Wang Lei revealed that he stole S$2,000 (RM6,630) worth of his mum's medical funds to gamble. Photos: Wang Lei/Facebook, Screenshot/YouTube
Singaporean singer Wang Lei recently shared his regrets gambling away the money meant for his mother's cancer treatment.
In a behind-the-scenes video for The 20th Floor – a song raising awareness on the dangers of gambling performed by Malaysian artiste Namewee featuring Wang Lei – the 61-year-old singer claimed that gambling had made him "inhumane to the highest level".
"If I could turn back time and start over, I will never go back to gambling. My mother was cancer-stricken and I stole her medical fees to gamble. I still can't accept that (even till today)," Wang Lei said in the video.
The getai performer previously came clean about stealing his mother's cancer treatment money in a Facebook video posted by Singapore's National Council On Problem Gambling (NCPG) in 2016.
In the video uploaded, Wang Lei revealed that he stole S$2,000 (RM6,630) worth of medical funds.
"My mother was lying on a hospital bed and I still had the heart to gamble. I lost all sense of time gambling until my brother called me, telling me that my mother was dying and that I should go to the hospital right away.
"On the way, I took out my wallet and all I had left was S$24 (RM79). That was all that's left out of the S$2,000 I stole," he said tearfully, adding that when he arrived at the hospital, his mother had already passed away.
Refusing to ruin his life further, Wang Lei urged everyone to stay away from gambling.
"Most people think that small bets are fun and harmless, but when it becomes a habit and the stakes go higher, you will eventually get addicted and become a compulsive gambler.
"If your friend says, 'Hey, I won thousands of dollars', let them be. Don't put them on a pedestal because at the end of the day, it's your family who will be there for you, not your friends," he said in Namewee's video.
Wang Lei was once in serious debt after becoming addicted to gambling. According to reports, the artiste racked up S$300,000 in gambling debts and was the target of 11 loan sharks.
In 1999, the singer lost S$230,000 in three days after gambling away all his cash proceeds from selling his flat.
It was not until 2004 that Wang Lei decided to quit gambling. But it was no easy journey as he would occasionally visit casinos and gambling dens.
After his long-time gambler friend passed away in 2013, the singer was determined to quit once and for all.
After receiving support from his wife, Wang Lei finally became debt-free in 2015.
