Sheng Siong CEO Lim Hock Chee shares his late mum's biggest influence on him

He also shared his views on filial piety.

Ng Lye Poh, the mother of Sheng Siong founders, passed away at the age of 91 on Sep. 5.

Relatives, friends and business partners paid their respect at her wake at Woodlands Memorial.

Streams of funeral wreath were also sent to the venue over the past few days.

Speaking to Mothership, Sheng Siong CEO Lim Hock Chee, 64, shared more about his mum and her influence on him and his brothers.

Lim said that when they were farmers, both of his parents were very hardworking and thrifty.

These core values were passed down to their offspring.

Lim was also deeply grateful for his mum's help taking care of his children while he was busy expanding his business with his brothers.

He said his mother did not hold grudges and let go of things easily.

If she argued with his father, she would be fine with him by the next day.

After she was rescued from the kidnap, it was like nothing happened and she headed to the market the next day.

"Her personality was just like that," Lim said.

When his father passed on, he asked himself if he is a filial son, Lim shared with Mothership.

He also admitted that he has not spent enough time with his parents, if spending time with parents is what being filial entails.

Through reading books and reflecting, he said he has distilled what it is to be filial: Don't make your parents worry, don't bring shame to them, and do your parents proud, if you can.

The expansion of Sheng Siong supermarket chain baffled Lim brothers' mother, but it definitely made her proud.

Lim recalled with a smile: "She would always tell people, 'I don't know how they do it. In the past, I used to earn a bit from rearing pigs, but now their annual earnings are in the millions'."

Lim also shared that he and his brothers have decided to donate the bereavement money to a few charity organisations.