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Remembering the Malaysian lives lost on 9/11

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23 years after the terrorist attacks in New York, FMT Lifestyle pays tribute to Vijayashanker Paramsothy, Khoo Sei Lai and Ang Siew Nya.

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Free Malaysia Today
The names of the three Malaysians are etched into the 9/11 memorial in New York City, alongside thousands of others. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:
On Sept 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as two hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The attack claimed nearly 3,000 lives, a number that includes three Malaysians who were working in the towers that fateful day.

As we commemorate the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, we remember Vijayashanker Paramsothy, Khoo Sei Lai and Ang Siew Nya – three Malaysians who left their homeland for the American dream, only to have their lives tragically cut short.

The following information has been gathered from various sources, shedding light on the lives they led and the deep impact their loss has had on their loved ones.

Vijayashanker Paramsothy, 23

Vijayashanker Paramsothy, fondly known as Shanker, was a young man full of promise. A financial analyst at Aon Corporation, he was on the 103rd floor of the South Tower when the planes struck.

Free Malaysia TodayBorn to Sivapkiam Paramsothy and Navaratnam Pathmawathy, their only child’s adventurous spirit took him from Selangor to New York City, where he studied at the College of Insurance (now part of St John’s University).

On 9/11, Shanker had just returned to New York from a friend’s wedding in Spain. After the North Tower was hit, people began to evacuate the South Tower, where Shanker worked.

When the next plane hit their tower, chaos erupted. Despite suffering severe burns and injuries, Shanker stayed behind to help his gravely injured supervisor, urging others to flee while he remained.

Although his life was cut short, Shanker’s legacy endures: his parents established the Fulbright-Vijayashanker Memorial Exchange Fellowship and published a biography titled “The Perfect Son”.

Khoo Sei Lai, 38

Khoo Sei Lai, a mutual fund manager at Fred Alger Management, was an accomplished professional with a bright career in New York’s financial sector.

Free Malaysia TodayBorn in Sandakan, Sabah, Khoo was driven and career-focused, having majored in computer science with a minor in economics at Columbia College. She joined Fred Alger in 1989, working her way up to become executive vice-president and portfolio manager.

Her insights on market trends and public offerings were frequently sought, and her opinions were often featured by prominent US media outlets.

Despite her career success, Khoo always made time for her loved ones. When her younger brother moved to New York to attend college, she welcomed him with open arms, treating him to his first Broadway show and helping him settle into the city.

On the morning of 9/11, she was on the 93rd floor of the North Tower when the plane crashed into the building. Her life, like so many others, was abruptly taken.

Ang Siew Nya, 37

A dedicated mother of two young daughters, Ang Siew Nya was a technical analyst working for Marsh USA on the 95th floor of the North Tower.

Free Malaysia TodayOriginally from Penang, Ang left Malaysia at age 18 to pursue her studies in Canada. Later, she moved to the US, where she earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

There, she met her husband, and the couple eventually settled in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Just two months before the tragedy, they bought their dream home with a spacious backyard: perfect for their daughters, who were seven and four at the time. Ang would leave early for work each morning, but always made sure to call her daughters once she reached her office to check in on them and encourage them with their schoolwork.

As a mother, she was deeply involved in their lives, shuttling them between ice skating, piano lessons, and other activities. Ang’s family was the centre of her world, and she was determined to provide her daughters with opportunities she didn’t have growing up in Malaysia.

On the morning of 9/11, Ang was at her desk when the hijacked plane struck the North Tower. Her husband and children waited anxiously for news – but, like so many others, Ang sadly did not return home that day.

Find the location of their names and others at the 9/11 memorial site here.

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