Vui Kong's appeal against the death sentence has been rejected by the Court of Appeal

Sadly, Sabahan Yong Vui Kong's appeal against the death sentence has been rejected by the Court of Appeal - and we shall all continue to fight for his life to be spared, and for the abolition of the death penalty both in Singapore and Malaysia.

Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian lawyer Cik Ngeow Chow Ying said she and Yong Vui Kong's family are disappointed with the rejection of his court appeal against the death sentence for drug trafficking but will not give up. 

"We will continue to work on the case," she told Daily Express by phone from Singapore. 

According to her, the Singapore's Court of Appeal ruled that the Law Minister K. Shanmugam's controversial remark was only reflective of government policy, and not on Vui Kong's clemency petition, "though Vui Kong's name was specifically mentioned when he made the statement." 

On May 9, 2010 (before the Court of Appeal gave its verdict on May 14, 2010), Shanmugam made the following statement, which was published in the Singapore Straits Times. 

"Yong Vui Kong, (who was sentenced to hang for trafficking 47gam of heroin), he is young. But if we say, 'We let you go', what's the signal we're sending? We're sending a signal to all drug barons out thereÉjust make sure you choose a victim who's young or a mother of a young child and use them as the people to carry drugs into Singapore." 

Vui Kong's younger sister, Vui Fung, 21, told Daily Express the family was devastated. 

"My eldest brother Yun Leong, 26, (who works as a chef in Singapore) visits Vui Kong every Monday without fail. According to Yun Leong, Vui Kong is resigned to his fate. He (Yun Leong) called me from Singapore today to say that Vui Kong accepts the court's decision with an open mind." 

Following his conviction and death sentence on January 7, 2009, the first person he thought of was his mother Liaw Yung Khan, whom he loves very much. He was worried that the bad news would worsen her mental condition. She is on medication. 

A "Save Vui Kong" campaign blog reported that Yong in his childhood had witnessed how his mother was being abused. His heart broke every time he saw that happen. 

On December 2, 2009, two days before he was due to be executed, his mother visited him. 

Vui Kong had told her, "Mum, don't worry about me. 

I am going to a faraway place with a sifu (Master) to learn more about Buddhism. 

But I will always be with you spiritually. 

"You will always be in my heart. Please don't miss me."  - Daily Express, 5/4/2011, Family is devastated