KUCHING: The late Datuk Andrew Wong Kee Yew’s body will be cremated at Nirvana Memorial Park at Oya Road on Thursday, Feb 14 after a service.
The wake will be held at Nirvana Memorial Park on Feb 13 from 9am to 5pm.
Andrew Wong Kee Yew, the only son of Second Finance Minister and International Trade and e-Commerce Minister, Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, passed away at his residence in Sibu on Sunday.
Andrew, aged 43, a former deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council, was said to have attended a function and returned to his house at Jalan Ipoh in Sibu at 2pm.
Sibu police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit confirmed that the maid called Andrew for dinner at 7pm but there was no response.
When his mother, Datin Seri Leong Poh Lin, went up to his bedroom at 9pm to check on him, she found him lying unconscious on the floor. She was said to have panicked and called his friends for help.
Sarawak CID head SAC Denis Leong said police classified the case as sudden death although an autopsy would be conducted to ascertain the true cause of death.
“We have to wait for a post-mortem report,” said Sibu Police chief ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit who spoke to reporters at the Wong residence yesterday.
The mother who was really sad mentioned that just the day before, they were taking photographs while enjoying the Chinese New Year.
She asked the media and the public not to speculate on anything concerning the death of her son and to give them privacy to mourn their loss.
She did reveal that her son had high blood pressure and was taking medicines for the condition.
Her husband said Andrew left the house at 7am that day with some 4×4 car enthusiasts for a trip to Rumah Ukah, Nanga Tutus. They used jet skis, taking an hour to get there and about the same amount of time to get home.
He thought that Andrew had a good time with the longhouse people but he must have been exhausted for he went straight to his room when he returned.
As to the “what next” question, Wong could only say rather philosophically that “life must go on”.
“We, my wife and I, will be strong. We will remember our son as a dignified person who liked spending time with longhouse people,” he said.
Andrew stood as a candidate in the last parliamentary election for Sibu constituency and lost to Oscar Ling in a four-cornered fight. He garnered 22,389 votes while DAP’s Ling polled 33,811 votes.
A graduate of the University of Western Australia with a Masters of Economics degree, he helped the state government set up Sarawak Maritime College, University College of Technology Sarawak and aided in the development of Laila Taib College.
A successful entrepreneur, Andrew was divorced with two teenage children, a son and a daughter.
He also served with Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) for two and half years and headed its Standing Committee of Petty Traders and Market.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing who expressed shock at the demise said notwithstanding political differences he had with Andrew, he expressed his condolence to Wong and wife.
He said as a parent, he understood that it must be hard for the family.
“May he, Andrew, rest in peace,” he said.
President of SUPP Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian was shocked to learn of the news and said he offered his deepest condolence to Wong and family.
Chong Chieng Jen, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumerism, also expressed his deepest condolence to Wong and family. He said it was sad to hear of the shocking news.
