Man who served the people till the very end
Balakong rep was hardworking and ready to help anyone at anytime, say DAP leaders
KUALA LUMPUR: Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng (pic) is believed to have been on his way back to his service centre when his four-wheel drive vehicle slammed into the back of a lorry on the Grand Saga Expressway.
Ng, 40, was killed on the spot, triggering another by-election in Selangor, the second one in some nine weeks since the May 9 polls.
A family friend, who declined to be named, said the politician was on his way back to the service centre in Balakong, believed to be for work, during the 12.40am incident.
“It’s normal for him. You can call him at 2am and he will still respond,” he said at the Hospital Serdang mortuary here yesterday.
Family members at the mortuary were too distraught to speak to the press.
The DAP assemblyman is survived by his wife and three children aged 13, 15 and 17.
Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari said the void left by Ng’s death would be felt by people in Balakong and the state.
“He was an assemblyman who had worked with full dedication for the people of Balakong. He was committed to representing the voice of his constituents in the Selangor Legislative Assembly since 2013.
“From the time I have known him, Ng was always ready to help anyone who wanted assistance,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
Ng’s death followed that of Sungai Kandis assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei, 50, of PKR, who died on July 2 of lymphoma cancer.
The nomination for the Sungai Kandis byelection is today.
“The two assemblymen had served the people and state well,” said Amirudin.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the party had placed high hopes on Ng and he was earmarked to be one of the future leaders in Selangor.
“He was a model for other assemblymen to emulate in terms of reaching out to his constituents, regardless of race, religion and background.”
Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said Ng, who was also Selangor DAP organising secretary, was quick to respond to issues.
“I have lost a good friend,” he said, adding that he had known Ng before 2008.
After Pakatan Harapan won in Selangor in the 12th General Election, Ean Yong said Ng was appointed a Kajang municipal councillor.
“Due to his outstanding performance, we named him as a candidate in Balakong,” he added.
National DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai said he had met Ng in 2003 when the assemblyman was part of a temple committee in the Chan Sow Lin area.
“I remembered him as a young ambitious man with good sense,” he said, adding that he recruited Ng into DAP in 2006.
In the last general election, Ng won Balakong with 41,768 votes against Barisan Nasional’s Lim Chin Wah (5,875) and PAS’ Mohamad Ibrahim (6,230).
Lim, who is from MCA, said he always respected Ng despite their different political standing.
Former Bangi assemblyman Mohd Shafie Ngah from PAS said Ng was an eloquent public speaker in the state assembly.
Selangor DAP chairman Tony Pua said a panel comprising all Selangor DAP committee members had been set up to handle the funeral arrangements.
The wake is today at the Xiao En Centre in Jalan Kuari and the funeral will be on Tuesday.
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