Singapore hawker and Liang Ji founder Dominic Neo has made an emotional public appeal to his estranged son and daughter, hoping to reunite with them after more than two decades apart.
The 52-year-old char kway teow hawker shared a childhood photograph of his children in a Facebook post on October 26, 2026, accompanied by a deeply personal message expressing regret, longing and a desire for forgiveness.
“Daddy misses you both lots. Please forgive me,” Neo wrote, addressing his children by their initials, K and G.
He also revealed that his health has been deteriorating and expressed what he described as his final wish: to see both children again.
“Your dad’s health is deteriorating. My last wish is to see you both,” he wrote.
The emotional message quickly drew attention because it revealed a deeply personal struggle behind the public image of the hawker, who has spent years building his food business while remaining separated from his family.
According to the account of his Facebook post, Neo also reflected on past mistakes and the difficulty of seeking forgiveness after relationships have been damaged.
He appeared to suggest that if his children did not want to reconcile with him while he was still alive, they should not feel obligated to attend his funeral.
The separation has been a recurring subject in Neo’s public statements. In an earlier interview with 8days in January 2026, he disclosed that his son and daughter were then 29 and 24 years old. He acknowledged that his troubled past, including multiple jail terms for fighting and extortion, contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.
He also admitted that he had neglected his children when they were younger and had not seen them for more than 20 years
A Father’s Regret Behind the Famous Yellow Outfit
For regular customers, Dominic Neo is easily recognised by his distinctive bright yellow clothing, an appearance inspired partly by his son’s childhood love for Pikachu, the popular Pokémon character.
What began as a personal connection to his son eventually became part of the identity of his hawker business.
Neo previously explained that wearing yellow served as a reminder of his son and gave him motivation to keep moving forward despite his difficult past.
His attachment to the colour also reflects how memories of his children have remained part of his life even during their prolonged separation.
More Than 25 Years Building the Liang Ji Hawker Business
Beyond his family struggles, Neo has spent more than two decades establishing his reputation in Singapore’s competitive hawker industry.
He started Liang Ji in 2001 and became widely recognised for his unconventional approach to traditional Singaporean food, particularly his cockle-loaded char kway teow.
His stall attracted considerable attention for its so-called “humful” char kway teow, which featured more than 30 cockles per serving.
In 2024, he also revealed that the dish’s popularity had helped him overcome approximately S$20,000 in outstanding debts owed to his landlord and suppliers.
His business journey has not been without setbacks. Liang Ji relocated several times before eventually securing a stall at Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre in December 2025.
In January 2026, he expanded the business by opening Liang Ji Mee Pok in Toa Payoh with two partners, introducing Teochew-style bak chor mee and handmade fishballs, meatballs and fish dumplings.
A Reunion That Remains Uncertain
Neo’s latest message has brought renewed attention to the personal consequences of his past decisions.
His public appeal suggests that he hopes to make amends while there is still an opportunity to reconnect. However, whether his children will respond or agree to a reunion remains unknown.
There has been no publicly confirmed response from either child to his October 26 appeal, and their personal feelings and reasons for maintaining their distance have not been independently established.
His story also highlights a difficult reality about family relationships: rebuilding trust after years of separation can be complicated, even when one person is ready to apologise.
For Neo, the appeal is about more than repairing a damaged relationship. It is a chance to see the two children he has spent decades missing.
Whether that long-awaited reunion will happen remains uncertain. For now, his message is a deeply personal plea for forgiveness, reconciliation and one more opportunity to see his son and daughter again.
