A 73-year-old Buddhist monk from Malaysia became an unexpected millionaire after winning a bank lottery. Instead of keeping the prize, he announced that most of the money would be used to help people in need.
ARTICLE
A Buddhist monk in Malaysia has captured worldwide attention after winning the equivalent of more than 300,000 US dollars in a bank lottery—and then deciding not to keep the fortune for himself.
Chan Chai Siang, 73, who has lived a simple monastic life for nearly three decades, became the latest winner of a major prize draw organized by a Malaysian bank. At first, he believed the phone call informing him of the win was a scam and only accepted the news after meeting bank representatives in person.
Rather than viewing the prize as a miracle or divine reward, the monk described it as the result of karma. He explained that he had never prayed or wished for wealth and saw the unexpected fortune as an opportunity to help others.
Chan said he plans to donate most of the money to support people facing illness, financial hardship and charitable community projects. According to him, wealth has value only when it improves the lives of others.
Before becoming a monk, Chan worked in factories in Malaysia and Singapore. Over the years, he saved small amounts of money, mainly from public donations, which qualified him for the bank’s prize campaign.
His decision has been widely praised on social media, with many describing it as a rare example of humility and generosity in a world often focused on personal wealth.
The story has inspired many people across Asia, reminding them that compassion and kindness can be more valuable than money itself.
