Pow Sing Restaurant posts notice saying it is undergoing 'renovation'
SINGAPORE — The stark notice taped up to the wall next to Pow Sing Restaurant was addressed to its customers. It read: “Kindly to inform (sic) that Pow Sing Restaurant is closed for renovation. The renovation starts from 13 July 2016 and we will resume our business once the renovation finishes.”
“If there are any further delays, we will keep you up to date,” it added.
It may seem like an ordinary notice. However, Pow Sing had had its licence suspended by the National Environment Agency on Wednesday (July 13) after several cases of gastroenteritis — stomach flu — were traced to the food consumed there, and several hygiene lapses were identified.
During this time, the restaurant is required to dispose all ready-to-eat food, thawed food and perishable food items.
It must also conduct thorough cleaning and sanitising of its premises including equipment, utensils, work surfaces and toilets.
The sign put up by Pow Sing, however, did not mention the restaurant's suspension by the authorities.
Mr Lee Chin Soo, the director of Pow Sing, said that as they were only informed of the suspension on Wednesday, he thought it was an opportune time to do up the restaurant, which he claimed had not been renovated in a long time. “We've not had a renovation after so many years in business,” said Mr Lee. “So I'm taking the opportunity to change things a bit, to have a fresh coat of paint and repair the necessary areas. I can't waste the time and just wait around. So we went ahead with the renovation.
“So while complying with the order, I thought I might as well get people in to paint the place and repair the kitchen, and clean up the areas which are dirty.”
