The writer (front row, left) pays tribute to Wong (front row, second from right), a close friend and fellow teacher, whose guidance and friendship left a lasting impact on his life. — SAMUEL YESUIAH
Friends walk in and out of our lives, leaving bits of themselves within us. Some bring laughter, love and joy that brighten our days. Others leave lasting impressions that quietly shape the course of our lives.
I met Wong Chin Kit in the 1990s when we were both teachers at SK Sendayan. We were in our early 30s, full of energy and optimism. Not long after, another teacher, Zahar, joined us, and the three of us became inseparable.
Each day we travelled together from Seremban to Sendayan, with Zahar driving and the rest of us sharing petrol costs.
Wong had a gift for business – cars, property, shares and investments. He was our financial guide, always eager to share the latest opportunities. I was newly married then, living with my father and hesitant about taking a government housing loan.
Wong encouraged me to look at a new project in Rasah Jaya, which he said was affordable and promising. Zahar had already bought a house in Taman Tuanku Jaafar.
Wong brought me the brochure, explained the process, and assured me it was a sound investment. With his guidance, I applied for the loan and bought a house there – just a stone’s throw from his. Wong moved in soon after, while I rented mine out. True to his word, the location was excellent, and finding tenants was never a problem.
A few years later, Wong sold his Rasah Jaya home for three times its price and bought another in Seremban 2. By then, we had all been transferred to different schools, but Wong remained a close friend. He often stopped by my father’s house in Rahang for a chat, always the same cheerful, enterprising spirit who once helped me take one of the most important steps in my life.
It was on one of those rare occasions that Wong convinced my wife, also a teacher, to use her housing loan to buy a house. He told us there were still lots available in Vision Homes, Seremban 2. Encouraged by his confidence, my wife applied for the loan – and, by coincidence, Wong’s house turned out to be just a stone’s throw from hers.
After my parents passed away, we moved into the Vision Homes house. Wong often walked over to catch up on old times. Both of us were Liverpool fans, and our weekends were filled with spirited discussions about every match the Reds played.
Even after retirement, Wong remained active, dealing in used cars, property and shares. He often gave me investment tips – though I never quite shared his knack. When my son needed a second-hand car, Wong helped us find a great deal and even introduced us to a trusted dealer who still handles our car matters today.
Wong had heart surgery a few years ago but continued to live life with his usual zest. Two weeks ago, I received the shocking news – he had suffered a stroke returning from Muar after his son’s wedding and passed away on the way to the hospital.
As I reflect on our friendship, I realise how deeply his influence runs through my life – the homes we own, the car I drive, and the memories we shared. Wong was more than a friend; he was a guiding light in my journey.
May God bless his soul.
