Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
TRIATHLETE Tharm Wei Weng, who drowned when taking part in the Port Dickson International Triathlon on Sunday, had been described as a “nice guy” by Berapit assemblymember Heng Lee Lee.
“I know him personally because I’m also a triathlete. In fact, before I took part in the Langkawi Ironman race last year, I sought some advice from him,” Heng said yesterday when met at the Khoo Kongsi Funeral Parlour in Bandar Baru Air Itam where the Tharm’s body was laid in a casket.
Also there to pay their last respects were assemblymembers Soon Lip Chee (Bagan Jermal), Teh Lai Heng (Komtar) and Joseph Ng Soon Siang (Air Itam) and Penang State Sports Council (PSSC) director Frederick Tan.
“He was a nice guy and soft-spoken. He was also active on Facebook and we used to joke sometimes. Like all of his friends, I’m very sad. He was very encouraging. He would share his experiences. No matter what, he would tell me to keep training and don’t give up,” Heng said.
“To Kelvin (as Tharm was known to his friends), the Ironman race had a lot to do with willpower. It’s a test of endurance over 226km, with each participant having to swim 3.8km, cycle 180km and run 42km.
“He was a seasoned triathlete with 11 years of experience. He was a good open sea swimmer. Fitness was not a problem for him. He was an instructor for boot camps.”
Indeed, Tharm competed in the Kapas Marang International Swimathon 2018 on April 22 and swam the 6.5km course in 2:33.15.
The PD International Triathlon claimed two lives as the body of Hong Kong national Jeffrey Yuen Chi Yuen, 42, was found floating off Tanjung Tuan yesterday. He was reported missing by his wife when he failed to return to the beach on competition day.
Soon, who is also the state Youth and Sports Committee chairman, said organisers should either delay or call off their event due to risky situation or inclement weather.
He said for instance, even if it was a hiking event and there was overnight downpour, the event should be cancelled for the participants’ safety.
Soon called on Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to come out with ways to curb the problem, adding that applying for approval to organise big events from the Sports Commissioner is a separate matter.
The state government and PSSC donated RM2,000 each to Tharm’s mother, P’ng Mee Guay, 71, while Heng contributed RM1,000 and the state Welfare Department gave a one-off donation of RM500. Tharm was P’ng’s only child.
The body of Tharm was cremated at the Batu Gantong crematorium today.