Many join ‘hero’ mum Irene Ong’s funeral
Wing San (right), Hui Wei (second right) and Hui Ying (second left) paying their last respects to Ong at a funeral
parlour in Petaling Jaya.
PETALING JAYA: Though images of her dying mother bleeding by the roadside from an assailant's knife still disturbed
her, 17-year-old Chin Hui Wei held back her tears as well-wishers gathered at a funeral parlour here to pay their last
respects to the woman she called “My Hero”.
With her father and sister by her side, the teenager stood stoically calm as she watched a stream of people placing flower
stalks on top of the casket that bore the remains of her late mother, social activist Irene Ong Ai Siam.
Hui Wei even had comforting words for grieving relatives and friends who came to bid farewell to a well-loved woman
who died while defending her child from a ruthless attacker at Bukit Gasing here on Saturday.
Ong, 53, a member of the parent-teacher association of SMK Taman SEA and the Kiwanis Club, among other social
clubs and charity groups, died from injuries inflicted by her attacker.
In a poignant and painful account of the incident in her blog, The Ugly Truth, Hui Wei posted a heart-wrenching tribute to
Ong, titled My Mother, My Hero.
In her lengthy account, she described the events leading to the tragedy right up to the time her blood-soaked mother
was admitted to the hospital.
She wrote that her mother's last words to her were, “I love you so much”.
Ong has another daughter, 21-year-old Hui Ying. She also leaves behind her husband Chin Wing San, as well as three
sisters and three brothers.
“We were very close, and her death has left a hole in my life,” said sister Suzie, 50, tears welling in her eyes.
“My two other sisters and I will not be able to replace Irene but we will do our best to be the mamas' to Hui Ying and
Hui Wei,” she said in a choked voice.
Neighbour Zabedah Abdullah, 64, said she would miss the chats with Irene over the fence between their houses.
Patsy Ng, 62, who served alongside Ong at the Sunday school of the PJ Evangelical Free Church, said she was a motherly
figure adored by the children.
“Not only was she an excellent mother to her two daughters, she also played a large hand in nurturing the children at
our church,” said Ng.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamad said police would step up patrols at Bukit Gasing and
its surrounding areas.
Many join ‘hero’ mum Irene Ong’s funeral - Nation | The Star Online