Former death row convict celebrates CNY as a free man

KULAI: This Chinese New Year, former death row convict Chong Yun Fak has lots to be grateful for, despite suffering from cancer.

Having been granted a royal pardon by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, he returned to the loving arms of his family last year after 37 long years in prison.

The 64-year-old, who was released 11 months ago, shed tears of joy during the customary reunion dinner yesterday.

“I missed out so much because of a mistake. Since my release, I have been doing my best to care for my mother and helping out at my brother’s shop in Senai,” said Chong, who has stage four nose and throat cancer.

He said his sisters cooked some special vegetable with abalone dishes for him.

“I am forever indebted to Sultan Ibrahim for looking into my case and giving me a second chance in life,” he said, adding that he was able to make amends with his three children and six siblings.

He said his children, aged 38, 41 and 43, kept in touch with him throughout his imprisonment.

Chong paid special tribute to his 86-year-old mother, describing her as his pillar of strength.

“She never failed to visit me every Chinese New Year while I was locked up,” he said, revealing that he served time under remand in the Ayer Molek detention centre and on death row in the Kajang and Simpang Renggam prisons.

Chong, who confessed to wanting to make a quick buck peddling drugs, was caught red-handed with 220g of heroin in 1987 as a 26-year-old then. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1992.

He was released from the Simpang Renggam prison last March 23 after Sultan Ibrahim, who was Johor Ruler then, approved his clemency appeal on the prisoner’s eighth attempt.

While in prison, Chong said his wife left him, taking along the children.

Asked how he celebrated Chinese New Year in prison, he said for the first five years, he was allowed to eat with the other inmates.

“But on death row, I was in a cell all by myself, waiting to be hung. Every Chinese New Year, I was given one meal of briyani and chicken or some lontong (rice cake) with fruits,” he said.

Chong also expressed gratitude to the Geha Bodhi Care Centre and to Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim for their assistance.