{
  "id": 15532511,
  "title": "When Parkinson’s forced this Malaysian chef out of the kitchen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/when-parkinsons-forced-this-malaysian-chef-out-of-the-kitchen-15532511",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/10/19/when-parkinsons-forced-this-malaysian-chef-out-of-the-kitchen"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysian chef Tan Leong Guan, 61, was forced out of the kitchen by Parkinson's disease, leaving his family to cope with the financial and practical consequences of his illness. As one of the main chefs at Seng Huat Bak Kut Teh in Bangkok, Tan had made his living working in the bustling kitchen for years. However, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's after the pandemic, the disease made it increasingly difficult for him to perform the fine motor tasks required in a professional kitchen, causing tremors, stiffness and slowness that made his work challenging.\n\nThe impact of Tan's illness was felt not only in his career but also financially. To support his wife and four children, Tan's daughter had to pause her university studies and take on a job to contribute to the household income. His wife also took on housekeeping work to help make ends meet. The family also had to care for Tan's eldest son, who has an intellectual disability. The family's situation drew attention from members of the Malaysian community in Thailand, who organized a fundraising effort through the Malaysian Association in Thailand (MAiT) to help ease the financial burden and provide medical support.\n\nThe MAiT raised 115,000 baht, or approximately RM14,000, to help cover Tan's medical expenses, which include regular hospital visits and medication costing about 6,000 baht, or RM730, every 20 days. While the assistance does not restore Tan's career or cure his condition, it provides some relief to his family as they navigate the daily challenges of caring for Tan's health and adapting to his reduced earning capacity.",
  "summary": "After years working in Bangkok restaurants, Tan Leong Guan lost the career he knew - leaving his family to adjust to illness, lost income and new responsibilities.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "When Parkinson’s forced this Malaysian chef out of the kitchen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/when-parkinsons-forced-this-malaysian-chef-out-of-the-kitchen",
        "published": "2026-10-19T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}