PHOTOS BY CANON POWERSHOT SX 720 HS
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THE INSPIRING STORY OF DATO SRI EDMUND ---FROM NEAR SUICIDE TO TOTAL SUCCESS, FROM ZERO TO HERO!
8 YEARS AGO ON 15 JUNE 2011 WHICH WAS HIS BIRTHDAY, DATO SRI EDMUND GOH ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DATO KEE HUA CHEE, HE REVEALS WHAT HAPPENED.
Looking at Dato Sri Edmund Goh today, it is nearly impossible that someone as handsome, slim, successful and tall would contemplate taking his own life. So fair skin with flawless complexion and looking no more than 25, he seems so blessed as he is always seen in designer clothes and always debonair and dashing. Everyone assumes he must to the manor born.
On the contrary, he hailed from a poor family.
True, he never worked as construction labourer under the sweltering sun but he never enjoyed the little luxuries most kids take for granted today.
His highclass, luminous fair skin and smooth complexion he attributes to good genes but for his 188 cm height, he says it was due to Dumex milk powder!
He grins, "Dad was a Dumex salesman and Mum would feed me Dumex free samples! I have 2 elder sisters and I am the youngest and only son."
At 25 when most that age were out clubbing, he started his own company called Bio Health Global Enterprise in a nice office in Central Plaza on Jalan Sultan Ismail. Of course it was a mouthful so he shortened it to B.H.G. D.E.G only came into existence in 2017. Today D.E.G can stand for his initials Dato Edmund Goh but he prefers it to stand for Dr Edmund Goh as overseas, few would have heard of the word Dato.
Instead of beating about the bush or glossing over his setbacks, he comes clean by revealing bravely the truth. He says succintly, "Today I am doing well but I failed many times, was cheated by partners and investors who left me for dead and I was almost made a bankrupt.
"At one stage I owed the bank around RM 4 million which I could not pay but it was easy for me to hide and 'disappear' in KL. But the bank sent debt collectors to my parents' little house in Johore Baru to harass and embarrass them. They stood outside, shouted abuse and asked my parents to pay or get me to pay with all neighbors watching. It was so humiliating! I didn't mind if I was the one suffering but it broke my heart to learn how my parents and sisters were hounded, bullied and insulted through no fault of their own.
"I felt so guilty as their predicament was due to me yet they had to suffer on my behalf as innocent victims. My mother had to lock the door and windows as she was so scared. So in a way my family were like being in prison in their own house. I felt so useless and hopeless with no future, no light at the end of the tunnel. yes, 2011 was the worst year of my life. We were already so poor, my dad was sick with worry and we lost face among our relatives.
"I had reached the lowest point in my life and decided the only solution was to kill myself. If I committed suicide all my debts would be erased and my parents would be free from anymore harassment as they were not involved.
"I was staying on 10 floor of Indah Promenade condo in Sri Petaling and figured I would die instantly upon hitting the ground.
But Fate intervened.
"I told no one and decided to jump around 2 am just 2 hours after my birthday. I had a friend staying with me. He was going to the loo at that unusual hour when he saw me climbing over the balcony. He rushed and pulled me back. He said I looked like a zombie or in a trance."
The evil spell broke and Dato Sri, then Encik Edmund Goh collapsed and wept hysterically as he realised his death would only burden his parents who would have had to pay for his coffin and funeral.
He was only 28 and the date was his birthday, 15 June 2011.
"I cried like mad and vowed to rebuild my life"
To cut a long story short, he left for Bangkok, Thailand and begun using his skills as nutritionist to formulate health products and supplements.
As Lillian Too says, bad luck does not last forever and neither does good luck! After a near death experience, Dato Sri Edmund Goh's luck changed dramatically as maybe Buddha, Kuanyin and Jade Emperor had tested him and he had passed with flying colors. Within 3 years he returned home in 2014 flushed with funds.
"I negotiated with my bank and within 2 years I paid all my debt and escaped bankruptcy. By 2016 I was cleared of all debt!
"Sadly my father Vincent Goh died in 2015 and did not live to see the fruits of my labour. But at least he saw I was given a new lease of life and I was on my way up. So this comforts me.
In 2017 he purchased the DEG factory cum headquarters in Puchong where the party was held. Business is booming but he never forgets his wretched early life.
He brushes aside false modesty. "I am proud of myself as whatever I earned, I did it with my bare hands. When I was down and out, none helped me financially but I am not bitter as this is the way of the world. Now I am being feted and invited to posh events haha."
In fact, he is still a customer of the same bank which nearly drove him to suicide! "I guess the bank was doing its job. If debtors don't pay their loans, every bank would go bankrupt."
But he recalls bitterly what a relative said mockingly about his father. "My cousin said sneeringly 'Oh why am I so l unlucky to have such a poor uncle?"
"Those words sliced through my heart like knives and I vowed I would make my father rich and proud of me one day."
So now, 8 years later after his brush with death, we came to salute, congratulate and toast Dato Sri Edmund Goh's success and generosity. In a perverse way, we are also celebrating his failure in his suicide attempt. Doubtless due to the intervention of Buddha and Kuanyin who have big plans for him!
As for the guy who saved Dato Sri Edmund Goh's life by grabbing him before his fatal leap, his name is Boon and he was there at the party on 15 June 2019!
His name is Boon and he keeps a low profile unlike me who would have taken out centre spreads in The Star and advertise in CNN and TV3 to announce I was his savior.
Says Dato Sri Edmund Goh, "I have a second savior I wish to thank---Fanny. Auntie Fanny gave me shelter and food when I had no money."
His third savior must be me lah as his public relations director cum spokesman, media manager and spiritual adviser!
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YANG AMAT MULIA TUNKU PUTERI JOHORE TENGKU PUAN LAKSAMANA SELANGOR TUNKU KAMARIAH AMINAH MAIMUNAH ISKANDRIAH BINTI ALMARHUM SULTAN ISKANDAR ARRIVED PUNCTUALLY AT 7.15 PM WITH A SLING ON HER RIGHT ARM.
Dato Sri Edmund Goh and his mother were too polite to query but during dinner I asked the Johore princess what happened.
She said she fractured her right arm.
We assumed the accident happened a week or more ago. I said we hoped her arm was healing well.
Y.A.M Tunku Kamariah Sultan Iskandar shocked everyone by saying, "I don't know about the healing as I fractured it just now at 2 pm."
We were stunned speechless as she fractured her arm some 5 hours earlier and here she was with us, smiling and seemingly enjoying herself. I was sure she was under painkillers and eventually Her Highness admitted she was indeed in pain though not debilitating.
I am sure her husband Y.A.M Tengku Sulaiman Sultan Salahuddin, brother of the Selangor Sultan, and her children would have asked her not to attend as Dato Sri Edmund Goh would understand. As it was, Dato Sri Edmund Goh said, "If I had known I would have asked Tunku Kamariah to stay home and rest."
Aroudn 5.30 pm I was texting Tunku Puteri Johore but not once did she mention about her fractured arm!
What a heroine! A shining example for all to emulate.
She knew how much effort Dato Sri Edmund Goh had put into his birthday cum company anniversary and how disappointed he would be if she did not turn up. Her brother His Majesty the King of Johore always reminds the royal family of the covenant between the palace and people which is why the royal institution is held in such high esteem in Malaysia. Tunku Kamariah Sultan Iskandar is a shining example as she put aside her discomfort and arrived on time with her signature smile and grace.
Again I breached protocol by asking how did the accident happen.
"I always clean my bathroom and yes, yes, I know you will ask why not let my maid do this menial job?"
But her late father Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail taught her to do tasks herself if she could and not wait for her servants.
"I always clean my own bathroom and slipped on the soapy floor."
The royal guest had planned to tour DEG factory, stay till late and perchance even honored us with a karaoke song but these plans had to be scuttled as she had to leave early for a second medical check before returning home.
Yes Tunku Kamariah Sultan Iskandar, we would be deeply disappointed without your graciosu presence. On behalf of host with most Dato Sri Edmund Goh, his mother and all of us, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for attending!
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BELOW---THE ARRIVAL OF ROYAL GUEST OF HONOUR YANG AMAT MULIA TUNKU PUTERI JOHORE TENGKU PUAN LAKSAMANA SELANGOR TUNKU KAMARIAH AMINAH MAIMUNAH ISKANDARIAH BINTI SULTAN ISKANDAR
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MOCK CHEQUES PRESENTATION TO 6 CHARITIES
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