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Tanglin Halt bids farewell to people's doctor

Patients gather to honour 55-year career of doc known for compassion for the poor

Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan Khye Meng and his wife Lenny Sariwidjaja, flanked by his staff as well as patients past and present, at an event held at his clinic to honour his 55-year career in Tanglin Halt yesterday. Dr Chan wished his patients well, saying: “I hope all of you live to my age, or older!”
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Patients (above) at Meng’s Clinic last week. The clinic’s reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan, who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. ST PHOTOS: JASON QUAH
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Patients at Meng’s Clinic last week. The clinic’s reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (above), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name.
Dr Chan (above) taking a breather in his consultation room while Madam Susan Leong (right), in her 70s, who works part-time at the clinic, closed the shutters at the end of a day's work last week. The clinic will close for good on Wednesday.
Dr Chan with Austin Tan (above), a fourth-generation patient of his. He and Madam Doreen Tan handled a stream of patients at the clinic last week. She is the clinic’s only full-time employee.
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan with Austin Tan, a fourth-generation patient of his. He and Madam Doreen Tan (above) handled a stream of patients at the clinic last week. She is the clinic’s only full-time employee.
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sariwidjaja, sharing a tender moment after singing a duet during their singing lesson at Cairnhill Arts Centre last week.
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan sharing a light-hearted moment with Mr William Ang, 89, as Mr Ang’s daughter Karen, 52, laughed at their banter during a consultation at his clinic last week. The Angs, who saw Dr Chan from 1965 to 1981, when they lived in Tanglin Halt, still make an effort to see him at least once a year, despite having moved out of the area.
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan in his consultation room at Meng’s Clinic in Tanglin Halt yesterday, hugging an emotional Madam Josephine Wong, 50, who has seen him since she was a baby. With them are Madam Wong’s mother Tow Ah Wat, 84; husband Alfred Tan, 54; and daughter Melissa Tan, 18. All three generations have been Dr Chan’s patients.
Dr Chan (above) taking a breather in his consultation room while Madam Susan Leong, in her 70s, who works part-time at the clinic, closed the shutters at the end of a day’s work last week. The clinic will close for good on Wednesday.
Patients (above) at Meng's Clinic last week. The clinic's reception is manned by Madam Doreen Tan (below), who is in her 70s. She has worked there for over 30 years and knows almost all the patients by name. Dr Chan and his wife of 15 years, Madam Sa
Dr Chan taking a breather in his consultation room while Madam Susan Leong (above), in her 70s, who works part-time at the clinic, closed the shutters at the end of a day’s work last week. The clinic will close for good on Wednesday.
Dr Chan Khye Meng, 86, greets well-wishers comprising his patients past and present, in his clinic during a thank you event on June 23, 2019. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Well-wishers throng Meng's Clinic, hoping to meet Dr Chan Khye Meng, during a thank you event on June 23, 2019. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Calligraphy, a gift from a patient, adorns the walls of Meng's Clinic, pictured on June 21, 2019. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Mdm Susan Leong, in her 70s, a part-time staff at Meng's Clinic, takes pictures of Dr Chan Khye Meng's name plate at Meng's Clinic on June 21, 2019. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Dr Chan Khye Meng, 86, chats with a patient during a consultation at Meng's Clinic on June 21, 2019. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Dr Chan Khye Meng, 86, on the second floor of Meng's Clinic on June 21, 2019. In the coming days, Dr Chan will be packing up his possessions and moving them out of Meng's Clinic in preparation for its closure on June 26. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Austin Tan, three, stands by the door at Meng's Clinic on June 21, 2019. He is the fourth generation of his family to see Dr Chan, whom he addresses as 'ye ye' (grandfather in mandarin). ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Updated
Published
June 24, 2019 at 5:00 AM
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If one did not know Dr Chan Khye Meng, one would think he was a famous celebrity, given the reception - applause, hugs and photo requests - he received in Tanglin Halt yesterday. Though the 86-year-old is no celebrity, he is well loved in his own right.

At least 60 of Dr Chan's patients past and present gathered at Meng's Clinic to celebrate his 55-year career and to bid farewell to a beloved member of the Tanglin Halt community. The event was organised by heritage group My Community.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 24, 2019, with the headline Tanglin Halt bids farewell to people's doctor. Subscribe

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