Local actor Shaun Chen made headlines in September last year after revealing that he had relocated his family across the Causeway.
The 46-year-old, who’s based in Singapore, now reportedly lives in a rented home in Johor with his Malaysian wife Celine and their two daughters – Nellie, nine, and Neia, seven.
In a recent interview with actor-host Allan Wu, Chen described the move back to his home country as a “natural and logical” decision.
“Since we’re Malaysians, we have an advantage. We can reduce our living expenses and stay in a bigger home.
“If we had stayed in Singapore, I don’t know if I’d ever have a chance to stay in a landed home as I’m not Singaporean,” he said.
Chen, who’s a permanent resident in Singapore, also cited the rising cost of education and general living expenses in the country as factors behind his family’s move to Johor.
According to the Mediacorp star, the fees for public school and after-school care for permanent residents in Singapore is on par with the fees for international schools in Malaysia.
When asked to estimate how much he’s been able to save since relocating, Chen answered that the figure falls between 30% and 50%.
Although he now enjoys a more comfortable lifestyle in Malaysia, the actor hasn’t ruled out the possibility of living in Singapore again in the future.
“I don't think it's a downgrade. I’ve upgraded my lifestyle,” he said, before quickly adding, “But that doesn’t mean Singapore isn’t good!”
