RIP Rev. Dr. Pang Ken Phin

On the morning of 26.09.2025, I received the heartbreaking news through a WhatsApp chat group that Rev. Dr. Pang Ken Phin had passed away at 5.50 a.m. that day. The news struck me deeply, coming barely two months after I had been reconnected with my wedding chauffeur (Read here). While Edward was the one who drove the wedding car, it was Rev. Pang who officiated the wedding blessing ceremony, solemnizing our marriage on that memorable morning of 07.04.1979. Her passing feels especially poignant, as both of them are forever intertwined with one of the most significant milestones of my life.

At the time of my wedding, she was just thirty-two - five years my senior - a young pastor appointed as the Pastor-in-Charge of BCCM KK. She was warm, approachable, and down-to-earth, embodying both grace and dedication in her pastoral calling. I had the privilege of working alongside her during my service as a church council member, where she provided steady leadership with humility and kindness.

Later, when she was transferred to BCCM Penampang Chinese congregation, she extended her trust by inviting me several times to helm the pulpit and share sermons with the congregation. Eventually, when she moved on to serve as a lecturer at Sabah Theological Seminary (STS), our paths continued to cross occasionally whenever I attended Board of Governors meetings at the seminary. Each encounter reaffirmed her genuine spirit, steadfast faith, and commitment to nurturing others in ministry.

Her life was also deeply connected to mine in another way. Her husband, Liong Fah, an engineer, was my very first colleague when I began my career in April 1978. At that time, he was heading the KK International Airport Unit, while I was assigned to the same office on secondment to assist with the construction of the new terminal building. Our early professional paths crossed in a way that now feels providential, as it was through these connections that I came to know both him and Rev. Pang, whose lives would touch mine so meaningfully.

Rev. Dr. Pang Ken Phin’s passing is a profound loss. She was not only a pastor and teacher but also a friend, mentor, and a significant part of my life’s journey. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched with her faith, humility, and dedication to God’s work.

A couple of old photos of our wedding blessing ceremony on 07.04.1979 conducted at BCCM KK Church and solemnized by Rev. Dr. Pang.

At that time, female pastoral workers were not permitted to be ordained with the title of “Reverend”. However, a turning point came when a motion was later passed to amend the constitution of the BCCM, paving the way for women to be officially ordained. Rev. Dr. Pang, together with another female pastor, Rev. Chong Fui Yung, made history as the first two women to be ordained as Reverends in BCCM. Their ordination not only marked a significant milestone for gender equality within the church but also served as an inspiration for future generations of women called to pastoral ministry.

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From left: Me, Pastor Yong Tin Jin (In charge of BCCM KK English Congregation), Rev. Dr. Pang Ken Phin, Captain Donald Soh, WO K Ravi, Rita Ho and WO Liew Yun Fung.

Rev. Dr. Pang also served as the 1st Chaplain of the 2nd Kota Kinabalu Boys Brigade Company which was under the jurisdiction of BCCM KK. I served for a couple of years as a Warrant Officer of the Company in the 1980s.

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The late Rev. Dr. Pang with her husband, Liong Fah.

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Group photo with some of Rev. Dr. Pang's family members and friends after paying our last respects at the Funeral Parlour in the afternoon of 29.09.2025.

At the funeral parlour, I came to know from her family members that Rev. Dr. Pang had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about four and a half years ago, in 2020, during the difficult period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite undergoing treatment and bravely facing the illness, she was eventually called home by the Lord Almighty, to enter into her eternal rest.

May her soul rest in peace. 

RIP, Rev. Dr. Pang.