A member of the MU Ex-Fifians Christian Fellowship whatsApp at 10.35am on 04.09.2024 that Rev. Wong Kim Kong's health was deteriorating rapidly. Shortly after at 1.45pm, another message came to inform that he has passed away at 12.52pm.
His passing was sudden and unexpected. Information provided by his family later on revealed that he was fine and normal on 01.09.2024. He started vomiting in the morning of 02.09.2024 and had difficulty with bowel movement. Tests on 03.09.2024 confirmed blockage of small intestine. His condition deteriorated quickly thereafter and he passed away the next day on 04.09.2024.
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I got to know Wong Kim Kong practically the day I entered University Malaya and checked into the 5th Residential College in April 1973. Being physically challenged, Kim Kong was allocated to stay at a room in Block C just next to the staircase leading to the Dining Hall. He was then a third year student of the Economics Faculty. Everyone in the college knew Kim Kong. We knew each other even more after we became members of the 5th Residential College Christian Fellowship. That friendship never ceases and we have since become life-long good friends. After graduation, we continued to communicate through our MU Fifians Chat Group. His last communication to me personally was on 27.05.2021 inviting me to join a talk given by him via Zoom entitled "Global Difficulty, Personal Opportunity - Unveiling the Anointing of Queen Esther in Adversity" scheduled on that evening.
That talk never materialized. At 8.49pm that evening, he whatsApp me to inform that "At 5.30pm, I had what the doctor said lucky stroke". Since the stroke he suffered, he had adopted a quiet and a low profile life.
**************************************************Since graduation from MU, he had been active in numerous national and international Christian and charitable ministries and organizations. He was the Founding Chairman and Executive Director of Malaysian CARE, a Christian NGO set up in 1979 committed to serving the poor and needy irrespective of religion and ethnicity (Read here). He was also the Secretary General of NECF for 15 years. He had also served as the CEO of Haggai International Alumni Association of Malaysia.
On 02.06.2001, he was conferred JMN during the 75th birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
He came to KK a few times to give lectures and talks in Churches and STS. He was also invited to speak in one of our Sunday Church Worship Services of BCCM KK (E). We never failed to meet up whenever he came to KK.
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Since graduation from MU, he had been active in numerous national and international Christian and charitable ministries and organizations. He was the Founding Chairman and Executive Director of Malaysian CARE, a Christian NGO set up in 1979 committed to serving the poor and needy irrespective of religion and ethnicity (Read here). He was also the Secretary General of NECF for 15 years. He had also served as the CEO of Haggai International Alumni Association of Malaysia.
The last photo I received about Kim Kong was shared by my brother after the latter preached in Diakonia Christian Church in Rawang on 24.09.2023. Rawang is the home town of Kim Kong.
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Understandably, a high profile figure liked Kim Kong was unlikely to be free from controversy. A Christian NGO called "Christians for Peace and Harmony Movement (CPHM)" under the chairmanship of Rev. Wong Kim Kong launched in 02.06.2015 did attract some negative responses. The launching which was attended by 1,200 guests and the then PM of Malaysia, Datuk Sri Najib (Read here).
While the idea of promoting peace and harmony is noble and commendable, its association with a tainted PM has not been well received by many circles (Read here). Then on 15.12.2017, he personally whatsApp to inform me that he had relinquished the post of chairmanship of CPHM effective from 15.09.2017. The chairmanship was passed onto Elder Lee Min Choon. The following year in May 2018, Najib was ousted as the PM of Malaysia in the 14th general election of Malaysia.
CPHM appears to have been inactive since the end of 2022 (Read here).
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| Group photo of Fifians taken in late 1973 at the residence of David Tow. |
Of the original Fifians (photo above), five had passed on. First is Yogeswaran from Sarawak (Front row second from right seated next to me at 1st right). Then Quah Mooi Eng (Seated at front row 1st right) in October 2014 (Read here). Third is David Tow (1st right second row seated) (Read here), a lecturer and a Fellow of 5th Residential College who opened his residence for us to meet weekly. Fourth is KC Ho (not in photo) who passed away just seven months ago (Read here). Kim Kong is seated at front row third from right.
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An ex-Fifian sums up Kim Kong's life as follows:
"Kim Kong has fought a good fight and overcame all the limitations in his life with boldness, courage and confidence. He was very focused and strongly dedicated to all the tasks that God has led him to do and he did them well".
In remember Kim Kong, I recall a message he whatsApp me on 21.06.2020 and I
Quote:
"I often ask Christians (especially Christian leaders) one question: "One day if we are called to be with the Lord in Heaven, how you want your friends to remember you? What would you like your children to write on your tombstone to remember what you have done?" My wife and my children will engrave these words: "Kim Kong has made a difference!"
Unquote.
Notwithstanding his handicap and physical disability, he had achieved much more than many physically normal people. Indeed, he did make a difference! Rest in Peace Kim Kong!
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