‘Cash Only... No Lah, No Now, No CDC’ — Singapore woman, 85, says her stall customers scold her because she only accepts cash

An 85-year-old women, Qiu Shi Ni, owns a tea house in Kovan, Singapore, where she only accepts cash payments. Her stall is clearly marked with a sign that reads "No Lah, No Now, No CDC," indicating she does not accept electronic payment methods like PayLah, PayNow, or Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers. The sign also includes a line that reads "Only Mr Yusof Bin Ishak," referencing Singapore's first president and the portrait on the banknotes that she prefers to accept.

Ms Qiu has operated her business for 42 years, but she recently noticed that some customers were not aware of her cash-only policy. As a result, she had to throw away prepared coffee or give it to other customers who did not have cash. Additionally, she has faced scolding from customers who were unaware of her payment rule.

To address this issue, Ms Qiu's daughter created a more visible sign two months ago to clearly communicate her payment preferences. Despite this, some regular customers still make the effort to pay cash. One such customer, Mr Li, a 50-year-old construction worker who has visited the stall for over a decade, appreciates the coffee and is willing to pay in cash.

He hopes other patrons will show more understanding towards Ms Qiu, who is illiterate and unfamiliar with electronic payment systems due to her lack of formal education and the use of an old mobile phone.