Dr Wee fondly remembers his mentor and former JB MCA chief, the late Freddie Long

JOHOR BARU: The late Datuk Freddie Long Hoo Him (pic) was an honest and capable person who taught himself how to read and write Chinese characters.

This was one of the things MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong remembered about the former Johor Baru MCA chairman during the wake held at a funeral parlour along Jalan Air Molek on Wednesday (Nov 06).

Dr Wee, who referred to Long as his mentor, came to pay his last respects and meet Long's family members.

He said that Long was not one to mince words.

"He would not beat around the bush – his words were always met with action.

"This honesty also made him a very popular person with everyone who knew him – not only the Chinese community," he said.

Dr Wee also said that his mentor even taught himself to read and write Chinese.

"Initially he did not know how to read Chinese characters. Through his own efforts, he eventually managed to read an entire Chinese newspaper," he said.

The MCA president also shared some advice which Long gave him during in his early years in the party.

"He told me not to pursue wealth and self-gain in politics," he said.

Long, 76, lost his battle with cancer and died at around 3pm on Monday at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital in Jalan Abdul Samad.