By GERALD LAWSON
SIBU: It was a sad and solemn moment as family members of the late Datuk Andrew Wong Kee Yew together with relatives and friends sent him off after a funeral service at Nirvana Memorial Park here, today.
The service was performed by Father Paul Chee of Sacred Heart Cathedral here before hundreds of mourners.
The late Andrew who died last Sunday evening in his family home here was cremated before his ashes were placed inside an urn and kept in a niche at the crematorium of the park.
Family members who wept intermittently included Andrew’s parents Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and Datin Seri Leong Poh Ling, his wife Lily Toh, son Sean Wong and daughter Natasha Wong.
In her eulogy, Leong said what Andrew had done when he was deputy chairman of Sibu Municipal Council from 2014 to 2016 were not his intention to seek publicity and fame.
“My son, Kee Yew did everything for the public, for the poor and the needy. His intention was not to seek publicity or fame. Very often he did things so quietly that even my husband and I did know until people told us. So he is like his father̶ a kind and generous man who never seek publicity or fame,” she added.
Leong said Andrew’s untimely death had brought “great sorrow” to her family and that their lives were completely shattered.
“I don’t know how long it would take for my heart to heal. No word can express my deep sorrow and grief but somehow I pray to God to give me the courage to stand out here to say a few words to my son.
“I might look compose now but in fact am very, very sad. I am already numbed but strangely I have that inner peace as I can feel my son is here with me,” she said.
She also described her son as a filial son who is loving, caring and thoughtful.
Andrew’s youngest sister, Sharon, remembered the good old times when he helped their busy parents to send her to school.
“I enjoyed those rides with so much fun,” she said.
Andrew, she said invested much of his time in setting up Kolej Laila Taib, University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) and Sarawak Maritime College that people can now enjoy the fruits of his labour.
Sharon also said that her brother also liked to help young people to flourish in their life.
“He was one of the kindest, more generous persons, if you know him well,” she said, adding that they had lost a brother and a friend.
Sean said without Andrew, there would not be any Kolej Laila Taib and UCTS.
“He was a man of great ability. Unfortunately, his life was cut short or else we can see more developments in Sibu,” he said.
