It was a news that broke every Singaporean parent’s heart – Aloysius Pang’s death. On 23 January 2019, Singapore actor Aloysius Pang died from injuries suffered while on high-key reservist training in New Zealand.
According to MINDEF, he “was carrying out repair works inside the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH) with two other SAF personnel on 19 January 2019 at Waiouru Training Area, New Zealand. Unfortunately, CFC Pang sustained injuries when the gun barrel was lowered.”
Aloysius Pang died at the age of 28 years. He leaves behind his parents and two older brothers.
An Independent Committee of Inquiry will be launched to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
But the question that most Singaporean parents are asking is, “How can we send our sons to NS in peace?”
Aloysius Pang’s death shocks Singapore
The stats have been worrying.
In the last 16 months alone, 8 Singaporeans have died while serving the nation. Four of these were accidents that occurred during training, three were suicides and one was a case of ragging in the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Aloysius Pang’s death has been particularly heart-breaking because Singaporeans have seen him growing up. He started acting at the age of nine, appearing in children’s shows like A Child’s Hope and I Love My Home.
Parents are understandably worried and have been venting their anxiety on social media.
“Is this the price to pay for serving the NS”?” “Another unnecessary death. When will this stop?” PHOTO: SCREENGRAB CHANNEL NEWSASIA COMMENTS
Pang was known to be a family man and a mama’s boy. He once told MeRadio, “I know that my mum has been through a lot. My goal now is to protect her after she has protected me for so long.”
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/ ALOYSIUS
He called his mum and dad his emotional pillars, “I lie down in between my mum and my dad on the bed and talk about everything every night after work. I would tell them if I have someone I like. They are my emotional pillars so I would tell them anything.”
He also had plans for starting a family…
In a heartbreaking revelation, Singapore actress Jayley Woo Jia Qi has revealed that she and Pang were dating. They had planned to make their relationship public after they got married…
PHOTO: FACEBOOK / JAYLEY WOO
“I’m not lucky enough to be your wife in this life. We must definitely get married in the next. I love you, I really love you…”
“Thank you for all your care these past few years. I will always love you; please have a good journey ahead…Come visit me in my dreams, understand?”, wrote Jayley.
So many of his dreams remain unfulfilled. “I want to write songs, direct, have my own business, publish a book of poetry, write my own drama script and a movie. There are a lot of things I want to accomplish,” he had once said.
“I’m not a person who is looking for fame or luxury.”
Singapore has lost a son. Our prayers go out to Aloysius Pang’s family and loved ones.
We hope more can be done to prevent such tragedies in future…
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Actor Aloysius Pang dies from SAF training injuries