A video was recently widely shared online, showing several rats roaming over and around food containers in what looked like a food stall. The video was accompanied by a description saying it had been filmed at a stall selling Teochew porridge at at Lorong 35 Geylang.
The owner of the nearest Teochew porridge stall to Lorong 35 Geylang, Mr. Chen, has said that he is cooperating with the police, and that he would like to find out who circulated the video and the rumor that it was taken at Geylang.
This is not the first time that this particular video was used to get a food establishment in trouble. It was earlier reported to have been filmed at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, bit the video actually came from China.
The fact of the matter is that there are no Teochew porridge stalls in Lorong 35 Geylang, and Mr. Chen’s stall is actually located at Lorong 37 Geylang.Â
However, Mr. Chen says that over 20 customers have asked him about the rat video since it was circulated, and that he has lost around 10 percent of his business. Additionally, the other food stalls nearby have reported losses as well. He believes that the video was spread because of envy over the success of his business, but he is concerned that his stall will suffer further if the rumors are not quashed.
He is working with local authorities to find out who circulated the video and connected it to his business, and also to avoid more fake news from being spread further.