Voice of thunder, heart of gold
She's a most unlikely Internet star, but a video featuring Madam Beh Poh Gek has been viewed more than 242,000 times on Facebook.
Posted by Facebook user Sujimy Mohamad, Madam Beh, 48, rattles off in Malay and Tamil to the amusement and appreciation of her customers.
Just who is this woman?
When we visited her last Tuesday, her booming voice could be heard two blocks away.
Madam Beh is a Jurong West institution and has been calling on customers to "Pilih! Pilih!" (Malay for select) just about every morning for the last 25 years.
The shop she works at, JuWest Green Grocery and Florist, is located at Block 497 Jurong West Street 41.
Madam Beh speaks English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil.
Mr Munisamy Ramachandran, 64, an oil refinery worker, said: "I always tell her she should work as an army commander instead."
He has been buying from her for 12 years.
He said: "Everyone in the neighbourhood knows her as she is friendly and speaks so many languages."
On April 7, Madam Beh was featured in a heartwarming Facebook video that went viral.
As of yesterday, the video had scored more than 4,000 likes and 3,800 shares.
In the video, Madam Beh is seen chatting cheerfully with many customers in Malay and Tamil.
One of them is Mr Sujimy Mohamad's mother, who mentioned that Madam Beh often gives her extra vegetables.
Facebook user Koh Wei Zane commented: "Everyone in the video feels so sincere. All those smiles are so raw and genuine."
Another Facebook user, Maznunnisha Aziz, commented: "Truly inspiring coverage of how gracious our society is and how a little kindness and humbleness goes a long way."
Madam Beh said she was delighted at the flood of positive comments left by Singaporeans.
She added that she was surprised so many of her customers had caught the video.
INTERNET FAMOUS
Speaking in fluent Mandarin, Madam Beh said: "They will come up to me and ask if I have seen it.
"Some joke that I am Internet famous now."
Madam Beh said that growing up in Malaysia, she learnt Malay in school and picked up Tamil from television shows.
A permanent resident, Madam Beh has lived here for over 30 years.
The single mother of a son, 16, and daughter, 18, says she enjoys interacting with her customers.
"The elderly aunties and uncles will ask for me even when I am on break. It is heartening to know that so many people like to buy vegetables from me," she said.
Mrs Lau Ah Mok, 72, has been Madam Beh's customer for over 20 years and the pair often chat in Hokkien.
Mrs Lau said: "I will always look for her when I am here as she is very cheerful and nice.
"She is an honest seller who never shortchanges anyone."
Housewife Faz Rina, 40, said she also likes Madam Beh's service: "Her voice can wake up the entire estate every morning.
"But she is very friendly and fast at packing vegetables."
And what is Madam Beh's formula for success?
"We are all humans. We should be as nice as we can to everyone we meet," she said.
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