A tragic incident that shocked the community occurred when a car crashed into the corridor of a restaurant, resulting in the death of Mrs. Tan Yok Lan(transliteration).
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According to Guang Ming Daily, her husband, Mr. Tan Ai Ming, expressed his grief, saying, “Even if I were offered a million now, I wouldn’t want it. What I want is my wife back. She was the only one who could take care of me, but now she’s gone…”
‘Who’s going to ‘yam cha’ with me?’
Mr. Tan Ai Ming, in front of his wife’s spirit tablet, tearfully said, “My wife was with me for decades, and then she suddenly left. My heart aches, and I’ve cried until I can cry no more. Who is going to yam cha (drink tea) with me now?”
On the day of the incident, Mr. Tan, who was in a wheelchair, recalled that he and his wife were eating together at a table and had brewed a pot of Chinese tea that they hadn’t yet drunk when a car suddenly crashed into the shop, heading straight for their table.
The 82-year-old recalled a loud crash, after which he found himself thrown to the ground, while his wife lay motionless against a wall.
Another female customer in the shop was also injured and lying on the floor. The shop owner then came over to help him up.
Funeral to be held today
Mr. Tan said that he and his wife were seated across from each other at the time. If they had been sitting side by side, he might not have escaped the tragedy.
A funeral will be held today for the 75-year-old victim, Mrs. Tan Yok Lan, at her residence in Taman Satelit.
Mr. Tan Ai Ming, mentioned that in recent days, he constantly recalls every time his wife accompanied him for tea.
Now that she is no longer by his side, he feels incredibly lonely, and no amount of tears brings her back.
Relatives and friends have been visiting Mr. Tan Ai Ming to offer their condolences. Due to his mobility issues and reliance on a U-shaped walking stick, he always preferred tea restaurants with tables and chairs aligned with the pavement level, which were easier for him and his wife to access.
He expressed his loneliness and confusion after the sudden loss of his wife, stating that even a million Ringgit would not matter to him now. What he wanted was his wife, the only person he relied on and who took care of him.
Speaking of the driver’s son who visited to apologize, Mr. Tan said,
“What’s the use? My wife is gone. Who will help me go to the restaurant for morning tea now?”
Besides, he also recalled a tree planted by his wife beside their house that mysteriously withered two months ago.
His wife had tried to prune the dead branches to encourage new growth, but unfortunately, it was unsuccessful.
