MANY PEOPLE LOOK BACK ON THEIR CHILDHOODS WITH ROSE-TINTED GLASSES AND THE NOSTALGIA OF CAREFREE DAYS SPENT FROLICKING WITH FRIENDS. BUT NOT SAMSON OH.
He refers to his growing-up days in Imbi, once the red-light district of Kuala Lumpur, as the “dark side”. As a child, Oh had a front-row seat to the unsavoury drama, violence and corruption that plagued the neighbourhood.
“In the ‘70s, I lived next to the headquarters of one of the first red-light districts in Kuala Lumpur. My mother was a seamstress, and sometimes she would ask me to deliver clothes to where the prostitutes lived,” says the 45-year-old, now a self-made esports and gaming entrepreneur. His business suite in this sector includes esports news portal Gosu Gamers, esports talent agency Team Flash, media agency Redd+E and the incubator Cargo Studio.
Years after he worked his way out of Imbi, he still has vivid memories of peering out of his ground floor apartment window when commotions occurred on the street. “There was a lot of bribery and corruption, and I saw people getting stabbed outside my door. In school, I sometimes had to protect my schoolmates from gangsters,” says Oh, who became a Singapore citizen this year. “I have seen things no person should.”
A turning point for the young Oh came when he was introduced to a church, where older children like himself were tasked with taking care of the younger ones. “This was the best leadership school for me. It taught me to have a heart for youth and to leave no one behind. That has carried me through my life,” he reflects.
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The PEAK Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Wear The World On Your Wrist
These watches are proudly made in Switzerland, but prouder still are their homages to other cultures.
Shaping Healthy Confectioneries Through Science-Backed Innovation
At a time when health-conscious consumers are questioning the norms of processed foods, Glico tells us why it stands firm in its confidence.
The Home Advantage
This AI-dependent reno-tech platform is cutting out the middleman for interior designing and, recently, its financing.
Financing Art
UOB, UBS, OCBC, and Bank of America are some financial institutions involved heavily in today's art world. Why is this the case?
Airing New Possibilities
Acclaimed chefs Matthew Orlando and Will Goldfarb hope to inspire and spark deeper conversations and action around food and circular cooking at their idyllic concept Air in lush Dempsey Hill.
Taking Initiative
Nicole Robinson, andbeyond's chief marketing officer, shares how the luxury safari operator is accelerating its ground partnerships in a race against time to save the planet's remaining wilderness.
Tropical Modernism
In this three-storey inter-terrace belonging to a family of four, designer Ethan Lin of TE-EL sought to create a cosy nest that marries the disparate tastes of its owners.
A Symphony of Vintage
Antoine Bakhache, founder of Bakhache Jewellery, shares the story behind the brand's inception, its curated vintage collections, and the journey ahead.
Time is of the Ressence
Time is of the Ressence Independent watch brand founder Benoit Mintiens on creating unique timepieces by focusing on the user experience.
A Timeless Impact
The Rolex Awards for Enterprise celebrate innovators like Denica Riadini-Flesch, whose work at SukkhaCitta focuses on ethical craftsmanship.