Final respects

Monday, August 05, 2013 - 14:18

Location: 

MALACCA

MEMORABILIA: Chua's winning medals and photos at his home in Malacca

 

 

THE late national hockey forward Chua Boon Huat’s home in Malacca saw a steady stream of friends and past hockey players after his body was brought back from Kuala Lumpur last Friday.
Chua was killed in a car accident early Thursday morning. The 33-year-old was in training with the national team for the Asia Cup in Ipoh from Aug 24 to Sept 1.
When Mailsport visited Chua's home in Taman Semabok Perdana on Saturday, the house was full of wreaths as people kept coming to pay him their last respects.
Among those present were members of the 1975 Word Cup, including skipper Datuk N. Sri Shanmugathan, Wong Choon Chin, K. Balasingham and R. Pathmarajah.
Chua’s mother Tan Kuai Neo, despite mourning the loss of the youngest of her four children, was a picture of composure as she welcomed the visitors and thanked them for their presence.
“Boon Huat must surely be happy.
All his friends have been coming to see him and console me since Thursday.
Although I was distraught, I noticed the big crowd at the hospital,” said the 64-year-old.
“I am sad that I have lost Boon Huat, but I am happy that he had touched so many lives.”
In memory of Chua, a table with all the medals he had won since he made his international debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games as a 17-year-old was placed close to the coffin.
The funeral proceedings begin at 11am. The national hockey players will be the coffin bearers and form a guard of honour when the coffin, draped in the Malaysian flag, is taken to the hearse to proceed to the Malacca Memorial Park Crematorium at the Jelutong Chinese Cemetery in Gajah Berang.
The cortege will leave Chua’s residence at 9 Jalan SP9, Taman Semabok Perdana in the afternoon once the final rites are concluded.