News: Andy Lau goes under cover at Chu’s funeral

KUALA LUMPUR: The funeral of former beauty queen Carol Chu’s father took place amid local and international paparazzi trying to get shots of her long-term partner, Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau. Their lenses were mainly trained on the person walking at the front of the hearse – a position that by Chinese custom should be taken by the deceased’s son-in-law. Unfortunately, due to an army of bodyguards and the use of many large silver umbrellas to shield that person, the photographers and curious onlookers were unable to catch a glimpse of Lau.

The cameramen, including papa-razzi from Hong Kong, were also prevented from getting too close to the funeral procession at Bukit Jalil here yesterday. Although no one has been able to confirm if the person shielded by the umbrellas was Lau, it is believed that the Hong Kong superstar has been at Carol’s family house in Bukit Jalil for days. Family members and those who attended the funeral were told not to carry their mobile phones to protect his privacy.
A neighbour of the family claimed that she saw a female teenager at the procession, giving rise to speculation that she was Lau’s daughter.

It is learnt that Lau was supposed to have been driven to a cemetery in Cheras in a silver BMW but the huge crowd forced him to take the bus with other family members and friends. Lau has always kept mum on the status of his relationship with Chu and has never publicly acknowledged his relationship with her. However, their 24-year relationship is an open secret in the entertainment circle. One version has it that they registered their marriage in Canada in 1992 and have a daughter. A former minister had once disclosed that they had registered their marriage in Malaysia. Before the funeral, Chi-nese newspapers had reported that the last wish of Carol’s father was to see his daughter settle down with Lau. The elder Chu had expressed sadness that his daughter had to keep “hiding behind the lenses” as the unofficial Mrs Lau. There is talk that Lau has bought a piece of property in Malaysia in Carol’s name. The couple had planned to marry in April but the wedding was called off at the last minute after it was leaked to the media. It has since been postponed indefinitely. Carol’s father, , 73, died on Tuesday after a five-hour surgery to remove a blood clot. Source: The Star Malaysia 23/8/09 & top picture courtesy of China Press