BUTTERWORTH: “I appeal to all social media users to stop spreading photos and videos, and to delete the negative images of my late brother immediately as a sign of respect towards us.”
This was the humble plea from the family of Moey Yun Peng, 20, who died after the car he was driving plunged into the sea at KM4 of the Penang Bridge on Sunday following a road accident.
Yun Peng’s brother, who only wanted to be known as Dennis, urged all parties to understand their situation, especially since they had to face the reality that they had just lost their loved one.
He said the family accepted the fate, but he pleaded to the people not to spread and take down all photos and videos of his brother for the sake of the family’s sensitivity.
“The loss is a huge slap to us but what has happened has happened.
“We are appealing, please take care of his image and stop spreading any photos and videos of him in such situation as it hurts us,” said the distraught brother when met at their residence at Taman Kempas here today.
After three days of search and rescue (SAR) operation, the Mazda CX-5 sports utility vehicle (SUV) was successfully winched out from the sea at 5.50pm, with Yun Peng still strapped in the driver’s seat.
The SUV plunged into the sea after being rammed by a speeding Toyota Vios at 2.54am on Sunday.
“We leave it for the police to investigate and urged the public not to speculate.
“Let them (the police) do their job and decide who is at fault and who caused the accident,” Dennis continued.
He also thanked all the parties involved in the SAR operation and also apologised to members of the public who had to endure extraordinary traffic congestion on the bridge throughout the operation.
“Our special thanks to all the parties, including the various enforcement agencies, which struggled throughout the operation and managed to take out the deceased. We truly appreciate that.
“We are also sorry to all motorists who got stuck in traffic. We truly feel guilty about it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dennis said the Chinese New Year celebration next month would not be celebrated as they would still be in the mourning period.
“We just decorated the house, but after what happened, there will be no celebration for us, out of respect to our brother.
“This will be the first time he will not be with us and it hurts when we think about it,” said Dennis, describing Yun Peng as a respectful and loving child.
Yun Peng’s funeral is expected to be held at the Berapit Chinese Cemetery tomorrow.
The media, which was at the vicinity of the house since 10am, only spotted several relatives and friends who came to pay their last respects before they left.