{"id":98474,"date":"2026-11-09T16:40:59","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T08:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=98474"},"modified":"2026-11-09T16:40:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T08:40:59","slug":"singaporean-of-the-year-finalist-he-is-son-to-dying-imh-patients-with-no-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=98474","title":{"rendered":"Singaporean of the Year finalist: He is \u2018son\u2019 to dying IMH patients with no family"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary article-summary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->A man in his 60s was playing cards, chatting with volunteers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/health\/the-healing-touch-of-animal-therapy?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">petting a therapy dog<\/span><\/a> at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), where he stayed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Less than three hours later, he could no longer hold water in his mouth when a nurse tried to help him drink.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The man had no next of kin. But volunteer Yong Kwon Seng sat by his bed, holding his hand and playing soft music until the beeping of the heart monitor stopped and his grip loosened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong had kept his promise to him: \u201cI will journey with you till the end.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 40-year-old educator has been volunteering at IMH for 16 years. He has missed only two sessions \u2013 in 2022, when he was too bereft to turn up after his mother died of a stroke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong is a finalist for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/community\/know-an-inspiring-singaporean-make-a-nomination-for-st-singaporean-of-the-year-2026?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award<\/span><\/a>, which is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award is organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At IMH, Yong noticed that some patients never had family visiting during the public holidays. He began showing up almost every Saturday and public holiday to befriend long-stay patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But he also began wondering who would accompany these patients when they were dying.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u2018They are not forgotten\u2019: Volunteer spends holidays with IMH patients | Singaporean of the Year 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ya4IOBpSigM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This led Yong to start the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/they-are-not-forgotten-volunteer-spends-holidays-with-long-stay-imh-patients-for-15-years?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">No One Dies Alone programme<\/span><\/a> at IMH in 2019. Its eight volunteers befriend critically ill patients who have no family, accompanying them in the final stretch of their lives. These patients are mostly seniors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The team has so far kept 19 patients company till their deaths. \u201cI cannot take away their pain or bring them home. But what we promise the first time I meet them, I make sure I do it. And I hope at the end, they feel a sense of comfort or at least that there is someone beside them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong asked to be listed as the patients\u2019 emergency contact so the hospital can<!-- --> <!-- -->reach him when anything happens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He keeps his phone\u2019s ringer on 24\/7 and the phone beside his bed when he sleeps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI tell them, call me any time of the day,\u201d he said. \u201cI am quite scared that if I miss a phone call and it is from the hospital, then I cannot go to him or her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In one elderly woman\u2019s final hours, he sat by her bedside from midnight to 6am, before leaving for work and letting another volunteer take over. The woman died shortly after.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhether it is speaking to them, holding their hands or playing their favourite songs, Kwon Seng offers a reassuring presence, even when they may no longer be able to respond,\u201d<!-- --> <!-- -->said Kelvin Yeo, senior manager of the Woodbridge Hospital Charity Fund, the philanthropic arm of IMH.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong and fellow volunteers also make funeral arrangements for patients, and ensure they are treated with dignity and compassion, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong, the youngest of three children, grew up with an older brother who had a severe intellectual disability. He said his late mother inspired him to volunteer at IMH.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cMy brother was always shouting. We kept our doors shut all the time because nobody wanted to get close to us. Whenever people walked past our doors, they said nasty things like \u2018this family got crazy people\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">His late mother, who worked as a dishwasher, dedicated her life to taking care of her disabled son.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThat was her sole purpose in life. She never had a chance to go overseas or eat out for over 40 years. She took care of him single-handedly, going to work at night so she could feed us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhen I saw her love for my brother, I wanted to emulate her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Her sudden death in 2022<!-- --> <!-- -->left him devastated. He took on the care of his brother, now 46. He now lives with his brother, sister and a domestic<!-- --> <!-- -->helper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Between his volunteer work and caring for his brother, Yong has little time left for himself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The bachelor said marriage is not on the cards for him. \u201cI have not met my friends for a long time. I don\u2019t go out. I don\u2019t watch movies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But the patients, who affectionately call him \u201cAh Seng\u201d, are like family to him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On top of No One Dies Alone, Yong now leads 450 volunteers in hosting activities for the patients every weekend and public holiday, from karaoke and popiah-making to festive celebrations, including giving out much-anticipated red packets during<!-- --> <!-- -->Chinese New Year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also lines up new experiences, letting them walk the runway in fashion shows and cast votes in mock elections. \u201cWhatever is happening outside, we want to bring them in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Yong was once angered by a remark asking why he was spending so much time with the patients instead of his family, or a different cause \u201cwith a future\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cOur friends have talents, aspirations. They are regular people, needing love and care, and a sense of belonging,\u201d he said of the IMH patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI call them by their names to make sure that they know they are seen&#8230; They just want to make friends with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Before he leaves, Yong always tells them the same thing: \u201cSee you next week.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-16 p-16 tablet:p-24 border border-default nested-element rounded-md break-words tablet:break-normal\" data-testid=\"nested-elements-test-id\">\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">Singaporean of the Year Award<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year (SOTY) is an award that is given to a Singaporean or group of citizens who have made a significant contribution to society. This can be through achievements that put Singapore on the world stage, or by going beyond the call of duty to selflessly improve the lives of others in the community, among other ways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Organised by The Straits Times and presented by UBS Singapore, the annual award is now in its 12th year. The official airline partner is Singapore Airlines and the global hotel partner is Millennium Hotels and Resorts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/52b49a7cbea20cfcc6f7dc9b5b3e5a366a33d0c441aed6f7a7d94877363dd519?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/52b49a7cbea20cfcc6f7dc9b5b3e5a366a33d0c441aed6f7a7d94877363dd519?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/52b49a7cbea20cfcc6f7dc9b5b3e5a366a33d0c441aed6f7a7d94877363dd519?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/52b49a7cbea20cfcc6f7dc9b5b3e5a366a33d0c441aed6f7a7d94877363dd519\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/52b49a7cbea20cfcc6f7dc9b5b3e5a366a33d0c441aed6f7a7d94877363dd519\" alt=\"The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year logo.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">How to nominate:<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:787 \/ 787\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bea6a57bb2f249076bcf9765e697cebdc2f0997f089e739101ae2cd5e3fa024?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bea6a57bb2f249076bcf9765e697cebdc2f0997f089e739101ae2cd5e3fa024?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bea6a57bb2f249076bcf9765e697cebdc2f0997f089e739101ae2cd5e3fa024?w=787\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bea6a57bb2f249076bcf9765e697cebdc2f0997f089e739101ae2cd5e3fa024\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/2bea6a57bb2f249076bcf9765e697cebdc2f0997f089e739101ae2cd5e3fa024\" alt=\"QR code for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year nomination.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">Prizes for award recipient and finalists<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award recipient will receive:<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">$20,000 in cash<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One pair of Singapore Airlines business-class tickets for each individual\/group, up to three pairs of tickets for the winning group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A five-night stay in any of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for the winning group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Finalists will receive:<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">$5,000 cash for each individual\/group<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One pair of Singapore Airlines economy-class tickets for each individual\/group, up to a maximum of three pairs for each group of finalists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">International Impact Award<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award seeks to honour Singaporeans who have made a positive impact beyond Singapore\u2019s borders, contributing to the country\u2019s global reputation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They must have delivered a project, initiative or body of work that benefited a community or country outside Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award recipient will receive:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">Young Singaporean of the Year Award<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award seeks to recognise a Singaporean under 18 who has shown courage, compassion, empathy, kindness or a spirit of service, and has made a positive impact among peers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The award recipient will receive:<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">$5,000 in cash<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A pair of Singapore Airlines economy-class tickets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A three-night stay in one of Millennium Hotels and Resorts\u2019 properties globally, up to a maximum of three sets of accommodation for each finalist.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/community\/singaporean-of-the-year-finalist-he-is-son-to-dying-imh-patients-with-no-family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 A man in his 60s was playing cards, chatting with volunteers and petting a therapy dog at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH),&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=98474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/98476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=98474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=98474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=98474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}