Gong Gong Chaik Ti Kong (2026)

Whenever I think of my late mother, one phrase always comes to mind: Gong gong chaik ti kong – Heaven will take care of you.

Until she suffered a serious stroke in 1984, my mother was my idol in life. She was diligent, intelligent, and deeply guided by this simple but powerful belief. To her, it meant that no matter how ordinary or unassuming one might be, if you did the right thing, Heaven would look after you. It was a philosophy that, on the surface, may seem simplistic, even naïve, but it carried a strength that shaped the way she lived.

Even after the stroke, when she was no longer the same person, my love and respect for her never diminished.

The Police Dream

My parents, however, were also deeply involved in gambling. In fact, they were bookies every weekend, with more than $100,000 easily changing hands over those few days. It was a significant part of their lives, and it would later shape one of the most difficult decisions I had to make.

As a child, I had wanted to be a policeman. That ambition led me to join the NPCC at Dunman High School. I did well there, becoming the best cadet in Secondary Two, and by Secondary Four, the most senior NCO in the unit. It was a path that seemed naturally aligned with who I was becoming.

During my time in OCS, I was offered the prestigious Singapore Police Force scholarship. It should have been a defining moment, an opportunity to fulfil a childhood dream. But I turned it down. I could not reconcile the idea that one day, in the course of duty, I might have to arrest my own parents.

My Eldest Sister and Second Elder Brother

With my parents gone, the responsibility of holding the family together fell to my eldest sister, Irene. In truth, she had already been doing so since my mother’s stroke in Thailand in 1984. To us, she became a second mother.

More than that, she carried the weight of the family with quiet strength. She managed our finances carefully, ensuring that all of us could complete our education. There was no drama, just a steady, unwavering presence that kept the family intact.

Even today, she continues to hold us together, and we all respect her deeply for it.

My second elder brother, Cartel, has also played his part. Having done well in investments, he became the financial anchor of the family. Now semi-retired, he hosts our entire extended family, some forty-five of us, for the annual Chinese New Year gathering on the first day. It is more than a tradition; it is a reminder that despite everything, the family remains whole.

Conclusion

As I reflect on all this, I see my responsibilities clearly divided.

To my new family, my duty is to lead – to guide, protect, and ensure that it remains intact and successful.

To my old family, my duty is to support – to stand behind it, to keep it together, and to preserve it for as long as possible. Perhaps this too is a continuation of what my mother believed. Do the right thing, and trust that, somehow, Heaven will take care of the rest.