Aloysius Pang’s death: ‘I couldn’t bear to leave’ the wake, says grieving well-wisher

Hundreds of well-wishers arrived to pay their final respects to late actor Aloysius Pang on Saturday (26 January), with some in line hours before his wake was opened to the public at noon.

“His acting was really good. He counts as one of Singapore’s most talented,” said well-wisher Toh Hock Kee in Mandarin, while giving a thumbs-up to reporters.

The 68-year-old, who travelled from Jurong East with a guitar in hand, had hoped to perform a rendition of “往事只能回味” (“What’s past is gone”) as a tribute to Pang.

Pang, 28, who held the rank of Corporal First Class (National Service), passed away on Wednesday night, four days after he suffered severe injuries during a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training exercise in New Zealand.

His hearse arrived at a tentage set up at Blk 82A MacPherson Lane, where his wake was held, at about 9.20pm on Friday, some three hours after his body was received at Paya Lebar Air Base.

‘Couldn’t bear to leave’

On Saturday morning, the Pang family held a private wake in remembrance of their “precious 小瓜 (little melon)”, who was the youngest of three sons.

Elaborate wreaths transported by delivery men to the tentage – which had been set up for the privacy of Pang’s family and close friends – remained a constant sight throughout the afternoon.

These joined several others already displayed at the tentage’s entrance, many of which were sent by stars in the entertainment industry, including Fly Entertainment founder and chief executive Irene Ang as well as local celebrity couple Christopher Lee and Fann Wong, and actress Jeanette Aw.

A placard next to a wreath sent by local celebrity couple Priscelia Chan and Alan Tern read: “You will live on forever in our hearts, little bro Aloysius.”

Two large screens flanked the sides of the intimate space, replaying photos and videos of Pang in happier times with friends and colleagues, as sombre music echoed in the background.

Members of the public, who were ushered in batches into the tentage, were instructed not to take any photos or videos or wander in the area.

At around 1pm, about 30 volunteers from various MacPherson grassroots organisations were on the ground assisting the proceedings, alongside workers from artiste management agency NoonTalk Media where Pang was signed to.

Additional volunteers would be roped in during the rest of the wake, said Lim Cheng Huat, chairman of MacPherson Community Emergency and Engagement Committee.

The steady stream of well-wishers – some bearing white flowers – meant that even at 3pm, the queue remained spilled unto the pavement parallel to the main road facing the wake.

Many were also patiently camping outside the barricades leading to the tentage, while curious bystanders perched on higher floors of a neighbouring block and customers at a nearby coffee-shop observed the ongoing activities.

Like 68-year-old Toh, visitors who were approached by Yahoo News Singapore expressed sadness about a talented actor whose life was tragically cut short.

Most called for the authorities to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

A 46-year-old part-time worker, who declined to be named, had arrived from Woodlands at the wake at about 1.30pm and had paid her final respects to Pang.

But the mother of two children – a 19-year-old daughter and a 27-year-old son who was on reservist duty a few months ago – decided to continue waiting outside the barricades even after she was done.

“I couldn’t bear to leave,” she said. “My heart ached when I saw his funeral portrait. It reminded me of my own son, who is of a similar age.”

The emotional well-wisher, who had been unable to sleep well since hearing about Pang’s death, had planned to stay at the wake till 5pm.

“I want to meet his mother to tell her I can 100 per cent understand her pain as I am one myself. The grief lasts a lifetime,” she told Yahoo News Singapore.

“Authorities should be more transparent about procedures and keep parents and soldiers aware of risks,” she added.

Echoing similar views, Teo, who declined to give her full name, urged the authorities to introduce additional precautions during SAF training exercises.

The 22-year-old student had arrived from Jurong with more than 70 friends, almost half of whom belonged to Pangster, a fan club of the late actor.

Calling the news of Pang’s death “shocking”, Teo said that her friends were “crying for two days and two nights”.

“Just imagine his fans. Some said they were crying 24/7,” she added.

Politicians, celebs pay final respects

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, Communications and Information Ministry Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, and MacPherson Member of Parliament (MP) Tin Pei Ling were also among those who visited Pang’s wake on Saturday.

During an earlier visit on Friday night, Tin had in an interview with Channel 8 News described Pang’s death a “very heartbreaking incident”.

“I think his departure has left a void that cannot be filled in the hearts of people who loved him and supported him,” said Tin, who appeared visibly upset.

“It really comes as a shock and I just sincerely wish the family that they will find the strength to overcome this very very difficult period,” she added.

Many of Pang’s former co-stars arrived at the wake visibly distraught, including Queen of Caldecott Hill Zoe Tay, veteran actors Chen Shu Cheng, Rayson Tan, and Chen Hanwei.

Describing the late actor as “a very mature and good kid”, a tearful Tan said in Mandarin: “He was like a brother to me.”

Pang’s wake remains open to the public till Sunday noon.

Pang suffered grave injuries to his chest and abdominal areas last Saturday afternoon after being caught between the end of the gun barrel and the interior of a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer that he and two other SAF personnel were servicing.

At the time of the incident, Pang, an armament technician from the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, was one of more than 500 soldiers participating in Exercise Thunder Warrior in New Zealand.

Despite undergoing three operations, his condition worsened and he was placed on artificial life support at the intensive care unit in Waikato Hospital, New Zealand, before succumbing to his injuries.

Following his death, the fourth SAF-training related fatality in 16 months, top SAF commanders called for an army-wide safety timeout as well as a reduction in training tempo across the army, navy and the air force.

The Ministry of Defence said on Friday that Pang would be accorded a military funeral before being cremated at Mandai Crematorium on Sunday.

Related stories:

Aloysius Pang’s death: Priority now is to get family’s ‘precious’ back home, not seek ‘answers’

Aloysius Pang suffered ‘major trauma’, complications were ‘expected’: Top army doctor

Aloysius Pang death: SAF calls for army-wide safety timeout, reduction in training tempo

Aloysius Pang ‘unable to get out of the way’ of gun barrel, suffered crush injuries: SAF

Actor Aloysius Pang dies after army training incident in New Zealand