Heartbroken family and friends bid a final farewell to Shing Xuen
PETALING JAYA: There were no words that could describe the grief that enveloped the funeral of Yap Shing Xuen.
On a grey morning, nearly 500 people gathered to bid a final farewell to the 16-year-old who was killed in her school last Tuesday.
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At 9.30am yesterday, the sound of prayers echoed through the hall as Shing Xuen’s parents sat quietly.
Her mother Wong Lee Ping was visibly distraught, wiping away tears throughout the ceremony.
Around 11am, the hearse slowly made its way out of Nirvana Centre KL.
Gone too soon: Shing Xuen’s cortege leaving Nirvana 2 in Kuala Lumpur for cremation. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
A total of 100 balloons in Shing Xuen’s favourite colours – blue, white and tiffany blue – were released into the sky in memory of the teenager once described as a polite, always smiling and helpful girl.
Her parents did not join the hearse as it is considered taboo for the “white-haired” to send off the “black-haired”.
Around 30 students and teachers from SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 4 attended the ceremony.
ALSO READ: Remembering a polite, helpful girl
Standing shoulder to shoulder at the exit, some called out softly “Goodbye, Xuen” as the cortege departed for cremation.
On social media, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said she had given Shing Xuen’s mother a Malaysian team volleyball jersey.
Grief-stricken: A mourner breaking down in tears after paying her respects to the late teenager.
“Shing Xuen enjoyed playing volleyball and lived an active life. As the nation bids farewell to our young Shing Xuen today, the ministry honoured her by placing our Team MAS jersey upon her resting place.
“I told her mother that I wanted her to have our national jersey, and she said Shing Xuen would love it.
“In the days to come, I will do whatever I can to fight the incel culture among the young,” she wrote.
The brutal stabbing of Shing Xuen has shaken the nation, with all parties calling for stronger measures to ensure safety in schools.
A 14-year-old student has since been detained to assist in the investigation.
