Latest news with #AlanChew
The Star
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Radical!: 50-year-old man's love for BMX shreds expectations
PETALING JAYA: Despite his age, a man from Shah Alam is defying gravity and proving that his passion for riding BMX bikes never fades. The 50-year-old IT programmer, Alan Chew, said he was inspired by two movies he watched when he was in his younger years, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Magic BMX (1983), which inspired him to try riding BMX bikes. "After watching those films, I was hooked. I started riding BMX around 1989 and 1991, but eventually stopped due to life commitments. "Even after I stopped riding, the passion never left me. "I hope my story can inspire others, especially older riders or anyone who thinks it's too late to chase their passion," he said, when contacted on Wednesday (April 30). He said that he had always thought of getting back into it and had waited until 2017. "I finally decided to buy a new BMX bike and start shredding again. "Once I got back on the bike, I realised I loved it even more than before, and from that point on, I couldn't stop. It became part of my lifestyle and identity," he said. He added that he would normally join younger generation BMX riders together, and they have been welcoming. "We learn a lot from each other. BMX is a shared passion regardless of age," said Chew. Asked if he was part of any BMX Club, he said that he was not, but "the local BMX community is very small and tight-knit. "Most of the active riders know each other. Because of my age, I tend to stand out a bit, and I'm proud to show that age is never a barrier to doing what you love," he said.
South China Morning Post
09-02-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hongkonger recounts how he lost HK$1.3 million in scam despite being vigilant
Published: 10:00am, 9 Feb 2025 Hong Kong resident Alan Chew* was aware that scamming had become rampant and believed he had done everything right after coming across an online investment opportunity. Yet, over four months from last October, he lost HK$1.3 million (US$145,100) of his life savings to scammers who persuaded, cajoled and threatened him over WhatsApp messages into parting with his money. 'I didn't think I'd fall into this kind of situation,' said Chew, 55, a Canadian citizen who has lived in Hong Kong for 30 years. 'I have no money left.' The design professional asked to use a pseudonym as he had not told his family what happened to him. Hong Kong residents lost HK$8.52 billion through deception in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the latest official statistics. Police handled 40,470 cases during that period, up from 39,824 for the whole of 2023 and the 27,923 incidents reported in 2022. In January, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to stay alert as scammers using 'insidious and treacherous methods' had become a global problem.
