Lost another friend – Ng Kean Beng (1957-2007)

I’m all flustered up this morning. My wife received an SMS saying a friend has succumbed to cancer. Our second friend in 12 days.

Kean Beng was our ex-colleague from the old Ban Hin Lee Bank days. I got to know him first when he joined the bank in Pulau Tikus at the height of the disco era. Mr John Travolta … that was his nickname. He was dressed up so dandy and smart. Later, he was transferred to Bukit Mertajam and that’s where my wife got to meet him.

He was the happy-go-lucky type of fellow. Single, without much care in the world and doing whatever he wanted to do with friends. After he left the bank, he gave tuition and then joined a real estate company.

Unfotunately, he was soon afflicted with this illness which forced him to be more careful with his health. He actually recovered and for a long while, went back to work. Last October, he was well enough to invite my wife out for lunch. He was his jovial self but obviously watching his diet.

Then at the end of December, we received word that Kean Beng had suffered a relapse. He didn’t want any visitors but on 6 Jan, we went to see him nevertheless. For old times’ sake, we had to see him. And we’re glad we did.

We heard that he was admitted to hospital on Saturday. His condition was critical. Last evening, we heard that he took a serious turn. This morning at 12.45am, he was gone.

My wife was clearly upset but I told her to remember the valuable hour last October when she had lunch with him. He gave her an hour of his precious time. It was so typically Kean Beng who, knowing that he was practically living on borrowed time, would still want to share some of his time with people he liked. That’s the way I want to remember him too.

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One Response to Lost another friend – Ng Kean Beng (1957-2007)

  1. says:

    SS – I am deeply touched. I am going through the worst time of my own life and I really have to reevaluate myself.

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