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SINGAPORE: Family members of the five dragon boat rowers, who died in a tragic accident in Cambodia, said the best thing to do is to move on and ensure such an incident does not happen again.
Friends and relatives on Tuesday gathered at the wakes to pay their last respects to the five athletes.
Jeremy Goh will be remembered as a member of the national dragon boat team – something his family is proud of, despite the incident.
While grappling with the loss, Jeremy's mother questioned how the tragedy could have happened.
She said: "The officials said wearing a life jacket was not compulsory in Cambodia and naturally, you would be at a disadvantage if you wore a life jacket – some might even mock you for being afraid to die.
"But it is best to wear life jackets and to make it a rule. Being at sea is already very dangerous, especially when you are exhausted after a strenuous competition."
Jeremy's family are residents at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's constituency in Ang Mo Kio. Mr Lee paid his respects at Jeremy's wake and told his parents that the grassroots organisations would do everything they could to help the family tide over this difficult period.
He also urged surviving team members to be strong and carry on with their passion in the sport.
Mr Lee said: "As Jeremy's brother-in-law told me, he would have wanted the rest of the team to go on with the sport because he was passionate about dragon boating. He spent a lot of time on it – represented his polytechnic and raised funds through the sport.
"Although he's gone, he would have wanted fellow Singaporeans to go on. When something like this happens, we are shattered but we help each other and life goes on. We'll pick ourselves up and become stronger."
The family of Chee Wei Cheng did not wish to speak to the media. Those at the wake of Poh Boon Sang also requested privacy.
At the wake of Stephen Loh, Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam described the athlete as a "model teacher".
Many National Junior College (NJC) students were also at Stephen's wake as he was a popular teacher in the school. The college plans to have a permanent display in memory of him.
Mr Tharman said: "Stephen was someone who added zest and fun into everything he got involved in and it was something that inspired students because he was not just a teacher, he was a friend.
"He inspired them to do what they loved and what they were passionate about and I think that's going to stay with them for a long time. I was looking at a book of messages and poems written by NJC students and it's probably the most moving book I have ever read."
For Reuben Kee's family, closure was what they wanted. His father, Freddie Kee, said there was no point blaming others.
"We should not be blaming this person, that person; we should not blame the Cambodians for not telling us this and the officials for not doing that... incriminations and blame cannot bring our children back. We just want to prevent something like this from happening in the future," he said.
The funeral for the five rowers will take place at the Mandai Crematorium on Thursday.
- CNA/so
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