If you have been following the news lately, you may have heard about the sad demise of the 53-year-old Mr. Kwek Kok Kwong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NTUC LearningHub.
Mr. Kwek collapsed after a cycling session with a group of his friends on November 14, 2020. He could not be resuscitated after being taken to the hospital, leaving behind his wife and two children.
In a Facebook post on Nov. 15, NTUC LearningHub expressed their condolences to Mr. Kwek’s family and all who had been touched by his generosity, kindness and compassion. A man with a big heart, they said of him.
Staff at NTUC Learning Hub also took to Facebook to express their deep sorrow for their well-loved leader, gone too soon.
Unfortunately, this contrasted greatly with the comments over at The Online Citizen (TOC)’s page.
Distasteful comments from TOC readers
The comments made by TOC’s readers were callous, rude and extremely disrespectful. Putting aside all political differences, you would think that it’s basic human decency not to speak ill of someone who has passed on, much less to gloat over someone’s death.
Here are some of TOC’s readers’ heartless comments. Now, these are from people who most likely have never, ever crossed paths with Mr. Kwek, nor know him personally. All this hate and malice? Probably only because he is perceived as someone affiliated with the ruling party!
Here comes the most typical comment – accusing someone of being “parachuted” and “paper general” when these netizens are just being salty AF.
Dude can’t even spell the word “fulfilling” right wants to become the prophet for God now? Karma? For whom, Rick?
Thomas Thomas, are you Jealous Jealous?
Now, in a Straits Times article published in September last year, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam shared that TOC website has employed foreigners, including Malaysians, to write almost exclusively negative articles on social and political matters in Singapore. Inflammatory articles that seek to fracture social cohesion.
According to the article, only 5 out of TOC’s 14 administrators are said to be based in Singapore. 9 are outside – 4 are in Malaysia, 2 are in Indonesia.
Hmm… Perhaps it is time to consider clicking that unfollow button if you have been following TOC. Or at the very least, consume with your eyes wide open. Who are these people behind the page? What are their real intentions?
Heartbreak and loss: Family & friends pay tribute to the late Mr. Kwek Kok Kwong
Over the past few days, tributes from those who know Mr. Kwek personally have been pouring in.
His colleagues at the NTUC LearningHub recalled him to be “an inspirational CEO” who dedicated his time and effort to train workers and helped them in their learning journeys.
A Facebook group named “In remembrance of Kwek Kok Kwong 1967-2020, 14th November – the life lived” has also been set up for Mr. Kwek’s family and friends to reminisce the good times they shared with him.
Reading the comments from those who had crossed paths with the late Mr. Kwek, it is certain that Mr. Kwek has undoubtedly left an indelible mark in many people’s lives.
We would like to offer our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Kwek Kok Kwong during this difficult time.
