Agency predicts six-month layoff for Aloysius Pang; lead role in Ch8 drama to be recast

SINGAPORE — Actor Aloysius Pang could be out of action for at least six months, which makes it hard for him to continue playing the male lead in Channel 8 drama My One in a Million, NoonTalk Media, the agency representing him, said on Monday (Jan 21).

Mr Dasmond Koh, a television host and head of NoonTalk Media, said at a press conference in Mandarin Orchard: “Personally, I don’t think he will be fit to fly back any time soon. 

“It could be three weeks, or a month. That, plus the period he needs to properly recover, a good six months will be good.

“Anything shorter than that will be a blessing.”

Mr Koh said that Pang had “waited for this role for many years”, it being the first time the 28-year-old was cast as male lead for a television drama series.

Corporal First Class (National Service) Pang sustained injuries to his chest and abdominal areas during training with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in New Zealand on Saturday.

He underwent abdominal surgery on that same evening and had a follow-up “relook operation” there on Monday.

Asked if the injuries will significantly impact the actor’s life or career, Mr Koh said: “I don’t know. I can’t answer for anybody as well. We need to wait for the doctors to evaluate that over the course of his recovery before we can give anyone a concrete answer to that.”

Mr Koh is flying to New Zealand on Monday night to assess Pang’s situation.

Filming for My One in a Million was due to start in February after the Chinese New Year break.

Mediacorp on Monday evening confirmed that it will recast his role in the drama seeing that “Aloysius will need to focus on his recovery over a period of time”. The national broadcaster added that its “doors will be open” for Pang when he is ready, and that he is a “highly talented and professional actor and a joy to work with”.

Ms Ivy Low, head of The Celebrity Agency at Mediacorp, who was also present at Mr Koh’s press conference, told reporters that there will be “more chances for him in the future” to play a lead role.