Debt-ridden man Ng Chee Kiang jumped to his death after killing his two children
From our Correspondent
Tragedy struck a Singapore family of four at Ang Mo Kio when a 39-year old man jumped from 12 storeys down to his death after setting fire to his flat which killed his two children.
Mr Ng Chee Kiang used to earn a decent salary as a manager of a chain of Sushi restaurants, but his gambling habit got him debt-riddened and his family was harassed by loansharks.
Unable to withstand her husband’s addiction to gambling, Madam Wang Li Zhu quarreled frequently with him and even threatened to file for divorce.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)received a call at around 9.50pm about the fire.
Upon their arrival, SCDF firefighters saw smoke coming out of the flat. They had to force their way into the flat to put out the fire.
They found a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl inside one of the bedrooms. The boy, Savier Ng Wei Yi, and the girl, Cheryl Ng Shi Hui, had no pulse and were not breathing. They were found to have strangle marks on their necks.
SCDF officers immediately performed CPR, but they were unable to revive the two children. They were pronounced dead shortly after.
While SCDF officers were fighting the fire in the flat, Mr Ng was reported to have jumped from the 12th floor of the same block which was witnessed by more than 100 people in the neighborhood.
Madam Wang fainted upon hearing the news. “Why is he so cruel to bring my children away?”, she wailed.
The sad case of Mr Ng illustrates the social problems brought about by gambling. Singapore’s two casinos will be opened early next year.
The National Council On Problem Gambling (NCPD) was set up in Singapore after casino gambling was legalized in 2005. At that time, the government acknowledged the potential social costs of gambling and agreed to take steps to address the issue.
NCPD has kick-started an anti-gambling campaign called “Know the Line” at groups believed vulnerable to getting hooked on gambling.It is a part of the group’s ongoing efforts to raise public awareness of the problem and to provide help for people addicted to gambling.
The NCPD was given the jobs of advising Singapore’s Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports on gambling issues, distributing funds to gambling treatment programs and deciding who would be excluded from casinos.
A government survey in 2008 found that 54% of Singapore residents over the age of 18 had participated in some form of gambling in the previous 12 months.
The survey indicated that 0.7% to 1.6% of respondents could be classified as “pathological gamblers.”
The government defended the construction of the casinos in Singapore on the grounds that the gaming industry will create jobs for Singapore and generate revenue for the country.
Despite much resistance from Singaporeans, especially religious groups, the government bull-doze its way through without much of a consultation with the people.
In contrast, a similar proposal to build casinos on the Taiwanese island of Penghu was shelved after its residents voted against it in a referendum.
It is not known if current measures are adequate to prevent future tragedies like this from happening.
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mirax on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 6:40 pm
Tragedies like this happen for many reasons : addictions to drugs, alcohols, mental illness, sexual infidelity, revenge against a spouse who leaves etc. In this case, Mr Ng’s gambling addiction no doubt played a part (we know little about Mr Ng’s mental stability or marital woes) but the writer of this article is stretching to make a wider political point, re the casinos being built in Singapore. But cases like the Ngs already exist though the casinos are not yet open for business. Some people simply cannot be saved from themselves.
someone sad for singapore on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 7:40 pm
Trust me, when the casinos here open, more will follow.
detoxin on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 8:44 pm
“But cases like the Ngs already exist though the casinos are not yet open for business.”
What is your point here?
We are trying to stress that the gambling and loanshark is a real problem in Sg. Once the casinos open, it will make things worse, wouldn’t it?
“Some people simply cannot be saved from themselves.”
Gambling was also cited as the cause for Dr Allen Ooi’s death, in conjunction with relationship problems according to the ST. Do you recall??
You must be either too drunk from yesterday’s partying to be missing the point.
Time for Change on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 9:52 pm
Singaporeans came as one and told the MIW that we didn’t want any Casinos here. They didn’t listen to us. They never listen. The ignored our pleas as usual. They always ignore our pleas.
Now it appears that the MIW is very worried that the situation will become much worse in Singapore. The will be more social problems caused by addiction to gambling in the casinos. There will be more family break-ups and more suicide.
They were so desperate to increase revenue that they didn’t listen to the people. They never do.
It is time for Change. Vote for Change.
rc on Sun, 8th Nov 2009 11:04 pm
are we so certain that Singaporeans came as one and told the MIW that we didn’t want any casinos?
while there are people who are still against the casinos, i’m sure there were, and still are, for it (and i don’t mean the politicians).
i think the sadder part is that we, the people of Singapore, weren’t properly consulted beforehand.
janetnt on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:35 am
Casino or no Casino, this will still happen. anyway i don’t think the casino target the average singaporean. So my opinion is that the opening of the IR will not worsen the problem by any significant percentage. There is already many illegal, low class and high class casino, both on ships and even in town.
Did the IR create jobs? 5 of my friend are already in MBS and Resort world.
I agreed the government did not listen, bad government. But is the IR bad for the average singaporean(majority) in the short and long run? I don’t know, the verdict is still out.
IPromiseIWillGiveItBack2U on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:48 am
Casinos create jobs for FOREIGNERS and gambling wrecks lives of CITIZENS. Whose clever idea was it? Answer: PAP
Time for Change on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:20 am
I won’t be surprised that 80% of the staff at working at both casions will be foreigners although Singaporeans were promised the majority of jobs there. See it for yourself, if the promised was kept to provide jobs for Singaporeans.
Judge for yourself and vote accordingly.
citizenofSG on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:26 am
The effect of casinos is bad for societies like Singapore. Look at the number of people at the 4D counters every weekend you could roughly gauge how many people gambles in Singapore.
The morality of a government is questionable once they agree to allow vice flourishing in the country. There is no need to ask for a referendum in Singapore on gambling. There will probably be a resounding “YES” vote by the public at large. If you ask most children if they prefer play than to study they will also give you a resounding “YES”. Even legalizing prostitution, allowing high net worth individual accessing cocaine, trading of human organs can become a reality when morality has become irrelevant and money making supersede everything else.
If a country where prostitution is rampant, being a prostitute is just another profession; most people in the country will think there is nothing wrong and live goes on. Higher moral individual comes into government and wish to make a change will be considered as a devil because they are considered as heartless people who want to deprive people of making a living. Change will be even more difficult than voting out the PAP. There is country like this and they have been surviving well and fine. Should we also join them? The choice is yours.
Some people in other countries openly trade their wives with one another to have some good time; do you also want to join them? You may if the sense of morality does not bother you at all.
What type of society will we become? The choice is up to the government. They are the potter and the people their clay.
Rainnix on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 5:12 am
TR please take note, it was told by the neighbours that he had borrowed from loan sharks, but many people borrow loan sharks for many other reasons than gambling. Mr Ng’s loan shark debt may not have come from gambling which is not proven yet And I don’t trust “Wan Bao” (correct me if I’m wrong).
It is too early to base his death with gambling until it is proven otherwise, can TR send someone down to interview?
Trevor Kiam Fatah Santosa on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 5:45 am
The children are innocent, why killed them? Only an animal would do such a thing. Spoiled your children, your children are your greatest reward in life!
Hohoho! on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 7:53 am
Got casino or no casino, there are always people who don’t value life, and no respect their living parents. Nothing to do with gambling. The IR is going to bring lots of tax monies to the coffer for distribution to you-know-who. People born, people dies. This is life. Who cares?
sicktothebones on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 8:14 am
someone said “So my opinion is that the opening of the IR will not worsen the problem by any significant percentage. There is already many illegal, low class and high class casino, both on ships and even in town”.
So obviously you have all the statistics to form your opinioniated views that IR will not worsen loanshark problems contrary to what others think?
AND you know of illegal casions “even in town”? did you report to the police then?
“IR create jobs?” – yes the jury is still out – if we can get the real figures on how many real Sporeans got jobs there and how many goes to foreigners. So just because 5 of your frens got jobs in the two IRs means IR create jobs for Sporeans?
And you called other people’s arguments illogical?
Kitty on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 9:22 am
….”There is already many illegal, low class and high class casino, both on ships and even in town”—-
what is our police doing here??? why so many running low class casino in town and not get caught????
Brendan on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:00 am
Hohoho! on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 7:53 am
“People born, people dies. This is life. Who cares?”
Legalise firearms! Then we can open gun shops in Singapore!!So more jobs for Singaporeans!
Pok Tok on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:01 am
There are more and bigger casinos elsewhere from Macau to Las Vegas. And for just a bus ride you end up in Genting casino across the causeway.
So, casino is but an excuse.
Greed is the cause. People these days want to live better that the Jones next door. Sufficiency & adequacy is no longer the norm. Right?
Surprisingly, our Malays don’t kill their children let alone committing suicide regardless.
We shd learn from them. Right?
Brendan on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:06 am
janetnt on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:35 am
ALL please take note!!
janetnt must be the sister of BryanT. In case readers don’t know, BryanT is a regular poster on the SDP site and ocassionally on this site too. Readers are all too familiar of his “The PAP is wrong, but then the PAP is also right” crap!
A truly BryanT moment.
Simsl77 on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:22 am
Let’s Boycott Casino! In the past, PAP stronger objected of setting up Casino in Singapore because they are closer to us. Now they built is because their priority is no longer on people but profit!
Heartbreaking.ChildrenAreInnocent on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 10:48 am
IPromiseIWillGiveItBack2U: “Casinos create jobs for FOREIGNERS and gambling wrecks lives of CITIZENS”
Well said.
Richard Kong on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:12 am
Gambling in Singapore has been ongoing since the days immigrants landed. That is why we have the anti-gambling law. Do you know there are many illegal lottery draws on a daily, weekly and monthly basis? Do you know there are also illegal gambling dens in many locations in Singapore? It does not mean you do not have IRs, people don’t gamble. Leave the ingenuinity and decisions to Singaporeans except to point out the evils of gambling. Many Singaporeans still travel to the North and South of Singapore for their daily flings. IRs do not make much different to them except to legalize gambling in an orderly and controlled environment where the gamblers pay their sin taxes to Singapore; otherwise loss of foreign exchanges. At the same time, those vulnerables may be identified and singled out for counselling. Constant education on the evils of gambling may also be one the strategies to adopt
Teng Hin on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:54 am
I’ve been out of job for a while and I’ve just got a job as an employee in a hotel in Sentosa. My distant uncle also. He’s a caretaker at the amusement park. We’ll be starting work early next year.
I’m for employment. Therefore development in general.
Just like people are matured to read whatever. Vote whoever. They must then know whether smoking or gabling is good or bad for one’e wellbeing.
Right? Why blame our government? Absurd!
citizen on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:46 pm
Lets hope our Home Team is adequately equipped to deal with the shadow economy that may develop as a result of the IRs.
jolly on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:50 pm
the social ills associated with the casinos will only be amplified upon their openings. One sure thing for me is that the govt is keen only to create jobs in a massive scale so that the population are fully employed and hence boast to the outside world that the govt is doing a great job and at the same time win some votes.
VOTEWISE on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 1:11 pm
Sad this case is and many such cases indeed!
It’s pathetic but is this not what was intended to be meant
as “terminally” ill….those who are ‘financially’ ill?
For i still see alot of my rather old rich compatriots
very much alive and kicking…and swinging!!!
all said…”no money no tlak” lah..SINGA-POOR-LAH,OH,SINGA-POOR LAH….my sympathies…and yours too.
Just speaking on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 1:33 pm
With or without the IRs, gambling problems are here to stay. What’s the big deal about having 2 more when there are already dozens of illegal ones around already?
CuntSing on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 1:34 pm
“Lets hope our Home Team is adequately equipped to deal with the shadow economy that may develop as a result of the IRs.”
Wah!! So much trust in me ?? After I ..
1. Lost MSK
2. Allowed someone to travel on a different passport
3. Many other cockups
You can only hope…Feel sorry for you. Let’s hope that you live in a HDB and will have no “jaga” to protect your family at night.
fair and square on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 1:38 pm
@Rainnix
You made a valid point!
However,if if this is a case of gambling indebtedness,it does not mean that many other similar cases of suicides like those at the MRT is for the same reason.
There are many reasons for being in poverty or debt-ridden.
Gambling is just one such reasons.
A decent man may be out of job-not of his own fault- and went on to become an “ENTRPRENEUR” and lost all he had and more!
Another,may be poor and out of job and could not take the pressures of making ends meet….
We need to be sympathetic to the living;not just the dead or dying…
Rainnix on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 3:14 pm
@fair and square
“We need to be sympathetic to the living; not just the dead or dying…”
True but to see that a father had to kill his off-springs then commit suicide due to his debt in this so called “affluent first world” country really pains my heart. Are Singaporeans choosing death as an easy way out? But the kids are innocent!
Hope that Singapore won’t ever pass euthanasia laws so that more Singaporeans will choose death over hardships in life.
JanetNT on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:27 pm
Sicktothebone, pls remain sick but don’t put words in to my mouth.
JanetNT on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 4:33 pm
Brendan,
I not going to be brother by what u said. other reader can go decide their impression of me.
ri_ir on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:29 pm
“Just like people are matured to read whatever. Vote whoever. They must then know whether smoking or gabling is good or bad for one’e wellbeing.
Right? Why blame our government? Absurd”
The same logic could also apply to the ownership of guns and the other heavier or lesser stuff deemed illegal currently.
For casinos, all the right marketing bells and whistles are delibrately ringing and whizzing loudly to tickle the weak human senses and yes of even matured people.
If gambling is good, why need excuses like having the need for NCPD and some proposed admission fee as a deterrent. And if gambling is bad, why have it in the first place.
Why blame the government ? Good question !!! Can you stop the government from going ahead with the IR project ?
The fact that casinos are being built is because it is able to generate revenue from the net loss of gamblers who are already being gamed with unfavourable odds the moment they step inside the doorway with the heady illusion of making a killing which means to win.
Exposer on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 12:13 am
“They must then know whether smoking or gabling is good or bad for one’e wellbeing.”
then why didn’t the government know ? The government smoke the people indefinitely and gamble away nation’s wealth under Lee’s family. So did the government know ? Yes, they know but they say it is not their problem.
ri_ir on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 12:35 am
Richard Kong on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 11:12 am
“Gambling in Singapore has been ongoing since the days immigrants landed.”
Same for prostitution which has the famous distintion of being called “the world’s oldest profession”. So are we going to borrow your good rationale and have the most modern whorehouse built on this island.
Ah yes, gambling in Singapore has been ongoing since the days immigrants landed. The strange thing is that the casinoes polished with such glossy terms known as IRs only get to be built now with all the ‘right’ reasons why it should be done, very much in contrast on why it should not have been done many many years ago.
foor on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 12:53 am
janetnt on Mon, 9th Nov 2009 12:35 am
“There is already many illegal, low class and high class casino, both on ships and even in town.”
huh ? There would always be certain illegal activities of this and that around. What does that mean, make it legal then as far as your rationale goes ? Like what they say, if you can’t beat them, join them.
“Did the IR create jobs? 5 of my friend are already in MBS and Resort world.”
So ? Of course, there will be some of your friends happening to work in this industry. Have you forgotten to ask yourself, why this industry if there some other better option ?
Or perhaps this is a better industry ?
But I guess you have even more friends who are working outside of MBS and Resort world.
fpc on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 6:10 am
//JanetNT
So, it takes a country with no illegal gambling to ban gambling?
Or it takes a country with no smoking to ban smoking even though smoking is bad for yourself and others?
You got a lot of nerve coming to this blog.
NNCore on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 11:28 am
Casino or not, if one intend to gamble, one can find all means of gambling legal or illegal in Singapore or nearby… having Casino has only allowed the gahment to derive $$$ from it to attach more foreign talents.
Also the how much jobs can it goes to Singaporeans, seeing the service industries standard of hiring, most probably the bulk of it will go to foreign talents.