Who is Tan Cheng Tey

Despite living in a rental flat, Tan Cheng Tey has been cooking lunch at his own expense for the seniors in his area for five years. But little did the 65-year-old retiree expect an appreciative neighbour and friend to bequeath a three-room flat to him.

Since an accident five years ago, which made him rethink his attitude to life, Tan has been serving lunch to about 40 seniors in the Chai Chee area, buying ingredients out of his own pocket.
One of the regulars at Tan’s lunches was Teo, who lived in a neighbouring block.

The two became fast friends, and would even go to the market together to buy ingredients. After having lunch with Tan, a former security guard, and his wife for about three years, Teo turned up at Tan’s workplace one day in mid-2014 and asked him to go to the lawyer’s office. He was determined to leave his flat and all his assets to Tan.

Teo was diagnosed with cancer, and Tan took care of him for about eight months. In October, Teo returned to hospital for an operation but did not survive the procedure.