A man dressed in a black, strapless dress has been spotted selling packs of tissue paper in Yishun, Marsiling, and Woodlands, raising concern among residents. Netizens have also said he has been following people and asking for money.
TikTok Encounter Sparks Attention
On Dec 8, TikTok user @nrrindahadryana shared a video of her encounter with the man. In the clip, he can be seen holding multiple tissue packets while wearing a strapless black dress.
@nrrindahadryana LOL thought this was funny so why not #fyp ♬ original sound – ⃟
The user wrote in the comments that she met the man around 6 pm while on her way to Northpoint City. “I told him I didn’t have cash, then he said that we sit somewhere to talk, saying he and his grandmother hadn’t eaten for days,” she added. Even as she tried to move away, he asked her, “whether he looked pretty.” She eventually called out to three passers-by for help before walking away.
Street Hawking Rules
Under Singapore’s Street Hawking Scheme, licensed street hawkers can sell items like tissue packs at designated public locations. They are required to pay a monthly license fee of $10.
The TikTok post has attracted over 311,200 views and 26,900 likes, with several commenters reporting similar encounters in Woodlands, Marsiling, and Choa Chu Kang.
Chloe Low, a 20-year-old beautician, said she met the same man near her Woodlands HDB block on Nov 28. She claimed he pressured her for $20, saying he needed to feed his eight siblings. He even followed her around and appeared at her block the next day. “I did not go back home for a few days because I was scared he would be there waiting for me,” she said.
Other users also reported spotting the man on the MRT, with one encounter dating back to 2014.
Some netizens expressed sympathy, urging others to “just let him be,” suggesting he may not have anything else to wear. “He is not a menace, just misunderstood,” one comment read.
The police have been contacted for comment regarding the man’s activities.
