A 30-year-old Malaysian man tragically lost his life in a multi-vehicle accident in Singapore after years of tirelessly commuting across the Causeway to support his young daughter and his family.
The victim, Chan Yong Kang, had been working in Singapore as an electrician for the past 11 years, where he would wake up before dawn and leave his home from Johor Bahru at 4am to cross the border for work.
M’sian man dies in crash while heading to work
According to Shin Min Daily News, Chan would arrive at his workplace and catch a quick nap before starting his job at 7am.
After clocking out at 3pm, he would return to JB and not to rest, but to begin his second job as a food delivery rider until 7pm.
His family shared that Chan took on these extra hours so he could give his five-year-old daughter a better life and save up for legal fees in an ongoing divorce suit.
On the afternoon of June 20, Chan was on his way back to JB with colleagues when tragedy struck.
According to reports, Chan’s motorcycle collided with a lorry along Admiralty Road. He fell onto the road and was run over by an incoming garbage truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the incident, some online users speculated that Chan might have been riding recklessly. However, his siblings refuted these claims, saying he was a very careful rider.
Described as a hardworking man
Chan, who’s the eldest son and third of eight siblings, became a single father after his wife reportedly left him and their daughter four years ago, with divorce proceedings starting in 2024.
Despite juggling long hours and financial pressure, he always made time to visit his daughter in Batu Pahat every weekend.
He worked in the same Singapore-based company as one of his brothers, and the pair commuted daily from JB. His sister described him as a hardworking, simple man who also supported their elderly parents.
Family fighting for daughter’s custody
Chan’s death has left a huge void, especially for his daughter who is still too young to understand what happened.
“She’s only five, and hasn’t really grasped the concept of death yet,” said Chan’s sister. “But when she saw her father’s corpse, she couldn’t help but cry.”
She added that the family will fight for custody of the child. If granted, all seven siblings will work together to raise her.
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