By Yip
Wai Yee
Getai performer and part-time actor John Cheng, better known as Ah
Nan, died of an apparent heart attack last night.
The 52-year-old collapsed backstage following a performance in a
nightclub in Chinatown, according to his wife. She spoke to the
organisers of a Chinese New Year concert he was scheduled to
perform at on Feb 12.
Before joining show business in 1987, Cheng used to be part of a
gang, had gambling problems and was a loanshark runner. He then
started working the getai circuit, and was eventually given
supporting actor roles in films such as Money No Enough (1997), I
Not Stupid (2002) and Where Got Ghost? (2009).
He was arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in 2006 for
drug-taking, and was sentenced to a 12-month term at a drug
rehabilitation centre.
In 2010, he courted controversy during a press conference
film-maker Jack Neo held to explain a extramarital affair, when he
openly shouted at journalists to leave Neo alone.
Cheng is survived by a wife and four daughters.
ST
