Community
George Goh shows his dedication to empowering underprivileged communities, recently identified as “hero uncle” who rushed to an accident scene in 2021
Renowned for his entrepreneurial success and dedication to philanthropy, George Goh has been identified as the ‘hero uncle’ who rushed to aid an injured motorcyclist in a 2021 accident.
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.
Community
WMP raises over S$1,600 in a day to help struggling family clear outstanding water bill
Workers Make Possible (WMP) raised over S$1,600 in a single day to assist a struggling family living in a rental flat. The family’s water supply was reduced due to an outstanding S$900 bill. The mother has been severely ill for months, unable to work, leaving her husband, who earns less than S$2,000 per month after CPF deductions, as the sole breadwinner.
SINGAPORE: A struggling family living in a rental flat had their water supply reduced on 1 October, as revealed in an Instagram post by the workers’ rights advocacy group, Workers Make Possible (WMP).
In an effort to ease the family’s burden, a fundraiser was launched. By the evening of 1 October, S$1,620 had been raised.
Of this amount, S$1,200 was transferred to the family to fully clear their outstanding water bill and address other urgent expenses.
The family, which had been accumulating water bill arrears for several months, was informed by SP Group that their water supply would only be fully restored if they paid S$450 upfront—half of their total outstanding bill of S$900.
According to WMP, the mother of the family has been severely ill for months, leading to her inability to work.
As a result, her husband, who earns less than S$2,000 per month after CPF deductions, is the sole breadwinner for the family, which includes young children.
With the rising cost of living in Singapore, the family has struggled to manage household expenses, leading to unpaid bills, WMP shared in the post.
After contacting SP Group, the mother was told the water supply would resume if half of the arrears were paid. However, she could not afford the required S$450.
This situation occurs amid rising water prices in Singapore.
The government raised the price of water by 20 cents per cubic metre this year, with an additional increase of 30 cents planned for next year.
WMP argued that despite government subsidies, many low-income families continue to struggle to cover their basic utility bills.
“Subsidies offered by the government don’t come anywhere close to alleviating the struggles of poor families in paying these bills. PUB earned about $286 million in 2021,” WMP challenged.
To support the family, Workers Make Possible organised a fundraiser via PayNow. In a 5:30 pm update on 1 October, WMP announced that S$1,620 had been raised.
Of this amount, S$1,200 was sent to the family to clear their water bill, while the remaining S$420 will be used to assist a young warehouse worker struggling with illness and rent payments, WMP clarified.
Community
Fire breaks out at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh
A fire broke out today (2 October) around noon in the Basement 3 bin centre of HDB Hub at Toa Payoh Lorong 6. The Singapore Civil Defence Force quickly extinguished the fire and is conducting investigations. The building has resumed full operations, but the public is advised to avoid the loading and unloading bay in Basement 3.
A fire broke out today (2 Ocrober), at approximately noon at HDB Hub, located at Toa Payoh Lorong 6.
According to a Facebook post on the official page of the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the fire originated in the Basement 3 bin centre of HDB Hub.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was promptly activated and has since extinguished the fire.
Investigations into the cause are currently underway, with SCDF remaining on-site.
In light of the disruption caused by the incident, HDB has informed customers that they may experience longer wait times for appointments.
“Our foremost consideration is the safety of our staff, customers, and members of the public at HDB Hub,” stated HDB, “We thank the public for their patience.”
Reports indicate that three fire engines, a rescue vehicle, and two ambulances were deployed to the scene, with at least 10 firemen present to manage the situation.
An announcement made at approximately 2.05 pm confirmed that the building has resumed full operations; however, the public is advised to avoid the loading and unloading bay in Basement 3.
HDB Hub, the headquarters of the housing board, is situated adjacent to Toa Payoh MRT station and features retail spaces alongside an indoor plaza and a 33-storey office tower.
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