MAT Western, a popular food stall in Bedok, saw an unexpected surge in customers on Thursday (May 19), as a TikTok video sparked confusion regarding its financial health. Local celebrity Chef Bob (Shahrizal Salleh) posted an interview with MAT Western’s owner, Umar Fabrice, where captions suggested the food stall was facing difficulties with rental payments and had fallen behind on debts. The video, which featured an emotional Umar, led many to believe that the stall was struggling.
However, Umar clarified the misunderstanding that same evening through a Facebook post, explaining that the video referred to other business ventures and not MAT Western. He assured customers that business at the food stall was “good” and that plans for expansion were underway. Umar also shared that the emotional moment in the video was triggered by a personal topic regarding his mother’s recent visit to Singapore, not the state of his business.
The viral video led to an outpouring of support, with customers flocking to MAT Western in droves. So many customers arrived that the food stall had to close orders for the day due to the overwhelming demand. In his post, Umar expressed gratitude for the unexpected support, emphasizing that he was not seeking sympathy, but simply sharing a personal story.
Chef Bob, in turn, took down the original video but left a shorter version on his Facebook page. Umar also expressed his respect for Chef Bob, acknowledging his good intentions and kindness.
Despite the mix-up, MAT Western continues to thrive, with plans for future growth, and Umar remains passionate about serving quality food to his loyal customers.