Canny's ex-schoolmates plan awareness drive

BY AUDREY EDWARDS

Funeral of Canny Ong at SFX Church in Petaling Jaya on 27th June, 2003 RealVideo Media Player 

PETALING JAYA: A group of Canny Ong’s former schoolmates have decided to preserve her memory by starting an awareness campaign with the media, focusing mainly on violence against women and safety measures. 

“We have all been sad, angry and devastated. It will be a long-term project. We want the campaign to be in Canny’s memory so that her name will live on for all of us.  

“And I think even she would have wanted some awareness to be created for everyone, something that should benefit someone, to come out of all this,” said R. Audrey, Canny's friend of nearly 12 years, after attending her funeral service at the St Francis Xavier Church here yesterday. 

IN MEMORY:Part of the 500-strong crowd paying their last respects at Canny's funeralservice at St Francis Xavier Church in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

However, Audrey said that work for the campaign would only start after the group had gotten permission from Canny’s family. 

Audrey, who attended Form One to Form Five at SMK Convent Ipoh with Canny, said  

“the last time I saw her was during her wedding here. We kept in touch through e-mails and Internet chatting. Her death was a horrifying jolt for me,” she said. 

The 29-year-old programmer also said that one of her favourite memories of Canny was when the two learned to make pizza together at her home. 

“We did a good job and were proud of ourselves. And we’ll always remember how my mum’s kitchen was covered with flour.  

“She (Canny) was such a sporting and genuinely sweet person with a bubbly personality,” she recalled. 

Earlier, about 500 hundred people gathered at the Paul Miki Room to attend the funeral service, which started at 4pm. Parish priest Father Larry Tan conducted the funeral rites. 

The crowd, made up of her relatives, friends and members of the public, packed the room and surroundings to pay their last respects. Some wrote in the condolence book while others brought flowers. 

Her immediate family members, including husband Brendan Ong, father Ong Bee Jeng, mother Pearly Viswanathan and sisters Elsie and Lee Shian, were seated in front and put up a brave front as they shook hands with those who came to offer their condolences. 

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Deputy Finance Minister II Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, Deputy Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho, PJ Utara MP Chew Mei Fun, MCA Public Service and Complaints department head Michael Chong, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and former Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Chan Choon Tak also came to pay their last respects. 

A floral arrangement of white flowers, including tiny daisies, was placed on top of Canny’s coffin, which had flowers surrounding it. 

Dr Ng, who is also Wanita MCA chief, said that the whole nation and the wing shared the grief of Canny’s family. 

“Only those who have lost will understand. I hope she did not die in vain because in her death (she) has created public outrage. Everybody must be responsible for their own security,” she added. 

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