Happy 24th Birthday, Vui Kong
Dear Vui Kong, Happy birthday, in advance. You’ll be 24 on the 19th of January. It’s a huge milestone. Outside here, your supporters are celebrating the fact that you’ve lived another year. Last time we met, I asked what you were planning to do on your birthday. You said you’d spend it thinking about your...
Hoping For The Best
I still remember what it was like the last time. The Chief Justice’s measured tones, my clenched fists gradually going numb as it became clear the verdict wasn’t going to be in Vui Kong’s favour. The haunted look in Yun Leong’s eyes. The way the judges stood up and walked out without looking back. Vui...
Yong’s Story
At first it was just a name. Yong Vui Kong. We first heard it in 2009, at a forum on the death penalty in Singapore. Yong Vui Kong. We were told he was a convicted drug mule from East Malaysia. He had been caught with more than 15 grams of heroin. He would most likely...
Happy Birthday, Yong Vui Kong
Happy Birthday in advance, Vui Kong. When we first heard your name, we never thought you’d live to see 23. Never, at one stage, thought you’d even see 22. But here we are, three weeks into 2011 and you’re still alive. Hope is still alive. Today, a bunch of us got together to sing you...
Second Chances
I remember the first time I heard Frankie’s story. We were sitting in his tiny flat, his little dog staring out at us from the kitchen. Frankie’s voice was calm, his tone, almost self-deprecating. But the tale was a brutal one. Armed robbery, drug peddling, illegal moneylending, a jailbreak, gang fights… the man’s done it...
Second Chances
Lovely video by our young friends from the Second Chance campaign. Yay to hope! Yong Vui Kong will never get to dance barefoot in the park, or jam with his friends, or even play tourist at the Merlion. We made sure of that when we condemned him to death for a non-violent first offence. Never....
A Family’s Plea
Yun Leong had bags under his eyes. He told us he’d been up all night, writing a personal letter to President SR Nathan, pleading for his brother’s life. He was sleep deprived. Had lot his voice. But despite the fatigue, he’d gone and gotten a smart new haircut. He wanted to look his best. It...
100,000 Rays Of Hope
At first it all seemed a little ambitious. 100,000 signatures in support of a second chance for Yong Vui Kong. 100,000. That felt like an awful lot. How on earth was it achievable? I’ve since realised that my skepticism was misplaced. And that Malaysia has some truly amazing activists. Over the past few weeks, they’ve...
Together, For Vui Kong
It drizzled all afternoon. The ground was wet and squishy. We thought no one would show up. But we were wrong. Photo by Nicholas Leong As I type this, Yun Leong is visiting Vui Kong in prison. I’m sure they’re talking about our little gathering yesterday, about all you good people who bothered to stand...
The Boy’s Mother
We visit on our third day in Sandakan. She looks surprised to see so many of us. But we’re even more taken aback by the state of her little two-bedroom flat. Vui Fung had told us earlier that she lives alone. We’d half-expected her home to be gloomy and untidy. But the place is immaculately...
The Good Fight
My heart leapt when I saw this status update on Vui Fung’s Facebook page a couple of weeks ago:“I try my best to face all of this… I never wanna try to hide it again…” It was a huge step for her – this shy, awkward girl who hates being in the limelight, hates talking...
