Singapore serves up to 300 plates of Malay food to residents of the Jalan Kukoh estate every day.
Each plate, whether lontong or briyani, will set most of her customers back only $2.50, as she has vowed to keep prices low for those living in the many rental flats in the area.
Indeed, the stall at the Jalan Kukoh Food Centre is simply called The $2.50 Shop.
Ms Hani, who runs the stall with her parents, slashed prices in 2021 while inflation was driving prices up. She wanted to do something to help her customers who struggle to afford food.
The family takes home no pay half the time, but their hearts are full from feeding the hungry. They get by on their savings and with the assistance of Ms Hani’s husband, a Frenchman working as an accountant.
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Ms Hani is a finalist for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2023 award.
The annual award is organised by The Straits Times and given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who has made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community.
The award, now in its ninth edition, is presented by UBS Singapore.
As a child, Ms Hani’s parents did not want her to become a hawker, and pushed her to go to university.
Ms Hani said: “They pleaded with me to go study and get a high-flying job that pays well. I gave in because I wanted to make them happy. They said that at the very least, I should have a degree to fall back on.”
Her parents were beyond elated when she landed a job at a law firm, but after two months in the corporate world, she discovered she was miserable. She quit her job and opened a canteen stall in Queensway Secondary School instead.
Her mother, Madam Munah, 70, said: “I was very disappointed. I wanted her to have an easy life.”
Her extended family could not understand her decision either, calling her university education a waste of money.
Ms Hani Isnin-Racine with her parents ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Hawker hopes to keep prices low at her $2.50 Malay food stall despite rising costs, GST hike
Despite criticism, Ms Hani was all smiles as she served food to children. If a student came up to her stall and did not have enough money, she would still serve the child something to keep his tummy filled.
She closed the canteen stall after six years to help her parents run their hawker shop as they were getting old and needed an extra hand.
“They kept a watchful eye on me growing up even as they ran their business, so now, it is my turn to keep an eye on them as we run the stall,” she said.
Ms Hani slashed prices when she saw elderly patrons with no money sitting without buying anything.
She was also getting asked by single parents what they could get at her stall for $10 to feed a family of five.
The stall starts selling food at 3.30am, earlier than most.
When ST visited The $2.50 Shop on Jan 16, customers came as early as 3.10am. They were mostly night owls craving hot, hearty food in the wee hours, and night shift workers.
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Mr Sim Eng Hua, 65, lives alone in a nearby rental flat. He swung by the stall at 3.45am for some lontong.
The retiree wakes up every day at 3am. Four times a week, he makes his way to Ms Hani’s shop for breakfast to start his day.
He said: “The shop’s prices are very cheap, and the food is very nice. I don’t know how she is able to maintain these prices. I am willing to pay more.”
Even with the slashed prices, some still have trouble paying. From these customers, Ms Hani accepts whatever they can afford to pay.
Ms Hani said: “There are kind souls who come here just to support our stall, and pay the full amount or give extra to cover needy customers. They help us continue what we’re doing.”
Madam Munah said: “She’s always very passionate about what she does and tries her best. When we told her to focus on studying in the past, she worked so hard that she would cry if she got a single question wrong on a test. Now, her heart is set on this career, and her passion is to feed the needy. I’m proud of her.”
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The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year (SOTY) is an award that is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.
The annual award is organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
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