Friends and family pay last respects to David Choong

GEORGE TOWN: Friends and family members of the late former All-England doubles badminton champion Datuk David Choong Ewe Leong gathered at his home in Tanjung Tokong to pay their last respects.

Among the hundreds of people who came for the wake of the former Penang state executive councillor were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, ex-Penang MCA chief Tan Sri Dr Sak Cheng Lum and Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Tan Sri Kamal Hashim.

Kamal, who is Choong's close family friend, said their friendship started from the time when both their fathers were friends.

“He was a pleasant person who got along very well with people. As a politician, he was also very accessible to the rakyat,” said Kamal.

The former champion's brother, Datuk Eddy Choong, who formed a formidable doubles combination with him to win the prestigious All-England crown for three successive years from 1951, likened the atmosphere at the wake last night to the 1Malaysia spirit.

“The people who came were from all races. Our family has been here for six generations since our great-grandfather settled in Penang in 1820,” said the four-time All-England singles champion.

David, 82, had died at 6.30am on Saturday after being in a coma for nine years following a stroke. He leaves behind a wife, three sons and a daughter.

The funeral is scheduled at 2pm today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pulau Tikus.