A mentor and tower of strength to many

The Star executive editor will be fondly remembered for his selfless ways

PETALING JAYA: He saved his friend’s life twice. He gave away his bonus when he could have used it for his own cancer treatment. He was a mentor to young and old reporters to improve their writing skills.

In his column, he constantly reminded everyone to make time to smell the roses and appreciate life.

At 5.20pm yesterday, The Star lost its executive editor Soo Ewe Jin (pic).

Many lost their comrade in journalism and others, their friend who was always there to lend a hand.

We may bid goodbye to Jin, as he was fondly called, but we will forever remember the positive way he embraced his own life while touching the lives of others.

Soo, 57, was best known for his weekly column, Sunday Starters, through which he often shared his take on life as well as his journey with cancer.

He took the mundane and the usual and made it refreshing and inspiring.

Random acts of kindness were second nature to him and in his column last Sunday, he wrote that he had paid for petrol, toll charges and meals for strangers on numerous occasions. That has always been so Jin!

One colleague and friend who feels the vacuum Soo leaves behind is Star Media Group managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.

“I have lost a personal friend, a colleague and one who was always there to guide me.

“He was the man who edited my weekly column, helping to remove the blemishes and making it look sharp with his linguistic skills.

“Ewe Jin was also a good partner in supporting the moderation campaign,” he said, adding that Soo edited the recently launched the Moderation book despite his ill health.

“Ewe Jin is gone but he will remain with us, in The Star family, forever,” he said.

Wong met up with Soo last Sunday and he was jovial and chatty.

“But today he is gone. It is a stark reminder to us that we must treasure the little precious time we have with our loved ones and close friends,” said Wong.

Editor-in-Chief Datuk Leanne Goh shared that The Star had lost a passionate colleague, an inspiring friend and a diehard journalist who has left a legacy that will always be remembered.

“Only a really strong person could have gone through four cancer journeys and kept his chin up throughout. Ewe Jin was the tower of strength for so many people and he deeply touched their lives, especially those who had to battle cancer too,” she said.

“He was always full of life. He didn’t care for the material world around him; only people mattered. I will surely miss walking into his room for good counsel and seeing things from his perspective.

“Angie, Kevin and Tim, we share your loss. And we know that Sunday Star will never be the same without Sunday Starters,” she said.

Soo leaves behind his wife and fellow journalist Angeline Lim, and two sons, Kevin and Timothy.

The Star journalist Subramaniam Harihar fondly recollects the times he owed his life to Soo.

“I would describe Ewe Jin as a man of God who believed in God’s word and gave his best to everybody including my late wife and myself.

“What more can I say of a person who saved my life twice when I was editing on the desk in the early morning hours in The Star,” said the veteran journalist who had known Soo for 16 years.

Subramaniam recounted the time when he suffered a sudden stroke while in the office and Soo took him straight to University Hospital just in time.

“The second time was when I had a heart attack and he travelled with me in the ambulance to Sunway hospital where they put a stent and saved me.

“I think it is not only me, but the people in this country that have lost a great man who spread very positive thoughts through his columns,” said Subramaniam.

“I have lost a good friend. In so many ways, Ewe Jin touched the lives of so many people,” said former Star group chief editor Datuk Wong Sulong.

Sulong recalled a time when Soo received a big bonus from The Star and gave it all to people in need even though he was battling cancer at the time.

In a second incident, Soo raised RM60,000 from his book, Sunday Starters, and donated the money to two charities, said Sulong.

Star Media Group chief operating officer, content development June H.L. Wong described Soo as a creative and talented writer.

“I will miss his incredibly deft touch that could turn even the most humdrum writing into award-winning essays.

“I will miss a dear friend whose wit and humour was always refreshing and uplifting, and a passionate, dedicated colleague who was a steadfast guiding light to us all,” she said.

Soo was a Penang Free School old boy. He started his career in The Star in 2000 and served in various positions including Star Online editor, Sunday Star editor and Special Projects editor.

During his journalism career, Soo also worked with The National Echo, The Malay Mail, the Institute Of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, The World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia and The Edge.

He was first diagnosed with nasopharyngeal (nose) cancer in 1999. He encountered cancer again in 2006 with a lump in his lymph nodes and suffered from a relapse of nose cancer in March 2011.

Soo had his final confrontation with cancer last year and passed away yesterday.

The wake will be held at 8pm on Sunday and Monday at the Trinity Methodist Church, Jalan Gasing.

The funeral will be at 10am on Tuesday.