Admiralty crash victim was family's sole breadwinner; Batik, not quilt, symbolises Tharman's multicultural vision: Singapore live news

Yahoo

5 days ago

Chan Yong Kang, a 30-year-old Malaysian single father, died in a tragic crash on Admiralty Road while returning home from work in Singapore. He had worked two jobs – one as an electrician in Singapore and another as a food delivery rider in Johor Bahru – to support his five-year-old daughter and fund his divorce.
Despite his demanding schedule, he visited his daughter every weekend. His family described him as hardworking, cautious, and deeply devoted. They now hope to gain custody of the child and raise her together in his memory.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has called for a deeper, more resilient form of multiculturalism, likening it to batik, where diverse threads are interwoven into a unified fabric. Speaking at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies 2025, he warned against the 'patchwork quilt' model, which he said can unravel under stress.
Tharman highlighted rising global polarisation and urged societies to actively cultivate shared values and trust. The conference, attended by over 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, aims to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue. More on Tharman's vision for unity here.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Chan Yong Kang, a 30-year-old Malaysian single father who worked two jobs, was killed in a multi-vehicle crash along Admiralty Road on 20 June. He was riding home to Johor Bahru after work when he collided with a lorry and was run over by a garbage truck.
Chan had worked as an electrician in Singapore for 11 years and took on food delivery jobs in Johor after hours to support his five-year-old daughter and fund his divorce proceedings. He left home at 4am daily and returned by 7pm, only to repeat the cycle the next day.
Despite his gruelling schedule, Chan made time every weekend to visit his daughter in Batu Pahat. His siblings described him as a cautious rider and a devoted father who lived simply but gave generously.
The accident occurred just after he left his workplace. His brother, who worked with him, said Chan was not speeding and blamed sudden braking by a lorry ahead.
Chan's family now hopes to gain custody of his daughter, pledging to raise her together in his memory.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has urged societies to rethink how they approach multiculturalism, warning that superficial integration risks falling apart under pressure. Speaking at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025, he said multicultural societies should resemble batik, where diverse threads are interwoven into a single, resilient fabric.
In contrast, he cautioned against the 'patchwork quilt' model, where cultural groups remain separate and loosely stitched together. 'In times of stress, the stitches weaken and the quilt is easily forced apart,' he said.
Tharman noted that enthusiasm for multiculturalism is waning globally, with rising political polarisation and a retreat from moderate values. He stressed that shared values and a belief in a common future must be actively cultivated.
The ICCS, attended by over 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, aims to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Batik attire was the dress code, fitting for the metaphor.
Read on Tharman's call for cohesion here.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called the relationship between Singapore and China 'more important than ever' during his first official visit to China as premier. Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday (24 June), Wong met with President Xi Jinping and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation amid rising global tensions.
Wong emphasised the need to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based global order, noting that Singapore and China can work together on regional and international platforms. Xi echoed the sentiment, calling for tighter strategic cooperation to tackle shared challenges.
The visit marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Wong highlighted the long-standing trust and mutual respect that began even before formal ties were established, referencing the legacy of leaders like Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping.
Wong also met Premier Li Qiang and will meet National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji, completing engagements with China's top three leaders.
He will conclude his five-day trip by attending the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Tianjin, where he's slated to speak on regional cooperation and economic resilience.
Read on Wong's first visit to China as premier here.
Chan Yong Kang, a 30-year-old Malaysian single father who worked two jobs, was killed in a multi-vehicle crash along Admiralty Road on 20 June. He was riding home to Johor Bahru after work when he collided with a lorry and was run over by a garbage truck.
Chan had worked as an electrician in Singapore for 11 years and took on food delivery jobs in Johor after hours to support his five-year-old daughter and fund his divorce proceedings. He left home at 4am daily and returned by 7pm, only to repeat the cycle the next day.
Despite his gruelling schedule, Chan made time every weekend to visit his daughter in Batu Pahat. His siblings described him as a cautious rider and a devoted father who lived simply but gave generously.
The accident occurred just after he left his workplace. His brother, who worked with him, said Chan was not speeding and blamed sudden braking by a lorry ahead.
Chan's family now hopes to gain custody of his daughter, pledging to raise her together in his memory.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has urged societies to rethink how they approach multiculturalism, warning that superficial integration risks falling apart under pressure. Speaking at the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) 2025, he said multicultural societies should resemble batik, where diverse threads are interwoven into a single, resilient fabric.
In contrast, he cautioned against the 'patchwork quilt' model, where cultural groups remain separate and loosely stitched together. 'In times of stress, the stitches weaken and the quilt is easily forced apart,' he said.
Tharman noted that enthusiasm for multiculturalism is waning globally, with rising political polarisation and a retreat from moderate values. He stressed that shared values and a belief in a common future must be actively cultivated.
The ICCS, attended by over 1,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, aims to foster interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Batik attire was the dress code, fitting for the metaphor.
Read on Tharman's call for cohesion here.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has called the relationship between Singapore and China 'more important than ever' during his first official visit to China as premier. Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday (24 June), Wong met with President Xi Jinping and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation amid rising global tensions.
Wong emphasised the need to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based global order, noting that Singapore and China can work together on regional and international platforms. Xi echoed the sentiment, calling for tighter strategic cooperation to tackle shared challenges.
The visit marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Wong highlighted the long-standing trust and mutual respect that began even before formal ties were established, referencing the legacy of leaders like Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping.
Wong also met Premier Li Qiang and will meet National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji, completing engagements with China's top three leaders.
He will conclude his five-day trip by attending the World Economic Forum's Summer Davos in Tianjin, where he's slated to speak on regional cooperation and economic resilience.
Read on Wong's first visit to China as premier here.