Mother of Singapore supermarket chain Sheng Siong’s billionaire founders dies at 91

Ng, affectionately known as Sheng Siong Ah Ma, passed away at the age of 91 on Saturday after battling asthma and kidney failure. Her son, Lim Hock Chee, recounted that she had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit last month after her condition improved initially but later experienced internal bleeding. Despite returning home last Thursday, her health rapidly declined, with doctors informing the family that the situation was not optimistic.

Ng was beloved in her neighborhood for her friendly and approachable demeanor, maintaining a regular presence even as Sheng Siong Supermarket chain soared to success. In 2014, Ng found herself at the center of a high-profile kidnapping-for-ransom case that garnered significant public attention. Lee Sze Yong, the kidnapper, had meticulously planned the abduction after selecting Lim from a list of potential targets on Forbes' Singapore rich list.

He demanded a ransom of S$20 million (US$15.8 million), which was later reduced to S$2 million before Lee and his accomplice were apprehended. Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment with three strokes of the cane, while his accomplice received a three-year jail term. This marked Singapore's first kidnapping-for-ransom incident in over a decade and involved the highest ransom demand at the time.

Forbes estimated Lim and his family's net worth at US$500 million at the time, which has since grown to US$2.7 billion. At Ng's wake, Lim shared insights into the harrowing experience of receiving the kidnapper's call, emphasizing the family's decision to refrain from discussing the incident in her presence. Lim and his brothers donated the ransom to the National Crime Prevention Council, and the bereavement money would also be contributed to charity.