Business struggles after heir's death due to wrong drug prescription

A well-known popiah business almost had to shutter after its second-generation heir Quek Kiat Song died suddenly in 2012.

His death left the family struggling to keep the decades-old business afloat, with his sister recalling how they had to rebuild from scratch.

Mr Quek, who had dedicated his life to running the family-owned Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah, suffered from insomnia, depression, PTSD and anxiety.

Overwhelmed by his declining health, he sought treatment from senior psychiatrist Ang Yong Guan.

However, just four days after collecting his last prescription, he died at the age of 50 due to multiple organ failure and pulmonary haemorrhage caused by drug toxicity.

The tragedy devastated the family.

His sister told Shin Min Daily News that the family even considered closing the business but her nephew was unwilling to let two generations of effort go to waste.

He left his job as a pharmacist to take over.

Ms Quek, too, quit her office job to help keep the stall running.

Although they had the skills to make popiah, learning to manage a business was another challenge.

"We had to figure out marketing, supply chains and customer relations. It took us years to fully adapt," she said.

Just as things stabilised, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, slashing business sales by half.

Determined to continue the family legacy, Ms Quek now hopes to keep the business running until 2038, when it will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The Quek family lodged a complaint against Dr Ang with the Singapore Medical Council, leading to a legal battle.

Dr Ang was found guilty of three charges of professional misconduct, and the Court of Three Judges ruled to revoke his medical licence for three years.