KUALA LUMPUR – Former Star journalist Marc Lourdes died in an accident at KM40 of Jalan Kota Baru-Kuala Krai in Kelantan today.
The 40-year-old, who was involved in a head-on collision, died on the spot.
Marc was riding a high-powered Triumph motorcycle when he collided with a four-wheel drive coming from the opposite direction.
Marc’s brother-in-law Raymond Jude confirmed news about the death when contacted, the News Straits Times reported.
Machang district police chief Ganti Jimmy said the incident happened while the victim was heading to Kota Baru from Kuala Krai about 1.20pm today.
“The victim was riding towards Kota Baru when his motorcycle collided with a car coming from the opposite direction,” he said in a statement, adding that the 26-year-old driver of the car escaped unhurt.
Lourdes’ body was sent to the Machang district hospital for post-mortem.
Born Marc Ferdinand Joseph Lourdes, Lourdes leaves behind his wife Darshini Kandasamy, also a journalist, while his mother resides in India.
Marc began his career in journalism at The Star in 2005 before joining the New Straits Times. He later became the editor-in-chief of Yahoo Malaysia, Yahoo Singapore, and subsequently Yahoo Southeast Asia before joining CNN as the digital director of Asia.
Marc and his wife ran the subscription newsletter Between the Lines.
According to the New Straits Times, Darshini described Marc in a social media post as her rock and her “everything”.
“It’s cruel that he should be robbed of life days shy of our 10th wedding anniversary, but I take solace in the fact that he died doing what he loved most: riding his bike, living life.
“I am writing the words I never thought I would have to pen, at least not till we’re old and grey. But my beloved Marc, my husband, the love of my life, my partner-in-crime, my best friend is no more.
“He made my heart sing, and I’d like to think, touched and lifted the lives of those he met. He loved his family, his friends and life to the fullest. His departure will leave a gap nothing can fill,” she wrote.
She said that due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the wake and funeral will be small, only for close family and friends. – The Vibes, February 5, 2022
