Kwek family scion dies in KL crash

Kwek family scion Kwek Kon Chun was killed in a high-speed car crash just outside Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The 35-year-old nightlife entrepreneur, nephew of billionaire Kwek Leng Beng, lost control of his Porsche 911 Turbo along the KL-Seremban Expressway at about 2.30am in Desa Petaling, just hours after winning a drag race with the same car at Sepang.

Both Mr Kwek and his passenger, Franco Toh 43, died on the spot, according to Malaysian police.

"They may have been travelling at a high speed. The car spun out of control and crashed into the metal road divider," Kuala Lumpur Staff Officer for Traffic Investigation and Regulation, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Markandan Subramaniam, told Malaysia's The Star newspaper.

A 20m steel rail from the divider skewered the car through the driver's side, killing the duo. It took an hour to cut through the wreckage and extract both men.

DSP Markandan added that the two had come from an event at the Sepang International Circuit and were driving towards the KL city centre.

Just hours earlier, Mr Kwek had been euphoric after winning the Dragtimes2u Supercar Drag Race at Sepang.

The bodies have since been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a post-mortem, while the wrecked car has been towed to a police station, DSP Markandan told The Straits Times.

He confirmed that the families of the two men were expected to arrive yesterday evening to claim the bodies.

Mr Kwek's family declined to speak to the media, while Mr Toh's family could not be contacted.

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Mr Kwek co-owns Neverland Group, which runs several nightspots including club Sonar at Orchard Hotel, Neverland II at St James Power Station and Pixie Mansion (formerly Neverland KL) in the Malaysian capital.

Bae Husairi, one of the race organisers, said Mr Kwek was a regular face in the racing circuit across the border.

"All of us really respect him, he loves cars and loves to race," said Mr Bae, who is in his 30s.

Mr Toh, a Singapore citizen who was born in Hong Kong, was the Neverland group's regional marketing director.

As news spread about the crash, condolences started pouring in on Mr Kwek's Facebook page.

Adrian Mah, 35, Mr Kwek's business partner at club Sonar, said that he was a humble friend and a great boss.

"We're all still in shock. They were both good guys," said Mr Mah, who knew both men. "(Kon Chun) was a very good guy and everyone is going to miss him."

dansonc@sph.com.sg

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