Everything About the M’sia Woman Who Allegedly Committed Suicide in S’pore Due to Workplace Abuse

Depression is deadly. 

We’re told to exercise and keep fit to stave off disease, but the issue of mental health is often neglected.

And in a year where we’ve repeatedly taken psychological beatings due to the pandemic, any additional source of tension can cause our resolve to snap.

Sadly, that’s exactly what happened to Catrene Khoo, a 20-year-old Malaysian woman who took her own life in December 2019.

Mother Said She Was Victim of Workplace Abuse

On 15 Nov, a Facebook page, Save us from SLM Vxxxxxcare Singapore, shared a lengthy post detailing Khoo’s tale of torment during her time in Singapore.

The Facebook page was set up by a group of former staff members of SLM Visioncare Singapore, an eye therapy company where Khoo worked.

According to the post, Khoo started working as a therapist at a Singapore company on 1 August 2019.

She had come to Singapore to support her family in Penang, Malaysia.

Khoo was described as being filial, and would send 1,000 ringgit (S$330) home monthly.

Unfortunately, in her 4 months and 13 days at the company, Khoo allegedly suffered verbal abuse from her boss.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Khoo’s mother said her daughter’s boss constantly scolded and disparaged Khoo, calling her “stupid”, “idiot” and “brainless”.

Khoo also allegedly faced overwhelming pressure due to the company’s “unrealistic” sales goals, which her boss would repeatedly lambast her for not achieving.

Unfair Treatment Over Leave Applications The Final Straw

Khoo’s mother believed what sent her daughter over the edge were two incidents involving leave applications.

According to the post from Save us from SLM Vxxxxxcare Singapore, the company’s regulations dictate that employers need to apply for leave three months in advance.

On 21 September 2019, Khoo reportedly applied for leave to go on holiday from 13 to 18 Dec to attend a relative’s wedding in Penang, her hometown.

In the application, she stated that she would return to work on 19 Dec.

But then, in October, a relative of Khoo who was very close to her passed away. So, Khoo applied for no-pay leave to return to Penang to attend the funeral.

The application was approved by the wife of Khoo’s boss, who is reportedly a financial manager at the company.

But on her way to Penang, Khoo’s boss sent her text messages and phone calls demanding that she return to work.

As a result, Khoo allegedly had to return soon after arriving at the relative’s house and paying her respects.

Upon her return, Khoo allegedly suffered more verbal abuse at the hands of her boss.

Then, in November, Khoo’s boss spoke to her about her leave for her vacation in December, informing her that her six-day leave would be reduced to four days, to which Khoo agreed.

According to the Facebook post, Khoo’s boss had shortened her vacation because she failed to meet the sales target set by the company.

Still, they both agreed to a four-day leave for Khoo to go on holiday.

But this never materialised.

Fired Just Before Going on Leave

Just before going on leave, Khoo was fired from the company.

According to Mothership, Khoo was also allegedly accused of breaching a contract and was asked to pay the company S$1,000.

At one point during her time at the company, Khoo was caught sleeping by the management and criticised for doing so during working hours.

However, former staff members claim this was simply a misunderstanding, as it was actually Khoo’s break.

This incident was allegedly brought up during Khoo’s firing, where she was accused of being lazy.

Stressed, depressed, and now unemployed, Khoo eventually crumbled.

The 20-year-old committed suicide on 19 December in her home after returning to Malaysia.

Former Employee Helped Mother Lodge Report with MOM

After her death, Khoo’s mother hoped to cross the border to seek justice for her daughter, but she had no passport nor money.

Plus, with border restrictions forced by the pandemic, this became an impossible task.

“I didn’t give my daughter a good life so she had to suffer, I even use the money from her wake to see a psychiatrist. I wanted to go with her but I can’t do that, I need to seek justice for her,” she said.

Fortunately, Khoo became acquainted with a former employee at the company who helped her lodge a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Khoo’s mother has also made a police report against Khoo’s boss in Malaysia.

In a separate post, Save us from SLM Vxxxxxcare Singapore accused Khoo’s boss of calling employees who were sick back to the office to work as well.

Boss Denies Allegations, Claims Dismissal Was Due to Poor Performance

Khoo’s boss has denied all the allegations, claiming that Khoo was dismissed due to poor work performance, reported Shin Min Daily News. 

He said he was aware that Khoo had some personal issues and that it was her first time working in Singapore.

But he found it suspicious that her ordeal was only shared a year after her passing.

His lawyer claims that these accusations were fabricated by a group of former employees who are now part of a competing firm.

However, according to the original Facebook post by Khoo’s former colleagues, Khoo left behind a suicide note which mentioned her loss of income and mistreatment at work.

On the other hand, a current employee at the company said that while her boss is strict and demanding, she hasn’t heard him being disparaging.

Family Refuses to Accept Boss’ Apology

Despite his denial, Khoo’s boss was heard in a 17-minute recording apologising to Khoo’s family and asking for forgiveness.

But the family are unwilling to forgive him and drop the matter as they believe the apology only came after details of the incident were circulated online.

According to Mothership, MOM confirmed that Khoo’s mother had spoken to the ministry on 29 Oct 2020.

Investigations are ongoing.

Featured Image: Facebook (Save us from SLM Vxxxxxcare Singapore, Anny Chew)