GEORGE TOWN, Oct 5 — Some people sing for a living, some sing as a hobby but for local businessman Datuk Albert Ong, he sings to raise funds for the less fortunate.

This 42-year-old may not be a professional singer but he has been belting out traditional Japanese Enka songs in the name of charity ever since a tsunami hit Japan in 2011 and he wanted to do something to help the victims.

Ong started out by immediately recording his renditions of Japanese Enka songs at the Hits Recording Studio and produced 500 CDs which he sold within 10 days to raise RM10,000 in aid of Japan tsunami victims.

From then onwards, he sang at various events, including those for charity. and also continued to raise funds for Japan tsunami victims in 2012 and 2013.

He owns an Information Technology firm that provides software training to multi-national companies and though he has never studied Japanese nor lived in Japan, he speaks fluent Japanese because of his circle of Japanese friends.

A philanthropist at heart, Ong believes that doing charitable work is something that every one should be involved in and this does not mean merely giving some small donations but actually lending a helping hand to the needy.

He has raised thousands through his singing and sale of his CDs and also donated his own money to various organisations in the last four years.

Here, he shares his background, his experience in singing for charity and his hopes... in his own words:

  • I am the youngest in my family with an elder brother and my parents. I am a local graduate and I started my own IT training company providing IT courses for MNCs in Penang at the age of 32. I began to take a step back from my business at age 35 to have more time for myself… I started golfing and helping my Japanese MM2H friends in Penang.
  • I think I have a Japanese heart as I not only love Japanese cuisine but I also live and think like a Japanese. I started learning the Japanese language more than 10 years ago when I was helping my Japanese neighbours in my condominium who asked me to help them with errands. Over time, I could converse in Japanese fluently due to helping them on a daily basis.
  • I love helping people. The Japanese retirees, who are living in Penang under MM2H, are my friends so I help them with almost everything such as running errands, taking them to hospital when they are ill and even helping them to arrange funerals, making police reports or driving them around to run their errands for those who don’t have transport. My objective is to make sure they stay and live comfortably here in Penang.
  • The year 2011 was a turning point for me when the tsunami struck Japan in March. I was asking myself what can I do to help them? Then it struck me. I rushed to Hits Recording Studio to record me singing Japanese Enka songs. I produced 500 CDs which I sold in 10 days and raised RM10,000 in aid of the Japan tsunami victims. I handed the funds over to the Consulate-General of Japan (Earthquake Division). What followed was more charity work for local organisations such as St Nicholas Home, Mt Miriam Hospital, Penang Cheshire Home, Persatuan Kebajikan Anak-anak Yatim Islam Pulau Pinang and St Joseph’s Home.
  • Believe it or not, I started singing Japanese Enka songs while listening to them in my car. So, we can say I started my “singing career” in my car. That’s where I learn to sing Japanese Enka and practised it so much that Japanese who heard me sing have told me that my pronounciation is immaculate and even better than the Japanese people. I have since performed at various events such as Bon Odori, Little Penang Street Market, May Day Flea Market Carnival, Relay for Life Penang, 1Malaysia Poltera Charity Dinner, Red Cross Singapore event and many more.
  • My dream came true when I was invited as a special guest to perform Japanese Enka songs at Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan in a charity dinner concert jointly organised by Tokyo and Sendai Classic Symphony Orchestra last year. I also donated ¥300,000 (about RM8,990) to the mayor of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan when I was there. I also performed for the people living in temporary homes at the affected areas in Japan to bring hope and cheer them through the power of music.
  • Then, I was invited as a special guest to perform Japanese Enka at Seri Perdana in conjunction with the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Malaysia on July 25 last year. Mr Abe was impressed with my singing and interviewed me about my singing before thanking me for raising funds in 2011 and 2013 for Japan. After these high points in my singing life, I’m looking forward to turn into a professional singer in time to come.
  • I love charity work. To me, charity means a practice of giving and sharing with the less fortunate and the needy. I always believe that we must help people in need so if I have RM1, I’d gladly share 50 sen with someone who needs it. I also practise this sharing attitude daily, whether it is with friends, neighbours or anyone who needs help. I hope the younger generation will step forward and be involve in charity work.
  • I am a very particular person when it comes to punctuality. I believe this is also very lacking in society whereby not everyone can be punctual. It’s mutual respect in terms of time if we are punctual. Therefore, please be punctual for any appointments and I believe also in responding to anything fast, such as replying emails and messages. I have adopted a philosophy of always being early. If you can’t be punctual, then be early.
  • I am a very positive person and self motivated, which I believe are very important in our life. My concern for the good of another is very strong. With God, all things are possible.