Kota Kinabalu: A packed memorial service for late professor-architect Ar Francis Wong heard glowing tributes from family members, former colleagues and friends at the SIB Church Shalom House in Likas, Saturday.
The dad of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong passed away in Melbourne on May 30.
The speakers included Pastor Gerry Dusing, President of SIB Church Sabah, Francis’ son, James, stepson Andrew, Datuk Adeline Leong, architect Ar Sim Sie Hong, two of Francis’ ex-students whom he mentored, Vanessa Wong Ven Nie and Melissa Wong Kar Yin.
Dusing quoted Proverbs 22:29: “Do you see a man skilful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell’s Access to Energy helps power lives of isolated communities in Sabah Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid. Read more “This scripture speaks of a man who is diligent and skilful in his work, a man who will stand before kings and not obscure men. This man was Professor Francis Wong Yit Shing. His life was a testament to these words.
“His architectural skills reshaped numerous towns, leaving an indelible mark on countless individuals who were fortunate to cross his path.”
Further quoting 2 Timothy 4: 7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” Dusing said Francis indeed embodied these words – he fought the good fight, he finished his race, and he kept his faith.
“In these challenging times, let’s draw courage and fortitude from our dearly departed friend’s life. May his memory motivate our purpose with the same dedication and service he displayed.”
Datuk Adeline Leong, IDS head and former President of Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council President who enjoyed Francis’ unreserved support as a Councillor, said:
“Francis was well loved and respected by all who knew him, because he was so affable, so easy going, great personality with a big heart, a man with a vision, a highly qualified professional and a role model for us all.”
Rating Francis as “a man of great talent as an Architect,” Adeline said: “I remember working with him when I was Director of the Sabah State Library and he was the Architect for the new Keningau Regional Library building in the 90s.
He had such great vision and built a unique huge library with Murut motifs on its red brick walls.
“Until now the building still looks new and does not need repainting. It included an auditorium with a few hundred seats which is well used for events and functions until now.
“The outstanding Keningau Library still stands as one of the iconic buildings in Keningau,” she said, adding he was one of the best councillors who contributed greatly to KK’s development.
“He was Chairman of the Building Plan Committee and revised the building bylaws for KK. I still remember him proudly handing over three volumes of the building bylaws to me.
He worked very hard as a Councillor and I always called him Father of KK because of his immense knowledge and contribution. “
Stepson Andrew said that born in 1940 during WW2, Francis spoke of how he stole food and ate cockroaches to stay alive, how eight people in an overcrowded household died one after another from disease but no story was more heart breaking than the loss of his younger sister, Sau Ying.
Relating how Francis’ mother Amah single-handedly raised five young children during the Japanese occupation, Andrew said Francis had beriberi from malnutrition and Sau Ying and her half sister were starving while Amah had nothing to feed them.
He said Amah was forced to make the most painful decision – leaving Sau Ying and her sister under a tree near airport road, hoping that a Malay family with the means might pick them up.
“When she returned a few hours later, they were gone. Amah never recovered from that loss,” Andrew said.
Andrew said that in Francis’ teenage years, one Father Coogan became “the single largest factor in changing the course of dad’s life. Not only did he give Dad a hope of a brighter future, he provided him with the means to get there.”
Having experienced what true poverty was, Francis vowed he would never again face such deprivation by pouring all of his strength to gain financial security for his family and wider family.
Son James Wong said: “Remember dad, when I was struggling in my studies when I was vey young, failed in all my exams. Instead of giving me a big wallop, you took me for a long drive to talk in our creaky Toyota Crown.
“Instead of punishing me, you tried to talk to me and understand me. I still remember from that point on, something changed in me. I remember deciding to myself – I don’t want to be a failure anymore. I will always remember the last word and mandate you gave to me – ‘A life well lived is to Make the Word a Batter place , and Reduce Human Suffering. This has indeed been the mark you left on the world, dad.”
Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee who was present, said Francis was most admirable is his public service, giving valuable advice as a professional architect while at KKMC on how KK should be planned, some I think you can see on display in Kota Kinabau as a beautiful city.”
Architect Ar Datuk Ho Jia Lit, said:
“He was our mentor. He was the architect for my parents’ house. Because of him I heard about architecture and I learnt through him during our university days, all the while when we came back from holidays.
“My father, in fact, sometimes brought me to the construction sites where he (Francis) was working. So I got interested through him and he was very helpful and we have been friends ever since.
Architect Ar Karim Hussein said as mentor, Francis was the first person he looked up to in Sabah.
“He got a special humanity, whenever you talk to him, there is always a little smile on his face,” he said.
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