Sabah MP Edmund Chong Dies In Road Accident

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah died in a road accident along Jalan Coastal, Tanjung Aru, at 11.40am today. He was 54.
Chong, who was treasurer-general of Barisan Nasional (BN) component Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), was riding a high-powered motorcycle towards the city centre when he was involved in a collision with a Mercedes Benz car.
Kota Kinabalu police chief ACP Ahmad Sofi Zakaria said Chong's body was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"We are investigating. Preliminary investigation revealed a dent on the right side of the Mercedes (car) due to a collision," he said when contacted.
Chong, who is a consultant engineer by profession, leaves a wife, Linda Tsen Thau Lin, 54, and four children - three daughters and a son, aged between 13 and 23 years. Two of his children are studying abroad.
In the last general election, in 2008, Chong won the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat by beating independent candidate Chung Kwong Wing by a majority of 3,708 votes. He had garnered 9,479 votes.
Ahmad Sofi said the driver of the car was slightly injured.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman described Chong's death as a great loss for the people and state of Sabah.
"He was a dedicated and committed leader in discharging his responsibilities as the Member of Parliament for Batu Sapi," he told reporters when approached at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Musa, who is the State Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman, said he and his family extended condolences to Chong's family and PBS.
PBS President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who was also at the hospital, said: "It's very sad for the state and the country, especially PBS. He was my close friend."
"It is something which I never thought would happen. I pray all the time that nothing like this would happen.
"Datuk Edmund Chong, as an MP and the party's treasurer general, had always been concerned about the future of the country and the state," he said, adding that they last met during the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) open day here on Thursday.
Putatan MP Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh said he and Chong were to have travelled together tomorrow to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Dewan Rakyat session beginning Monday.
Chong was returning to his house in Taman Likas Jaya from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport after buying his flight ticket when the accident happened, he told reporters at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
"I was told he went to the airport to get his ticket. We were supposed to leave for KL on Sunday together. I believe he wanted to stay at the Legend Hotel where I am also going to put up.
"I did not think this will happen. I had advised him to be careful (when riding the motorcycle). We have all lost a friend and will miss him," said Marcus, who was almost in tears.
Marcus, who is the treasurer-general of Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation), said Chong was a collector of motorcycles. "It was his hobby. He has got a few motorbikes," he said.
Sabah Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, who is from the PBS, said Chong's death was felt not only by the family but also by the people of Batu Sapi.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Sandakan MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong said Chong was well respected by the people of Batu Sapi and Sandakan.
"He also carried out his work efficiently as chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) Sabah, which comes under my purview in the Prime Minister's Department.
"It is a great loss to Sandakan, to Sabah and to the nation. At this moment, my thoughts are with his wife and the family who, I pray, will find strength and solace to carry on at this very difficult time of theirs," he said.

May he rest in peace.