Relatives worry for siblings whose parents died in Johor car crash: "I don't think they understand"

The extended family of two orphaned children, whose parents died in a car crash in Malaysia on June 15, are at a loss over what to do with them.

Mr Chua Keh Loing, 41, and Madam Sam Chew Yong, 42, had a head-on collision with another car when they were driving back to their Woodlands home after visiting the latter's mother in Rompin.

Mr Chua died from a skull fracture at the scene while his wife succumbed to abdominal injuries in Tangkak Hospital.

Their eight-year-old son from Greenwood Primary School, Jun Xian, and six-year-old daughter, Xin Rou, were also hurt in the accident. Both have been discharged from hospital.

The couple, both Malaysians, were accountants who had lived in Singapore for 10 years. They were permanent residents.

According to The New Paper, their two children were born in Malaysia and had been cared for by Madam Sam's mother before they joined their parents in Singapore three years ago,

Madam Sam's mother, who is 64 and now paralysed, is no longer able to look after them.

Madam Sam's youngest brother told reporters: "I just couldn't wrap my head around [the accident]", adding that the children had been asking for their parents.

"The only thing we can tell them is that they've gone to a different world. I don't think they understand, but at least we're not hiding it from them," he said.

The family is also caught in dilemma on what to do with the kids.

Mr Sam added: "I'm the only one who lived with them in Singapore, but I can't look after them alone because I have to work.

"We will have to discuss among ourselves on how to raise them, but there's just so much to settle right now with the funeral."

His older brother also told TNP over the phone that their family needs help to sort out the children's situation.

He said: "We are not familiar with the legal procedures in Singapore. We do not know how to handle the finances, housing and schooling arrangements for the children."

Read the full story on The New Paper.