He was the only child and an obedient son who never lost his temper with his parents.

Mr Ng Kai Jie would have turned 22 next month, but he died in a car accident in Malaysia on the section of the North-South Expressway between Yong Peng and Pagoh at about 5.30pm on Saturday.

At his wake yesterday, his father Terry Ng, 57, a businessman, told The Straits Times: "We've given him 20 years of happiness. He really enjoyed his life, his friends enjoyed his companionship and he gave us a lot of happiness."

He added: "I think it's better than having someone with you his whole life and he gives you a lot of trouble. He was not a troublemaker." The elder Mr Ng said his son never threw tantrums in front of him and his wife. "He was always smiling."

The young man, who was in national service, started driving three years ago. His father said he was a safe driver and this was his first accident.

On Saturday, Mr Ng Kai Jie left for a two-night trip to Malacca with his friend Alson Ngian Zhi How, 23.

Their rented Proton Inspira hit the rear-left side of a lorry travelling in the same direction, said the Batu Pahat district police. The impact of the collision sent both vehicles veering off the road.

The lorry driver, Mr Baharom Ibrahim, a 43-year-old Malaysian, suffered minor injuries, as did Mr Ngian. But Mr Ng died on the spot.

More than 30 people were at Mr Ng's wake at Mount Vernon Sanctuary at around 7.20 last night.

His friends recounted to his parents how he would think of getting his mother her favourite fish head curry dish whenever they passed by a restaurant.

"He didn't know how to express his love to us, but I heard a lot of things from his best friend," said the elder Mr Ng. "We love him and we will miss him always."