Zeng Guoyuan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zeng Guoyuan
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| 曾国原 | |
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| Born |
Chan Hock Seng
1953 Singapore
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| Died | 16 November 2019 (aged 65–66) Singapore
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| Other names | Chan Hock Seng Zeng Guoyan Parrot Man Zeng Guoyung (erroneous) |
| Occupation | Businessman Politician Philanthropist Author Acupuncturist |
| Political party | Workers' Party (1991) Independent (1991–2019) |
| Spouse(s) | Han Yizi |
| Children | 2 |
Zeng Guoyuan (Chinese: 曾国原; pinyin: Zēng Guóyuán; 1953 – 16 November 2019) was a well-known person from Singapore. People also knew him as Zeng Guoyan or Thomas Chan Hock Seng. He was a businessman, helped others through charity, and even wrote books. He was also an acupuncturist, which is someone who uses thin needles to help with pain.
Zeng Guoyuan became involved in politics in 1991. He first joined the Workers' Party. Later, he decided to leave the party. After that, he often tried to run in Singaporean elections as an independent candidate. However, he usually decided not to run at the very last moment.
In 2014, doctors found that Zeng had a serious illness. This meant he had to have surgery on his nose, which changed his face a lot. After this, he started selling tissue paper to make a living. He passed away in Geylang Bahru, Singapore, on 16 November 2019.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Zeng Guoyuan was born in 1953. His birth name was Chan Hock Seng. He was the oldest child of a clerk and a homemaker. As an adult, he legally changed his name to Zeng Guoyuan. The name Guoyuan showed his wish to be helpful to Singapore.
Reports from 1987 said Zeng finished secondary school. However, Zeng himself claimed to have several advanced degrees. He said he had a Doctor of Science, a Doctor of Medicine, and a PhD in Complementary Medicine. From 1977 to 1978, he was the president of a public speaking group in Singapore.
Zeng Guoyuan's Career
Starting His Career
Zeng Guoyuan once worked as a safety officer. He was at a Shell oil platform. In 1991, he officially joined the Workers' Party. He believed the government wanted an opposition in Parliament. He ran as a candidate in the 1991 general election. He lost the election but got a good number of votes.
Zeng left the Workers' Party that same year. He later said he ran in the election to get attention for his acupuncture business.
Running in Elections Many Times
After leaving the Workers' Party, Zeng often tried to run in elections. He became known as a "perennial candidate." This means he ran many times but rarely completed the process. He tried to run in the 2006 and 2012 elections but did not succeed.
In 2011, he was at a nomination center with his papers. But he tore them up and left, saying he had been "fixed up." In 2012, he claimed he couldn't run because of an old incident. He said his pet parrot was to blame for scolding police officers. Officials later said he simply did not turn in his papers.
In 2013, he decided not to run. He thought there was a conspiracy against him. He also said he wanted to let more qualified candidates run. In 2015, he announced he would run again. He promised to "fight until the end." But less than a week later, he changed his mind. He said he was the only independent candidate. He also mentioned his good relationship with another politician. He did not want to cause a three-way contest. He also needed help to pay the election deposit.
Other Business Ventures
Zeng studied acupuncture in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was an acupuncturist and led a group called the World Acupuncture Voluntary Organisation. He also helped fund the building of a mosque in Bangladesh.
Zeng started Prof Zeng's Medical Centre. It was first an acupuncture center. Later, it moved and sold health products. These included slimming oil and a "hair regrowth shampoo" made from vegetables and chocolate. He also owned another store. He got attention in 2007 for using photos of Singapore's President, S. R. Nathan, to promote his products. This was seen as very unusual. His medical center closed after he became ill.
In 2002, Zeng wrote a book about the September 11 attacks. It was called Why The World Trade Centre Collapse So So Fast? The government banned the book when it came out.
Public Image and Nickname
Zeng Guoyuan was known for his unique personality. He often got a lot of attention from the media. People frequently called him Parrot Man. This nickname came about after he blamed his pet parrot for something he was accused of doing.
Some people described him as "Toa Payoh's nutty professor." Others said his appearances during elections added "colour" to a serious day. He was sometimes called an "election veteran" in Singapore. This was because he often showed up for elections but did not always complete the process.
Zeng was also known for his unusual clothing. He often wore an Arab-style thawb with a keffiyeh or a golden scarf. He was also seen in a baju kurung and songkok during the 2011 election.
Personal Life
Zeng Guoyuan was married to Lili Han Yizi. They had two sons, King Yee and King Yew. Zeng's English name was Thomas.
Zeng was known for his unusual actions in public. Some people found his loud singing and playing of high-volume videos annoying. Others found his actions entertaining. Zeng was also interested in sports. He was a boxer and a taekwondo instructor. He also enjoyed water sports and owned a speed boat and a hovercraft.
In 2013, Zeng was in a traffic accident. He got a broken rib and internal bleeding. In 2014, he had surgery to remove his nose because of a serious illness. The illness spread, and he had more surgeries. He later started selling tissue paper outside a Chinese temple to earn money. He moved around on a three-wheeled vehicle. He lived with his wife in a large apartment until it was damaged by a fire in 2017.
Religious Beliefs
During his 1991 election campaign, Zeng said he was a Roman Catholic. In 2011, he announced he was a Muslim and took an Islamic name, Muhammad Ali. He also said he was a Christian and had given money to a church. He claimed to still be partly Buddhist and visited Buddhist temples often.
In a 2017 interview, Zeng said he was both a Muslim and a Jehovah's Witness. He believed the difficult things in his life were a form of divine help.
Death
Zeng Guoyuan was found passed away on 16 November 2019. He was found at a public area in Geylang Bahru. The exact reason for his passing was not immediately known. A neighbor said they heard a loud sound and found Zeng lying still.
See also
In Spanish: Zeng Guoyuan para niños
- Ooi Boon Ewe, another Singaporean who often ran in elections
