While Mr George Goh is widely recognized among Singaporeans as a successful entrepreneur and an aspiring president of Singapore, he is equally renowned for his commitment to performing altruistic acts for underprivileged individuals in the community.
According to the information provided on George Goh’s official website, he, along with his wife Lysa, established Border Mission Limited in 2015.
This self-funded charity organization aims to extend care and assistance to isolated and impoverished communities in Singapore.
The charitable initiatives undertaken by Border Mission aim to empower elderly cardboard collectors, enabling them to improve their livelihoods.
In a video posted on Border Mission’s Facebook page on 7 May 2021, George Goh can be seen extending an invitation to elderly cardboard collectors to his residence for dinner.
Furthermore, he personally chauffeured two elderly individuals in his Rolls-Royce to his house, emphasizing his deep respect for the hard work and contributions of these cardboard collectors.
During the drive, Mr Goh expressed, “When I saw you, I was reminded of my mother, and it made me miss her.”
At the dinner, Mr Goh shared stories of his childhood, recounting the time when he used to collect tins to sustain himself, thereby establishing a connection with the experiences of the elderly collectors.
Mr Goh recounts his humble beginnings
The founder of Harvey Norman Ossia declared his intention to run for the Singapore presidency on 12 June, making him the second person to announce his candidacy, following Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Mr Goh’s website noted that he grew up in a small kampung with eight other siblings.
Due to their economic struggles, his parents had to give away two sisters, and tragically, one sibling passed away due to a lack of medical aid when they were only four weeks old.
“At 16, I wondered if my family would get out of poverty.” He left his hometown of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and arrived in Singapore seeking employment opportunities.
Eager to change his situation, he dedicated himself to acquiring shoe-making skills, waking up early to learn the trade.
At the age of 22, Mr Goh launched his first business using his savings and financial assistance from his sister. His business acumen has since led him to list five companies and acquire two others, which are said to be valued at S$3.15 billion in total.
Recently identified as ‘hero uncle’ who rushed to an accident scene in 2021
Recently, Mr Goh was also identified as the ‘hero uncle’ who rushed to an accident scene to help an injured motorcyclist back in 2021.
On July 8, 2021, an accident occurred at the junction of North Bridge Road and High Street.
Dashcam footage shared by SG Road Vigilante on Facebook revealed that the incident involved a car that had stopped at a traffic light around 5pm. As the car began to move after the light turned green, a motorcyclist suddenly sped across the junction from High Street.
Unable to stop in time, the car collided with the motorcycle, and the motorcyclist ended up sprawled on the road near the corner of Parliament House.
A witness who shared photos of the aftermath on local media STOMP stated that the motorcyclist was thrown almost 100m by the impact.
The witness also observed an individual, referred to as an “uncle,” who rushed to assist the injured man.
The “uncle” not only helped move the injured motorcyclist to the roadside but also provided aid to control the bleeding until the ambulance arrived. The witness praised the “uncle” as a “local hero” for his prompt response.
According to MustShareNews, a reader’s tip-off led them to the identity of the “hero uncle” as Mr Goh.
Mr Goh explained to MS News that he was having coffee with a friend nearby when he heard a loud sound. He then rushed over to assist the motorcyclist without hesitation.
Mr. Goh told the motorcyclist, who was still in shock, to remain calm and carried him to safety by the roadside since he was still sitting in the middle of the road junction.
When asked about being hailed as a “hero,” Mr Goh expressed surprise, stating that he had simply done what any decent human being would do.
He also hopes the motorcyclist is doing well and mentioned that he contemplates how he can respond better in similar accidents if the need arises.
