GEORGE TOWN: Owen Chung, the former aide-de-camp to the country’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, has passed away at the age of 85.
The former police officer died on Saturday morning while undergoing a routine dialysis treatment at a private hospital here.
He is survived by wife Chee Sin Gan, 85, two sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
In an exclusive interview with the New Straits Times during Merdeka month last year, Chung related some of his fond memories while assigned to protect the “Father of Independence”.
Chung had said he was grateful to Tunku for his words of wisdom that had enriched his life.
He had also recalled how Tunku rode in an open jeep to greet people during a Merdeka parade when he was the prime minister.
“I could feel the unwavering patriotic spirit shown by Tunku while standing on the vehicle.
“The loud cheers from the people still ring in my ears until now,” he had said then, relating the early days of the nation.
Chung had also said then that the down-to earth attitude shown by Tunku whenever he met people was what impressed him the most.
He had served Tunku for 19 years, until his death in 1990.
His funeral will be held at 2pm on Wednesday where the cortege will leave from Block D, Mount Erskine Kwangtung and Tengchow Association funeral parlour for the Mount Erskine crematorium.