Ex-President’s Bodyguard Takes Over Hawker Parents’ Cantonese Porridge Stall
During the last month of her six-month training at the Home Team Academy, personnel from the Police Security Command came by to give a recruitment talk. “They said we could register with them if we were interested in joining. I found it very interesting — I would get to see a lot of things that people don’t get to see,” Hwee Yi recounts to 8days.sg.
She signed up that day, went home and told her hawker parents about the talk. She shares: “My dad used to be a hotel chef, and he had experience dealing with the security command when he was cooking for an event for VVIPs. He had a very positive impression of them, so he encouraged me to join.”
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
According to Hwee Yi, President's bodyguards don't wear a uniform, but adhere to a dress code for different events. "Usually we don't wear make-up or just very very light make-up like brows and lip balm to be presentable. And hair in a bun," she shares. (Photo: Lim Hwee Yi)
On becoming the President’s bodyguard
That led Hwee Yi to one of the most unusual jobs any Singaporean could have: being a personal bodyguard for the President of Singapore. During her five-year tenure with the security command, Hwee Yi protected former president Halimah Yacob, current president Tharman Shanmugaratnam and their spouses. In 2022, Hwee Yi also accompanied Mdm Halimah Yacob to the UK to attend the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
With her diminutive height, big sparkly eyes and bright smile, she debunks every film stereotype of a beefy, hostile club bouncer-esque bodyguard. “Because President Halimah Yacob is female, they needed more female bodyguards. I didn’t know it was even possible for me to join the police force. Since young, I have always had a sense of justice,” Hwee Yi says.
How does one become bodyguard to the president?
So how did she meet the “very stringent” criteria to guard the political elite? According to Hwee Yi, there were “three stages” for the job interview. “The first one was a physical test. After that half will drop out already (laughs). But the unit isn’t so rigid about physical attributes. Someone could be very tall, but they might not know how to react when something happens,” explains Hwee Yi.
What set Hwee Yi apart was also her unusual commitment towards her job. “My motivation is to protect our country’s leaders. It’s an honour. I would say my life is more disposable than theirs, as cringey as it sounds. I have goosebumps saying this now!” she chuckles.
From guarding the country’s leaders to becoming a hawker
In May this year, Hwee Yi made the difficult decision to leave her police job to take over her parents’ hawker stall called Botak Cantonese Porridge. It currently has two outlets, at Our Tampines Hub and One Punggol Hawker Centre.
Why the ‘botak’ name? Hwee Yi’s dad, Ngoh Jook Guan, 61, points at his own bald head. “You can see why lah,” he chortles. The cheerful hawker runs his two porridge stalls with his wife Ivy Lim, 57.
They got married around 12 years ago, and later left to open their own business selling Cantonese-style congee that Jook Guan, a Hakka man, learnt how to make when he was working as a hotel restaurant chef. “The porridge at Chinese restaurants is usually cooked by the Cantonese dim sum chefs. They taught me how to cook it — I was doing stir-frys then,” recalls Jook Guan, who used to work at restaurant chain Jumbo Seafood before becoming a hawker.
“Good meh? Okay only lah. Hotel restaurant porridge nicer,” beams Jook Guan modestly, typical Asian dad-style, though he looks pleased when we compliment his food. To keep his prices affordable, he came up with his own versions of congee recipes, using ingredients like scallop brine for the congee stock instead of whole dried scallops, which are a lot pricier.
Second-gen hawker taking over
Jook Guan is now teaching his stepdaughter Hwee Yi, an only child, the ropes to helm his business, while he and Ivy plan for their retirement. Hwee Yi notes: “I see my parents getting older. One day I looked at them and felt like, eh, how come they have so many wrinkles and white hair? I want them to relax and have an easier life.”
She had originally wanted to work at her parents’ hawker stall right after graduating from polytechnic, but was dissuaded by her mother. “My mum said I should take five years to pursue my other goals. After poly, at 21, I haven’t seen the world. After that, if [hawking] is still the path I want to take, I can do it,” Hwee Yi recalls.
The stability of a government job ended up being a comfort zone for her. “I’m very happy with the five years I have spent in the police force. It was a dilemma to leave for sure. I loved my job. My colleagues and supervisors were great and everything was going very well. Wun wun jiak bee hoon,” she jokes, referring to a playful Hokkien phrase to describe unshakeable stability.
Mrs Tharman inspired her career switch
She felt more reassured about taking over her parents’ hawker biz after meeting and getting engaged to her fiancé, Aw Wei Jie, who runs his own online cake delivery business and also now helps Hwee Yi out at Botak Cantonese Porridge. “When I first finished my bond, I was single so I didn’t have the courage [to change jobs]. Then I met my fiancé, and the idea popped up in my head again,” Hwee Yi says.
The hardships of being a hawker was a deterrent. “My previous job was physically and mentally demanding, but hawking has longer hours. Now, even on my off days, I sometimes come back to help out. For a government job, you definitely get two days off a week,” Hwee Yi points out.
It was a fateful conversation with First Lady Jane Yumiko Ittogi gave Hwee Yi the final nudge she needed to make her career switch.
“When I was still 60 to 70 per cent [leaning towards becoming a hawker], I had a conversation with Mrs Tharman in the car one day. I told her I was thinking of quitting my job to go help my parents, and she pointed out that I was very fortunate to have them build up this business for me. That was when I made my decision,” she recounts.
She adds: “Personally, I admire those hawkers who started from zero. If my parents didn’t build this up for me, I would be having a hard time now.”
Mixed Porridge, $4.80 (8 Days Pick!)
A thoroughly comforting bowl of Cantonese jook, loaded with tender pork liver, sliced pork, handmade meatballs, shredded chicken and minced century eggs. The velvety congee is delightful with the extra crunchy, savoury house-fried youtiao served on top (we could eat a whole bag of that on its own, like chips). Even if you are not very hungry, you will end up slurping up the whole bowl.
Seafood Porridge, $6.50 (8 Days Pick!)
Generously-portioned congee served with three springy large prawns, batang fish slices, cuttlefish slices and fried dough fritters. We recommend adding an egg to make this decadent, silky treat extra shiok.
Minced Pork Century Egg Porridge, $4 (8 Days Pick!)
This humble pick with less frills is just as good; the smooth, flavourful congee is perked up with bits of earthy century eggs, minced pork chunks and fried shallots. Soul-lifting stuff, and especially good in cooler weather on the rainy day we dropped by.
Botak Cantonese Porridge, two outlets including #01-65 The Hawker Centre @ Our Tampines Hub, S529684 and #02-14 One Punggol Hawker Centre, S828629. Open daily 7am-9pm (Punggol), 7.30am-9pm (Tampines). Tel: 8332-4255. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok
Photos: Aik Chen
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
8days.sg is now on #tiktok! Follow us on www.tiktok.com/@8dayseat
Shopping
