Melvin Chew Gives Longtime Elderly Customer Free Kway Chap and Coffee Money

A regular visit to Melvin Chew’s Chinatown stall has become a weekly act of kindness. The 47-year-old hawker says he has been giving an elderly customer free kway chap and a little money for drinks after knowing him for years. Chew, who runs Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap at Chinatown Complex, shared the story in a Facebook post on Oct. 16. He wrote that the man comes by weekly, eats at no charge and receives $5 afterwards. When the customer recently asked for pig’s blood, Chew said he gave it to him as well. The hawker told Mothership that he first came to know the man when he was selling newspapers at Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre. The customer has since been visiting Chew’s stall for more than a decade, according to the report. Chew said he and others would sometimes pass him money for coffee or to buy food. Chew recalled that the man once wanted kway chap but asked only for braised egg, salted vegetables and tau pok. Chew treated him to the meal, and the man began returning once or twice a week. He said he continued helping because the customer “doesn’t ask for much.” The Facebook post drew appreciative comments from readers, who praised Chew’s generosity. Asked about the response, he said he felt blessed to see positive messages online, adding that social media can also be toxic. Chew said he would be happy if the story encouraged more people to help those in need.