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New Paper
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Actress Michelle Chia marries after two months of dating
Home-grown actress Michelle Chia has tied the knot with her non-celebrity boyfriend Jackson Tan, after they dated for more than two months. The news was first reported by Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News on Aug 9. The couple held their wedding on an Indonesian island on Aug 8. They chose the date as it is easy to remember and they could celebrate future anniversaries along with National Day, which falls on Aug 9. Eight is also a favourite number among the Chinese community, as it symbolises prosperity. Chia, who turns 50 on Sept 19, told Shin Min: "I didn't expect the biggest gift (my husband) would show up so suddenly in my life... The wedding on Friday was the best birthday gift I could ask for." They chose the wedding venue as it holds great significance for them. The couple celebrated Mr Tan's birthday there in February. The wedding was attended by about 40 family members and close friends, including artistes Jesseca Liu, Apple Hong, Priscelia Chan and Jayley Woo - Chia's co-stars from local TV series The Queen (2016). The wedding expenses were covered by Mr Tan, 41, a real estate consultant. "One of his wedding gifts was a five-minute fireworks show at the reception," Chia told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao in a separate interview. "I wept for a full five minutes while watching it." Chia, who said in an interview with Shin Min in 2016 that she had no plans to remarry, told Zaobao that Mr Tan changed her perspective on marriage. She was married to Malaysian actor Shaun Chen, 46, between 2009 and 2011. "Our relationship is like that of close friends," Chia said of Mr Tan. "We look forward to coming home every day after work, staying home together, watching TV and chatting about life. We drink coffee together in the morning and can chat non-stop for one or two hours. "He takes very good care of me, and our communication gives me a strong sense of security as well as confidence in our marriage." Michelle Chia (middle) with her The Queen co-stars (back row, left) Jayley Woo, (front row, far left) Jesseca Liu, (second from right) Apple Hong and (third from right) Priscelia Chan on her wedding day. PHOTO: KANNYTHENG/INSTAGRAM Mr Tan took part in Mediacorp's talent contest Star Search in 2007 and won the Mr Personality title, but left the TV station after nine months. He and Chia first met in 2008, but their paths did not cross often over the years. In September 2024, he wished her a happy birthday via a text message. Soon after, they met for coffee along with a mutual friend, but there was no spark at that time. It was not until 2025 that the couple began to interact more frequently, often meeting for coffee and chatting for four to five hours. "It felt like being a student again," Chia said. "We talked about everything, including our ideals and philosophies in life, growing and learning from each other. We realised we are really alike: I am the female version of him, and he is the male version of me." Their first date was at National University of Singapore's UTown, which was also where Mr Tan proposed to her. His sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews were also there that day. On their age gap, Chia said she does not feel like she is approaching 50, both in spirit and appearance. She added that she has many aspirations and remains energetic and positive. Mr Tan affirmed that what he requires in a partner is spiritual compatibility, and that nothing else matters. The couple currently have no plans for a honeymoon. Chia will fly to Beijing for filming, before travelling to India with friends in September. "My husband cannot accompany me due to work commitments. But I'll be back a few days before my birthday," she said.
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Fire at Chai Chee HDB flat prompts evacuation of 35 residents
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Two units above the affected lift lobby sustained heat and soot damage, and 35 residents from the block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure. SINGAPORE - Seven people were given medical attention after a fire broke out at the 13th floor lift lobby of a Housing Board block in Chai Chee early on July 13. In response to The Straits Times' queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that firefighters from Paya Lebar and Changi fire stations were alerted to the blaze at 52 Chai Chee Street at about 8am. The fire was 'well-alight' upon the firefighters' arrival and involved household items placed at the lift lobby, said SCDF . The fire was extinguished using one water jet. Two units above the affected lift lobby sustained heat and soot damage , and 35 residents from the block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure. The seven people who were attended to declined to be taken to the hospital, said SCDF. According to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, the fire involved the burning of incense paper near some 'miscellaneous' items. Zaobao added that the fire affected power supply to the entire block. In photos of the aftermath of the incident , a large amount of debris can be seen piled up in the lobby where the fire broke out, along with blackened pots, pans and charred wooden cabinets and chairs. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Segregated recycling bins found to lower contamination rate as more spring up Asia Mahathir resting in hospital after feeling fatigued during birthday gathering Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons The homeowner of the affected unit, a 66-year-old man who declined to be named, told Zaobao that he was in the unit when his wife was burning the incense paper outside their flat . 'She usually burns paper downstairs, but today she ran to the corridor to burn it for some reason. I wanted to stop her, but it was too late,' he reportedly said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. SCDF advised the public to help maintain a safe living environment by keeping common corridors, lift lobbies, and staircases free of clutter. A cluttered corridor can increase the risk of fire spread, hinder evacuation efforts, and delay SCDF's response during an emergency, it added .
AsiaOne
15-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Malaysian woman found dead in Johor, colleagues seek only known relative in Singapore, Singapore News
A Malaysian teacher was found dead in her home in Johor on Friday (June 13) after reportedly missing work for several months. According to Lianhe Zaobao, the body of Lo Kwan Fong was found in an advanced state of decomposition. Her colleagues are now hoping to find her only relative who had migrated to Singapore some time ago. Lo, 39, lived in the Iskandar Puteri district and was a vice-principal at a primary school in Johor, reported Guang Ming Daily and Sin Chew Daily. One colleague who did not want to be named revealed that Lo had not reported to work for an extended period. The colleague also shared that Lo had lived alone after her parents died over 15 years ago, describing Lo as an introvert. Neighbours also noted that they had not seen Lo for a long time. They said that according to another co-worker who had worked with Lo for a longer time, her only known relative is her maternal aunt who migrated to Singapore many years ago and is estimated to be around 74 years old. Said the colleague: "Although many people have kindly offered to help settle the funeral arrangements, we hope to be able to find her family member to give her a final send-off." In February, concerned colleagues had visited her residence on multiple occasions, but there was no response. However, on June 13, neighbours alerted the police after detecting a foul smell. Police arrived and discovered Lo's body. Based on the body's state of decomposition, it was estimated that she had been dead for nearly a month, Zaobao reported. Her body has not been claimed and is currently at a government hospital morgue. According to a Facebook post announcing her passing, Lo was described as a dedicated and well-respected teacher. The post added that her mother's name was Jiang Laihao (transliteration), and Lo may also have relatives currently living in Taiping, Perak. When contacted by Guang Ming Daily, authorities from Lo's school stated that they are awaiting an autopsy report before taking further action. [[nid:718400]] candicecai@
Online Citizen
03-06-2025
- Online Citizen
44-year-old man arrested for murder after 79-year-old woman found dead in Sengkang flat
SINGAPORE: A 44-year-old man has been arrested for the alleged murder of a 79-year-old woman at a flat along Fernvale Road in Sengkang. The incident occurred on 1 June 2025, with police receiving a call at about 11.50am regarding a case at Block 465B Fernvale Road. The elderly woman was found lying motionless at the scene and was pronounced dead by attending paramedics. The man, identified as Lim Yuen Li, was arrested at the unit. According to preliminary investigations, the deceased and the accused were known to each other. On 3 June, Lim was charged in the State Courts with one count of murder, an offence that carries the death penalty in Singapore. He is alleged to have caused the death of Wang How Khiew sometime between 1.59am and 10.30am on Sunday, 1 June, at the aforementioned location. The charge sheet did not indicate the nature of the relationship between Lim and the deceased. Lim, a Singaporean, appeared in court via video link. During the proceedings, he requested permission to use his mobile phone for calls and to settle some administrative or financial matters. He was unrepresented and informed the court of his intention to apply for a state-assigned defence lawyer. He also expressed his wish to attend the funeral of the deceased. At the prosecution's request, the court ordered Lim to be remanded for psychiatric assessment. His next court appearance is scheduled for 24 June. According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, Lim allegedly beat the elderly woman—believed to be his mother—to death with his bare hands, then attempted to make the death appear accidental. The same report stated that Lim later contacted a funeral services provider in a calm manner. Local undertaker Roland Tay told Zaobao that a man identifying himself as 'Ling' had called at around 10.30am on 1 June, seeking a doctor to certify a death. Tay said he questioned the caller about the woman's condition, to which the man responded that she had fallen and was bleeding. 'I said I could call a doctor, but he needed to tell me his mother's condition. He said his mother had fallen and was bleeding,' Tay recounted. 'Based on my decades of experience, in such cases, the police or 995 should definitely be called, so I advised him to do that.' Tay later tried to contact the man again but was unsuccessful. He was subsequently approached by the police for further information. The Zaobao report also suggested that the relationship between Lim and the deceased was strained, with frequent arguments observed. A neighbour informed the media that the pair had moved into the unit only about a month prior. The son was described as a quiet man, though loud disputes were reportedly common. The night before the incident, one neighbour reported hearing loud banging noises from the unit. The sounds reportedly intensified and continued into the early morning hours. Another resident living below the flat stated that noises resembling knocking and the dragging of furniture had been occurring nightly around 11pm for over a week. These noises repeated every 10 minutes and lasted for approximately half an hour each time. Police investigations are ongoing.
The Star
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Mark Lee wins Best Actor prize at 1st Asian Art Film Awards in Macau
The 56-year-old (left) clinched the award under the Pioneer Trend section for his role as a drag queen (right) in comedy-drama 'Number 2'. Photos: Mark Lee/Instagram, Handout Singaporean actor Mark Lee has a new feather in his cap after winning the Best Actor accolade at the 1st Asian Art Film Awards in Macau on April 23. The 56-year-old clinched the award under the Pioneer Trend section for his role as a drag queen in comedy-drama Number 2 . He beat South Korea's Kim Dae-gun, China's Xiaoshenyang, Sun Junsheng and Yao Lu, as well as Kazakhstan's Azamat Nigmanov. Number 2 is a sequel to Number 1 , which earned Lee a nomination for Best Leading Actor at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2020. The win in Macau was Lee's second international film award. He was named Best Actor at the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival in Vietnam in April 2024 for his role as a single father in the period film Wonderland. Lee was unable to attend the ceremony in Macau due to work commitments. The award was accepted on his behalf by his co-star Jaspers Lai, who was also the screenwriter of Number 2. 'I had prepared an acceptance speech for Jaspers, thinking it would not be used, but it was,' Lee told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao in a report published on April 24. 'I am very excited to win the award, but it's a pity that I couldn't be there in person.' Lee's wife Cathering Ng posted a video of the Best Actor announcement on Instagram late on April 23, tagging him in the post. 'This honour belongs to you, and all the partners who have put their heart and soul into the film,' she wrote in Chinese. 'Your professionalism, persistence and enthusiasm have helped the movie and him to succeed.' Lee told Zaobao that he will be filming two movies overseas in June and July, without disclosing further details. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
