Mr Ak Zilani, who co-founded the cultural show with Mr Fazley, said the latter was like “a brother” to him.
“He was a cheerful person, very brave, and one of the most kind-hearted people I ever knew,” he said.
“I was a different person before I met him. I was very shy, very quiet … After I met him, I built up a community, met new people … During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped so many workers, so many dormitories.”
Ms Yuliatun Suraji, a member of the organising committee of the Migrant Cultural Show, said Mr Fazley was a “special person” and extremely passionate about promoting the “hidden talents” of migrant workers.
“I never saw somebody like him,” said Ms Suraji, who has known Mr Fazley for close to seven years. “He wanted to show everyone that migrant workers have (made) big contributions to Singapore.”
Ms Ong added Mr Fazley was “well respected and much loved by the different groups of migrant brothers and sisters”.
“He loved Singapore and had shared with me his dream of becoming the first migrant worker to become a local university graduate so he can apply for PR (permanent residency) and ultimately maybe (citizenship),” she said.
She added that Mr Fazley had completed a BCA Diploma programme and finished two semesters of a construction management degree programme.
“He would share his attendance and results with me every term. He did well and despite his chemotherapy and work, his attendance was 100 per cent,” she recalled.
