16-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) In an unexpected turn of events, a shocking brawl outside a durian stall in Jurong last week has had a positive impact on residents, who received S$2,000 worth of free fruit from one of the stall owners involved, in a gesture of apology.
The Jurong stall held a ‘free fruit’ promotion on July 14th, drawing a large crowd of residents eager to take advantage of the unexpected offering. Shin Min Daily News reported that between 20 and 30 customers were observed outside the stall, collecting free fruit or purchasing discounted items.
The stall owner, Mr. Lan (transliterated from Mandarin), explained that while his stall periodically holds half-price promotions, the recent fruit giveaway was a direct response to the brawl that occurred on July 11th. As a way to apologize to residents, he spent S$2,000 to import a variety of fruits, including 200kg of durians, which were distributed from 5 am.
“After the brawl on Thursday (11 July), he decided to stage a fruit giveaway to apologize to residents,” Shin Min Daily News reported. “He spent S$2,000 to import the fruits and had them delivered by midnight.”
Unsurprisingly, the durians were snapped up within two hours, but Mr. Lan also offered lychees, cherries, and watermelons to the eager crowd.
The durian stall involved in the brawl, on the other hand, remained open for business as usual. A worker there told Shin Min that they were “not affected” by the incident, and that both stalls were simply “doing their own thing.”
The scene on July 14th was a stark contrast to the tension that unfolded on July 11th, when the police were called to respond to an altercation involving three men, including Mr. Lan and the durian stall owner.
Footage posted on Facebook showed the escalating confrontation, where Mr. Lan was shoved, prompting him to throw punches at the durian stall owner. As the situation escalated, with a durian being thrown at Mr. Lan’s head, he briefly left the scene only to return with a long knife. Thankfully, a passer-by persuaded him to put down the weapon and turn back.
When the police arrived, they arrested three men – aged 30, 52, and 58 – for affray. The two older men were also sent to the hospital for treatment.
While the investigation into the matter is ongoing, Mr. Lan’s gesture of offering free fruit to residents has turned a tense situation into a moment of community goodwill. The unexpected promotion not only provided a sweet treat for locals but also served as a reminder that even in the wake of conflict, there is an opportunity for reconciliation and healing.
