GENTING HIGHLANDS: Genting Group Bhd founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who died last Tuesday, was laid to rest at the Gohtong Memorial Park here yesterday.
A 10,000-strong crowd accompanied Goh Tong's family members on his final journey from Gohtong Villa, which was a hive of activity from as early as 7am.
Only invited VIPs and relatives were allowed up to the mansion where the coffin was placed on the porch before the start of the procession down to the burial ground nearby.
At the villa, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and Genting Group deputy chairman Tun Hanif Omar were among eight people who delivered eulogies.
The main prayer table was filled with an array of food -- two trays of crabs, a tray of cockles and dumplings, 20 plates of fish and chicken, five trays of oranges, four trays of apples, six trays of siu bao (roasted buns), four trays of peach-shaped kuih, one tray of angku kuih and 15 roasted pigs.
It was made known to visitors of certain Chinese zodiac signs and biological ages (Dragon -- ages seven and 31; Rabbit -- age 20; Rat -- age 35; Tiger -- age 57, and Pig age 60) that they should not look at the casket.
About 5,000 representatives from various invited non-profit organisations, schools and employees of the Genting Group joined the procession.
These included Genting Group, Genting International, eGenting, Asiatic Land Development Sdn Bhd, Beautiful Gate, Utar, and SJK (C) Bukit Tinggi.
The procession was led by several musical bands, a group of Taoist priests and Buddhist monks who played traditional Chinese musical instruments while chanting prayers.
The hearse displayed a large photo of the deceased, the frame decorated with white roses. Four of Goh Tong's grandsons carried a paper sedan chair, which according to Chinese custom, serves as transport for the soul of the deceased.
Goh Tong's three sons -- Tee Keong, Kok Thay and Chee Wah -- walked behind, their hands placed on the hearse.
The other children and grandchildren, as well as relatives, followed closely behind.
Goh Tong's widow, Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua, 79, joined in the procession in a buggy. Hanif walked beside her buggy.
Members of the public lined the road.
The hearse arrived at the Gohtong Memorial Park at 11.25am, where the family members briefly prayed, and proceeded to Genting Hotel after a short stop at Chin Swee Caves Temple.
The rain and misty atmosphere did not prevent scores of Genting staff, who wore black armbands, and visitors from coming out to pay their respects to Goh Tong in front of the hotel.
The procession returned to the memorial park where the family gathered for a private burial at 1.18pm.
採訪手記：林梧桐長眠梧桐陵園
updated:2007-10-30 10:39:03 MYT
深受全體員工愛戴的林梧桐在週一（10月29日）下午完成了盛大葬禮，從此長眠梧桐陵園，笑看雲頂。
這場葬禮的場面可用"聲勢浩大"和"莊觀"來形容，超過半數的送殯者是雲頂集團的職員。
採訪這場本年度最大規模葬禮的國內外媒體記者們有近百人。
我們一大清早就得起身作好準備，工作人員在7時15分左右，分A、B、C、3隊帶領記者從下榻的酒店到梧桐別墅、清水岩寺廟和位於最高峰的雲頂酒店，準備就緒。
雲頂媒體協調公關事前一直叮囑記者們在執行採訪任務時，尤其是攝影記者絕對不得"爬頭" 從前方攝取林梧桐的靈車，以示對林老的敬重。
天空剛剛微亮，雲頂高原娛樂城的氣溫相當寒冷，霧也很大，我們從半山的阿哇娜酒店也望見天氣一片陰霾，而且還下間歇性的毛毛雨。
未阻公眾送最後一程
儘管天氣不是很理想，而且微雨時下時歇，但卻澆不息公眾和全體員工送林梧桐最後一程的熱誠。
我們從喪府抵達梧桐再也酒店時，來自雲頂集團各部門的員工、高層代表、非政府組織、學生、政經文教界貴賓、銅樂隊等等，已經準備就緒，非常有秩序地等候靈車隊伍從喪府下山。
從半山的梧桐再也酒店前往梧桐別墅之前，記者們都要接受三關檢查，分別在酒店山腳入口處、別墅前閘，以及靈堂入口處。
上午10時45分，終於望見林老的靈柩車徐徐駛下，公眾紛紛舉起手機和相機競相拍攝。
5000人送殯隊伍龐大壯觀
很難想像5000人的送殯隊伍是何等的龐大和壯觀，如果不是因為預先封路，雲頂山路的車龍陣肯定排到山腳下的加叻大道。
圍觀在路邊的群眾，除了大批雲頂員工之外，也不乏真正前往觀禮的民眾，尤其是送行隊伍的最後一站（雲頂酒店），那裡公眾人數最多，林老的靈車抵達後，鎂光燈閃個不停。
雖然林梧桐已經離開了人世，但他的精神相信將永遠與雲頂同在。
