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Jiuhu Daddy need to sell 3 houses to fund legal fees. Samsters got 3 landed properties to sell?
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EqQVa1Wof/?mibextid=wwXIfr
JOHOR BAHRU — For nearly two decades, Wednesdays have begun long before sunrise for 70-year-old Cheong Kah Pin.
While most people are still fast asleep, the elderly vegetable and fruit seller gets onto his motorcycle at around 3:00 AM, embarking on a familiar journey from Johor, Malaysia, across the Causeway to Singapore. His destination is Changi Prison, where his eldest son is serving a life sentence.
A Heartbreaking Sacrifice
The grueling routine began after his son, Cheong Chun Yin, was arrested in Singapore in 2008 on drug trafficking charges at the age of 24. Chun Yin, known for his overly trusting nature, maintained that he believed he was merely carrying gold bars for a family acquaintance and was unaware that drugs were hidden inside the package.
Initially sentenced to death under Singapore’s strict drug laws, Chun Yin’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment and caning in 2013 after he was certified to have substantively assisted authorities.
Determined to save his son, Kah Pin sold three of his houses over the years to pay for legal fees. He went from being a property owner to living in a modest rented room in Johor Jaya, focusing entirely on making an honest living to support his son's future.
"I just wanted him to be well and come home. It doesn't matter if I don't have houses or money," Kah Pin shared emotionally. "If he is well, I am well."
Racing Against Time and Health
To beat the heavy border traffic and ensure a safe ride at his age, Kah Pin rides slowly through the night, often arriving outside Changi Prison around 4:00 AM. He patiently waits outside a nearby petrol station for hours until the prison visiting gates open at 8:00 AM. Even when his son begs him not to make the exhausting trip during rainy weather or when he is unwell, Kah Pin insists on coming, stating that just seeing his son's face brings immense joy to his heart.
Former DAP Assemblywoman for Johor Jaya, Liow Cai Tung, who has stood by Kah Pin for over a decade, helps him regularly with digital immigration applications. She noted that Kah Pin’s deepest worry is his son's future. He continues to work hard to save money so that his son will have financial stability to restart his life upon release.
However, time is catching up. Now 70 years old, Kah Pin battles declining health, including high blood pressure and a persistent cough. His biggest fear is no longer the exhausting commute, but whether his body will hold out long enough to see his son walk free.
A Glimmer of Hope
Under Singapore law, inmates serving life sentences may have their cases reviewed for remission or release after serving 20 years. For Chun Yin, who was arrested in 2008, that critical milestone will arrive in 2028.
Despite a viral wave of sympathy that prompted many netizens and strangers to offer financial aid and donations, the proud father has politely declined the funds, asking people instead to support his small fruit and vegetable stall in Johor Jaya. For Kah Pin, no amount of money replaces his ultimate prayer: to stay healthy for just a few more years so he can finally welcome his son back home.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EqQVa1Wof/?mibextid=wwXIfr
JOHOR BAHRU — For nearly two decades, Wednesdays have begun long before sunrise for 70-year-old Cheong Kah Pin.
While most people are still fast asleep, the elderly vegetable and fruit seller gets onto his motorcycle at around 3:00 AM, embarking on a familiar journey from Johor, Malaysia, across the Causeway to Singapore. His destination is Changi Prison, where his eldest son is serving a life sentence.
A Heartbreaking Sacrifice
The grueling routine began after his son, Cheong Chun Yin, was arrested in Singapore in 2008 on drug trafficking charges at the age of 24. Chun Yin, known for his overly trusting nature, maintained that he believed he was merely carrying gold bars for a family acquaintance and was unaware that drugs were hidden inside the package.
Initially sentenced to death under Singapore’s strict drug laws, Chun Yin’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment and caning in 2013 after he was certified to have substantively assisted authorities.
Determined to save his son, Kah Pin sold three of his houses over the years to pay for legal fees. He went from being a property owner to living in a modest rented room in Johor Jaya, focusing entirely on making an honest living to support his son's future.
"I just wanted him to be well and come home. It doesn't matter if I don't have houses or money," Kah Pin shared emotionally. "If he is well, I am well."
Racing Against Time and Health
To beat the heavy border traffic and ensure a safe ride at his age, Kah Pin rides slowly through the night, often arriving outside Changi Prison around 4:00 AM. He patiently waits outside a nearby petrol station for hours until the prison visiting gates open at 8:00 AM. Even when his son begs him not to make the exhausting trip during rainy weather or when he is unwell, Kah Pin insists on coming, stating that just seeing his son's face brings immense joy to his heart.
Former DAP Assemblywoman for Johor Jaya, Liow Cai Tung, who has stood by Kah Pin for over a decade, helps him regularly with digital immigration applications. She noted that Kah Pin’s deepest worry is his son's future. He continues to work hard to save money so that his son will have financial stability to restart his life upon release.
However, time is catching up. Now 70 years old, Kah Pin battles declining health, including high blood pressure and a persistent cough. His biggest fear is no longer the exhausting commute, but whether his body will hold out long enough to see his son walk free.
A Glimmer of Hope
Under Singapore law, inmates serving life sentences may have their cases reviewed for remission or release after serving 20 years. For Chun Yin, who was arrested in 2008, that critical milestone will arrive in 2028.
Despite a viral wave of sympathy that prompted many netizens and strangers to offer financial aid and donations, the proud father has politely declined the funds, asking people instead to support his small fruit and vegetable stall in Johor Jaya. For Kah Pin, no amount of money replaces his ultimate prayer: to stay healthy for just a few more years so he can finally welcome his son back home.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
