Dr Ong Chong Keng

This 31st of August marks the 67th anniversary of the birth of our nation—well, technically, half the nation, as only the peninsula achieved its independence from the British in 1957. Full independence for Malaysia would come slightly over six years later. Nevertheless, the 31st of August will mark the 67th anniversary of the formation of the Federation of Malaya. I’d like to regress a further 10 years to 31 August 1948, exactly 10 years before Malaya’s Independence, when a most dastardly act of terrorism erupted on Penang Island.

In my 2016 book on Penang Free School, Let the Aisles Proclaim, I dedicated about three pages to discuss this event. Similarly, in my 2023 book on The Old Frees’ Association, Centenary, I repeated much of the same information to a slightly different audience. I wish to share the story again, not in print, but here on my blog, to reach a wider audience who may not have access to my books. In my writings, I described the event as "a murder most foul," and indeed it was.

The most shocking news to emerge in 1948 was the cold-blooded murder of Dr Ong Chong Keng at the hands of an unknown assailant on the night of 31st August. The news rocked the Federation and was carried on the front pages of the newspapers: 

Dr. Ong Chong Keng, a Federal Executive and Legislative Councillor, was murdered by an unknown gunman in a squatter area three miles from the centre of Penang. Police offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the murderer. A Chinese youth was detained. 

Dr. Ong had long been opposed to Communism and had not hesitated to state his views in the Federal Council. He was found dead with bullet wounds in his head at 7am in a lane in a squatter area at Trusan Road, a turning off Perak Road. He had been called out to a case and left his house on a motorcycle. Police were not prepared to state whether the call was real or a fake to get Dr Ong away from his house. He apparently left his motorcycle at Trusan Road and took one of the many footpaths in the kampong. He was found sprawled face downwards with his medical bag close by. 

An official police statement said that at 9pm a young Chinese youth, aged about 22, went to Dr Ong’s dispensary and told the manager that there was a sick man in Jelutong. The manager contacted Dr Ong, who went on his motorcycle to Jelutong with the young Chinese on the pillion. When Dr Ong had not returned by 11.30pm, the manager went out to look for him but could find no trace of him. He reported the matter to the police, who instructed patrols to make a search for him. Early the next morning, a Chinese man on his way to work saw a crowd of children gathered around a body. A police party identified the body as that of Dr Ong Chong Keng. 

At the time of his death, Dr Ong was also the President of The Old Frees’ Association. The Free School paid tribute to his memory by flying its flag at half-mast and was well represented by the Scouts at the funeral several days later. In an immediate Government response to the murder, the Commissioner-General, Malcolm MacDonald, said in appreciation, “Dr Ong Chong Keng was a man of rare distinction. He was more than a leader of the Chinese community. He was a leader of the peoples of Malaya. To the service of this country, he dedicated a brilliant array of gifts. He had the courageous heart of a soldier, the cultured mind of a scholar and the noble vision of a statesman. He was a memorable Malayan Patriot.” In a remarkable gesture, MacDonald himself attended Ong’s funeral. 

A public appreciation was also offered by Harold Cheeseman: “Ong Chong Keng, known to me always as OCK, first came under my notice as a precocious child in Standard II. I watched and indeed stimulated his progress through the school until I had him as a pupil for some years in the top classes. He was not a hard worker. There was no need for him to work hard, for he had exceptional ability. He took a full part, however, in the various school activities and societies. He was a keen scout, later a keen cadet officer, and in after years an enthusiastic volunteer officer. He made his first excursions into debate in the school debating society, and his articles, becoming more and more polished as the years passed, were a feature of the school magazine for many years. From early youth, he was an omnivorous reader, and in recent years there was nothing in which he had greater pride than his library. 

"Some pupils pass from the master’s ken after school days are over. Not so with Ong Chong Keng. He maintained regular contact with me throughout his career at the University of Hong Kong and in later years. After the liberation, he never visited Kuala Lumpur without calling on me or writing to express regret if he had been unable to do so. I think, therefore, that I may claim to have known him well. He was an able and forceful speaker. He was ambitious, but it was not merely personal ambition; it was also ambition to be a leader of his people and to work for them. He was proud of being Chinese, but as he used to say to me again and again, he was proud most of all of being a Malayan Chinese. 

"His service was not confined to his community. It was to the country. This was exemplified in many ways. He was a past president of the Penang Rotary Club, and he was an official in, and often the driving force of, many organisations that exist to render service. This true and able son of Malaya has been foully and prematurely cut down in the fullness of his powers, just when life seemed to be opening out for him in great promise. His life was not lived in vain. His service must be an inspiration to all who seek to work for the good of this country.” 

Police investigations later disclosed that Dr Ong was believed murdered as the result of a conspiracy between the Malayan Communist Party and the Ang Bin Hoay secret society. However, the man that pulled the trigger was never captured. At the inquest in November, an automatic pistol found on the dead body of a Kedah bandit was believed to have been the weapon that killed Dr Ong. A police witness testified that he found the pistol on a hilltop, attached to the body of the bandit, who was believed killed in an engagement with the police and military. One of the five bullets in the pistol’s magazine was sent for testing, and the Senior Chemist concluded he was strongly of the opinion that the bullet matched the one which killed the former Federal Councillor. 

In December, the Coroner returned a verdict of “murder by a person or persons unknown” but added that there was good reason to believe that the perpetrator of the crime had outlived his victim for a few weeks and “expired miserably in a place remote from civilisation at the hands of his fellow murderers, his body lying there to rot as would the body of a dead beast of prey.” 

The body of Dr Ong was brought to the Toi Shan Convalescent Home on Hutton Lane, where it remained until the fifth of September. After the traditional Chinese funeral rites were completed, a procession of 5,000 relatives and friends followed the hearse on its hour-long journey around George Town. Leading the procession was an armed police escort, accompanied by the Municipal Band, its drums draped in black cloth, playing funeral selections. Following a parade of scrolls and Chinese musical troupes was the hearse, carried by Ong clansmen and escorted by police armed with rifles and Sten guns. Mourners walked beside and behind the hearse, with a contingent of Boy Scouts from local schools bringing up the rear, followed by several thousand friends and relatives. Curious crowds estimated at 50,000 lined the streets, while armed police patrolled the town. Special constables on motorcycles and in loudspeaker vans directed the traffic. The procession dispersed at Macalister Road, after which the hearse proceeded to Mount Erskine for the burial.

Continuing a tradition

Before diving into today’s elocution contest, let’s take a step back in time. In 1950, nearly two years had passed since Harold Cheeseman retired as the Director of Education, Malaya, after a distinguished career in education that spanned 41 years. Cheeseman was highly respected and greatly revered by both Penang Free School and The Old Frees' Association, as it was at Penang Free School in 1907 that he began his career. Even Westlands School honoured Cheeseman after his retirement by naming their hall after him.

On the third of October 1950, 75 years ago, the Cheeseman Elocution Contest was first mentioned in the Penang Free School Magazine (source: Penang Free School Magazine 1951). At that time, there were only four contestants from the seniormost classes: Clive Williams Ogle from Senior Cambridge A, Noordin b. Hassan of Senior Cambridge B, Looi Cheng Keat of Senior Cambridge C, and Lim Cheng Chuan of Senior Cambridge D. Among the esteemed judges were GL Bayliss, the Senior Inspector of Schools, and BE Chapman, Headmistress of St George’s Girls School. In his address, Bayliss emphasised the importance of "elocution as distinct from classroom reading," encouraging more expression to bring out the true meaning of words. Looi Cheng Keat emerged as the winner.

Elocution contest winner, Akhill Herman Sammy

From that moment, the contest became an annual tradition, except for a hiatus during the Covid-19 years from 2020 to 2022. This year’s contest, therefore, marks the 72nd in a long-standing series of the Cheeseman Elocution Contest. I would also consider last year's OFA Centenary Elocution Contest to be part of this series, thus continuing the legacy that began all those years ago. 

All eyes were on me when I walked into the Pinhorn Hall this morning. Unlike last year, I wasn't there as a judge but as a member of The Old Frees' Association's Alma Mater Sub-committee. So there was this opportunity to watch the contestants without any pressure on me. 

Elocution contest runner-up, Sean Mah

The 13 participants were tasked with delivering a six-minute prepared speech and a two-minute impromptu one. Listening to their prepared speeches, it was clear that most had taken on board the advice from last week’s workshop by the Penang Toastmasters. There were a few nerves, of course, but overall, their deliveries were strong and smooth, with only a few minor stumbles. 

The impromptu speech was particularly telling for the five finalists, designed to test their ability to think on their feet, quickly organise their thoughts, and deliver a coherent and persuasive speech on the spot. It was spontaneous and demanding, really putting their public speaking skills to the test—confidence, articulation and the knack for engaging an audience under pressure. I’ll admit, two minutes felt a bit short for my liking, though I’m sure for them, it felt like an eternity.

The standout speakers carried themselves with great poise on stage, confidently addressing their peers, while I watched on, feeling like an intruder into their activity—at least until Alex, Enrique, Barath, and Ho joined me later. We also had last year’s winner, Yap Chen Yang, who graciously accepted an invitation to speak to the students. Earlier in the week, I’d suggested to Enrique that inviting Chen Yang would be inspiring, and true enough, he did not disappoint. He spoke well and shared valuable tips on preparing for such contests.

During the break between the prepared and impromptu speeches, I was unexpectedly invited by the school to give a short talk. I took the opportunity to share the history of the Cheeseman Elocution Contest and some insights into the man behind the name, thus adding a bit of context for the students. 

I should add as an addendum that the five finalists were Akhill Herman Sammy, Sean Mah, Taraneswary d/o Nagarajan, Sahel Basheer b Mohamed Shakir and Viveha d/o Sugumaran.

Agak-agak

A rather unappetising-looking banana oat pancake for breakfast today, but surprise, surprise—I got asked for the recipe! So, here it is, amended from my original posting in a WhatsApp chat group::

As we Malaysians like to say, we cook by the  agak-agak method with no strict measurements in sight. So, when it comes to this banana oat pancake recipe, I’ll give you the rough idea of what went into it.

I used two fairly large bananas, about four scoops of oats blitzed into a fine powder with a blender, two beaten medium-sized eggs, a splash of milk and just a pinch each of salt and baking powder. Give everything a good mix and let it rest for around 10 minutes before pouring it into the frying pan. 

I’ve got a small six-inch pan that works perfectly for creating thick, round pancakes, but if you’ve got a bigger pan, no worries—you’ll just end up with a thinner and perhaps slightly irregularly-shaped version. Pour the batter into the pan over low, controlled heat. Once you reckon the bottom’s nicely cooked, flip it over to do the other side. Serve up while it’s still hot, and enjoy!

Hungry ghost month

Picture from facebook

We’re now in the final stretch of this year's Chinese seventh lunar month, commonly known as the Hungry Ghosts Month. I realise I’ve rarely written about it, but then again, what more is there to say? Tradition holds that the gates of hell open from the first to the last day of the month, allowing ghostly wandering spirits to enter our world. We, the living, are expected to offer worship and food to our ancestors and, in doing so, also satisfy the hunger of these wandering spirits. This is usually done at home unless we choose to make offerings at the temple.

When we decide to honour our departed ancestors on a specific day, we start by informing the spirits on the eve that they’ll be invited to the house the next day. We also notify the door guardians to allow the spirits in when they arrive. On the day itself, my family offers fruits and sweetmeats, while others may prefer non-vegetarian offerings like chicken, duck, roast pork and soup. Regardless of the choice between vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare, the worship involves laying out the food or fruits on a table behind joss-stick urns and candle holders. After encircling the lighted joss-sticks, two divination coins are tossed to determine whether the ancestors have arrived or finished their meal.

I place great importance on paying respects to the door guardians to allow the spirits of the ancestors into the house. There have been occasions when I’ve had to throw the divination coins more than 10 times in succession before getting a favourable result—either two heads or two tails is an unfavourable outcome—but after appealing again to the door guardians, I immediately get the desired head-and-tail combination. Coincidence? I don't really know, but it is a personal experience. After the worship is over, again seeking confirmation with the coins, mock money is typically burned, providing the ancestors with spending money for the year ahead. However, this year my family dispensed with this practice; preferring to keep everything simple. 

For public worship of the Phor Thor Ong, like in Bukit Mertajam, the send-off at the end of the worship is highlighted by the burning of the giant effigy itself. The great bonfire is accompanied by shouts of good luck and good fortune. Usually, there’s also an open-air traditional Chinese opera stage show opposite the effigy, lasting several days throughout the Phor Thor worship. Nowadays, this is often substituted with performances by modern singers, but regardless, the whole vicinity of the worship is filled with a cacophony of sound and jarring music that continues well into the night.

On every 14th day of the seventh lunar month, I’m expected to make a beeline to the Swee Cheok Tong for the annual worship. My vice-president would have taken all steps to prepare the non-vegetarian offerings and lay them out before the altars of the various deities in the Kongsi—God of Heaven (Thnee Kong), our resident deity Tai Tay Eah (Deity of Healing), Lo Chhia Kong, Tua Pek Kong (Deity of Prosperity), Kitchen God (Chhao Moo Kong) and Earth Deity (Tay Choo Kong)—as well as the Chor Ong (Grand Leader of our Ancestors) and the memorial tablets. The worship typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes, after which mock money is burnt as a send-off to the deities and ancestors. The foodstuff is then shared among the attending Trustees and Committee Members.

Burning the effigy of the Phor Thor Ong at a crossroad in Bukit Mertajam on the 15th day of the Chinese seventh lunar month (Picture from facebook)

Non-stop gluttony

Oh, ferk! I found another caterpillar on one of my plants! This one was a whopper, about three inches long. It was bright green and had been hiding pretty well among the branches while happily munching away at the leaves. The first clue was the droppings on the ground—big enough to be noticed. So, I bent down for a closer look and, sure enough, there it was! At first, I was a bit fascinated by how efficiently it was going about its business, chomping non-stop, but then it hit me—if I didn’t do something, I’d soon be left with a bare plant. So, I had to take the inevitable step and remove it once and for all. At least it'll make a good meal for the birds...

Penang chess at Sukma 2024

Over the past week, my friends and I have been avidly following the results of the chess competitions at this year's Sukma Games in Sarawak. It was actually the first time that chess had been included in the Games, so there was a lot of anticipation around how the Penang chess contingent would perform. They didn’t disappoint at all. The entire contingent delivered. If not Gold, then Silver; if not Silver, then Bronze. Every chess player representing Penang at the Sukma Games came back with a winner's medal. This says something positive about our strategy for Sukma, and I’m thrilled for the players' achievements. In doing so, the chess team played a key role in pushing the entire Penang contingent past their target of 40 Gold medals. The final tally was 41 Gold medals, securing Penang an impressive fourth place in the standings. But let’s get back to chess, as that’s where my real interest lies.

We had our newly minted International Master, though not officially ratified by the World Chess Federation yet, Poh Yu Tian, leading the charge with three Gold medals. He secured these in the men’s Rapid individual event, the men’s Rapid team event (teaming up with Lim Wei Yang), and the men’s Blitz event. It's pretty unprecedented for a player to sweep all three Gold medals available. A benchmark has been set for future Sukma Games. If the format stays the same, the challenge is now out there for others to match this achievement. Penang’s other Golds in the chess competition came from Chua Jia Tien, who won the women’s Blitz event and the women’s Rapid team event (alongside Sim Jia Ru). Both Jia Tien and Jia Ru are Woman Candidate Masters.

In the Standard Chess category, Nurul Akma bt Quzaina Khairolhisal clinched the Silver in the women’s individual event and, along with teammates Agnes Chong Kai Ni, Janice Lim and Divyadarrshini Loganathan, also bagged Silver in the women’s Standard team event. On the men’s side, Loo Pin Xie, Yeoh Yuan Hui, Eshwant Singh and Ferris Lim Feng Wei secured Silver in the men’s Standard team event, with Loo Pin Xie adding a Bronze in the men’s Standard individual event. Overall, a pretty stellar achievement, especially considering the chess target, as mentioned by Penang Chess Association President See Swee Sie, was initially just four Golds.

UPDATE: I need to add an update. While browsing the results on the chess-results website, I noticed that the organisers had used the players' FIDE IDs in the competition for seeding purposes. Was this competition thus registered with the World Chess Federation for FIDE ratings then? Apparently not. I was informed that, no, the chess events in Sukma 2024 were not registered with FIDE. To me, this is odd and frankly incomprehensible. Given that Sukma is a top-tier competition in the country, the organisers should have made sure that all the chess events were FIDE-rated as well. It’s a missed opportunity for chess in Malaysia.

All the pictures below are from Buletin Mutiara.

A very hopeful Penang chess contingent prior to leaving for Kota Samarahan in Sarawak for Suma 2024

Penang's silver medallist winners in the men's Standard team event

The silver medallist winners in the women's Standard team event

Poh Yu Tian's Gold medal from the men's Blitz event

Chua jia Tien with her Gold medal from the women's Blitz event

The signs saying 40 referred to chess helping Penang achieve their Gold target at the Sukma 2024

 

Public speaking

I popped into the old school this morning to catch a public speaking workshop led by two representatives from the Penang Toastmasters Club. About 15 students from Forms Five and Six were in the thick of delivering their prepared speeches to the Toastmasters. It was a pleasant surprise to walk into the room and be greeted by smiles from several familiar faces among the students—many of whom had attended either the leadership or free school guiders workshops from last year and this year. I made myself comfortable and watched them in action. I must say, these boys and girls impressed me with their speaking skills.

After each speech, the two Toastmasters offered their feedback, giving insightful comments and personal coaching tips on how to refine their presentations. Their advice was both constructive and encouraging, which I'm sure the students found invaluable. With just a week to go before the Cheeseman Elocution Contest in the Pinhorn Hall, I hope these tips will help them polish their performances to perfection.

This public speaking workshop was the brain child of The Old Frees' Association as part of their ongoing collaboration with Penang Free School. The upcoming elocution contest is named in honour of Harold Cheeseman, one of the most influential and respected educators to have ever walked the halls of the Free School. His entire career was dedicated to the field of education, during which he spent an impressive 41 years serving in Penang, Malaya and Singapore.

Cheeseman’s journey began as an Assistant Master at Penang Free School, where his commitment and passion for education shone through. His influence grew over the years, and he eventually rose to become the Director of Education for post-War Malaya—a position that put him in charge of the entire educational system in the region. His legacy is deeply ingrained in the history of Penang Free School, and the Cheeseman Elocution Contest is a fitting tribute to a man who valued the power of words and the importance of clear, confident communication.

To delve deeper into the life and contributions of Harold Cheeseman, click on this link to learn more about his remarkable career and lasting impact on education in the region.

Only the Sixth Formers remained when this group photo was taken as the Form Five boys had returned to their classes

Neat droppings

I posted this picture on my facebook this morning. The neat arrangement of droppings from a large caterpillar. It was on its way to pupation and seemed quite lethargic. I didn’t have the heart to remove it from my Adenium obesum or desert rose plant as it would be a shame to deny it the chance to transform into a butterfly or moth at this late stage of its crawly life. So, I left it undisturbed, hoping that by tomorrow, all that remained would be some old clues that it was even here. What alerted me to its presence this morning were the large droppings on the ground around my flower pot, varying in size. A quick scan of the leaves revealed this two-inch monster. I also spotted two juvenile green caterpillars munching away on the leaves, but they are no longer there....

August moon

It has been a very long time since I last posted a picture of the moon but tonight, there was a small window of very clear weather despite the rain of the past few days. With the super full moon appearing bright in the sky at ten o'clock, it warranted me running indoors for my camera. However, full as it may seem, the moon was only at 99.7 percent illumination. The exact 100 percent full moon would still be about 4½ hours away at 2.25am local time Tuesday morning in Penang but with the clouds and rain rolling in later in the night, the moon was no longer visible. So consider myself lucky!

Righting a wrong

There's this interesting case which I discovered in yesterday's online version of The Star newspaper. My friends would know that I have a deep interest in estate planning, and this story is about the Singapore High Court allowing a Trustee to recoup money wrongly paid out to the beneficiaries of a Trust. 

What happened was that for nearly two decades, numerous descendants of a wealthy Arab trader in Singapore had been receiving more money from the family trust than they were entitled to, while others received less. The trust was set up by a Yemen-born trader, Shaik Sallim Talib, who made his fortune in Indonesia before settling in Singapore. Following his death in 1937, income from his extensive property portfolio continued to be distributed among his descendants.

The trust had been managed by British and Malayan Trustees since 1989, and one of the properties in question was the Treetops Executive Residences on Orange Grove Road. From November 2001 to November 2019, income was distributed incorrectly due to a misinterpretation of the trust’s terms. This resulted in some beneficiaries being overpaid and others underpaid, with disputes arising over S$1.46 million in erroneous distributions prior to May 2014.

On 16 July 2024, High Court Judge Hri Kumar Nair ruled that the trustee could recover the overpayments by adjusting future payments to the overpaid beneficiaries. Those who were overpaid would not need to return the money directly, but future payments to them would be reduced to compensate the underpaid beneficiaries. Justice Nair approved a plan to redistribute approximately $1.18 million, but there was still $286,000 in unrecoverable funds from overpaid beneficiaries who were now deceased.

This case marked the first time a Singapore Court had addressed a trustee's right to recoupment. In written grounds issued on the eighth of August, the Judge explained that the overpayments were caused by a misinterpretation of the trust's terms, and that the trustee was obliged to recover the funds as far as possible. He found the proposed recoupment plan to be reasonable and appropriate for implementation.

The dispute stemmed from conflicting interpretations regarding how the share of a beneficiary who died without offspring should be distributed. The trust's terms dictated that the net income from the assets would be divided among Sallim Talib’s children, with each son receiving two portions and each daughter receiving one. Upon their deaths, their shares would be passed down to their children also in a 2:1 ratio, continuing for subsequent generations.

In the last 20 years, four lineages of beneficiaries were broken. In each case, the trustee had distributed the deceased's share among all surviving beneficiaries, thus leading to the legal challenge. In November 2019, then Judicial Commissioner Vincent Hoong ruled that this approach was incorrect, deciding instead that the deceased's share should be distributed only among those descended from the same child of Sallim Talib. The trustee has since applied this interpretation.

Following this ruling, the trustee faced a lawsuit from more than 30 underpaid beneficiaries over the period from May 2014 onwards. The case was settled out of court in 2024, with the trustee agreeing to pay $1.19 million into the trust for redistribution, though no consensus was reached on recouping overpayments made before May 2014. In 2022, the trustee sought court directions on the matter and proposed a three-year recoupment period. Although a group of 20 overpaid beneficiaries opposed this, Justice Nair concluded that the reduction in their entitlements would be minimal.

Full story here.

Spring oriental beauty

Only 30g of tea, but it cost RM390

Recently, I was invited to sample the Spring Oriental Beauty at the Nandaka Vihara, joining the Chief Abbot, Bhante Dhammasubho, and several monks who regularly enjoy their cups of excellent Chinese tea. This particular batch of tea leaves had been generously donated by Saw See, Siew Kee and Ban Leong, which added an extra layer of significance to the occasion. 

This was no ordinary tea experience; it was an immersion into the finest aspects of tea appreciation. The Chief Abbot, a tea connoisseur by my reckoning, even carried a small portable scale to measure the amount of tea leaves for each brew, ensuring precision with every cup and every serving. He graciously shared his knowledge with us, explaining the different types of Chinese tea available on the market today.

We spent about an hour with the Abbot and his fellow monks, savouring the Spring Oriental Beauty, a tea that stands in a class of its own, even among the best Oriental teas. The taste was incredibly sublime, a world apart from regular tea leaves such as Pu'er. The tea’s extraordinary smoothness and fruity aroma lingered long after each sip, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

There is a need to distinguish between the Spring Oriental Beauty and its more affordable counterpart, the Oriental Beauty. Oriental Beauty, often referred to as the “Champagne of Tea”, is rare and unique enough. Originally from Taiwan, its distinctive muscatel flavour—a multi-layered blend of sweet, floral and fruity notes—results from a fascinating natural process. Tiny green flies, known as tea jassids, bite the tea leaves during the summer, causing the leaves to produce an antibody that gives the tea its characteristic fruity aroma and honey-like sweetness.

This tea, historically so prized that 15kg of it was once worth the cost of a house in Taiwan, is made through a painstaking process. Tea farmers must maintain their gardens without pesticides, hoping these elusive insects will visit their crops. The plucking process is equally meticulous, as only the leaves bitten by the green flies—typically one bud and two leaves per twig—are selected for processing. The result is a tea that has captivated connoisseurs for generations.

While Oriental Beauty is already a highly sought-after tea, Spring Oriental Beauty elevates it to another level. Harvested in the spring, rather than early summer, it is made from the most tender and delicate tea leaves grown atop the Alishan mountain. The cooler spring climate means fewer green flies, and the leaves that are bitten must meet even more stringent criteria. Only 20kg of tea is produced per hectare of tea garden, making Spring Oriental Beauty exceedingly rare.

This tea is more greenish than traditional Oriental Beauty, with an even more pronounced flavour profile. The foggy, windy and cold conditions of the mountain where the tea is grown, contribute to its mellow, sweet taste. During the day, the tea leaves produce plenty of compounds, which remain stored due to the cold temperatures at night. This results in a richer, more complex flavour in the final product. I know all this, because I've been reading up from the Hojo Tea website.

When comparing the two teas, Oriental Beauty offers a remarkable fruity and honey-like aroma, with a muscatel finish that lingers pleasantly on the palate. However, Spring Oriental Beauty delivers an even more refined experience. The flavour is smoother, with a depth that reflects the care taken in its production and the rarity of the leaves.

Dhammasubho, with his expertise, made this experience all the more special. The careful brewing under his watchful eyes, paired with his insightful commentary on tea, allowed us to fully appreciate the exceptional qualities of Spring Oriental Beauty. After this session, it’s easy to see why this tea commands such a high price—RM1,300 per 100g—compared to the already expensive Oriental Beauty, which costs RM480 per 100g.

Both teas offer an extraordinary experience, but Spring Oriental Beauty stands out as the ultimate expression of this craft. Its rarity, complexity and refined taste make it a true treasure in the world of tea.

Cryptic clues

On the spur of the moment, I attended a remarkable sharing session this afternoon led by fellow OFA member and chess kaki, Liong Chian Min, who shared a detailed account of his experiences participating in treasure hunts across the country. He began with crossword puzzles during his university days and later found treasure hunts equally appealing, given that the clues were as cryptic as those in crosswords. For the past 24 years, he’s been fully immersed in treasure hunting, which he finds an incredibly rewarding hobby.

During the session, he broadened our perspectives—there were about 20 of us in attendance—on deciphering treasure hunt clues. It takes a lot of lateral, out-of-the-box thinking. Personally, I believe that having a slightly devious mind—though I’m not suggesting Chian Min has one—certainly helps. His passion for the hobby was infectious, and by the end of the session, many of us were curious to try our hand at a treasure hunt.

Anyway, I applaud him for his insightful sharing. In my book, he's the leading proponent of treasure hunting at The Old Frees' Association, and after listening to him, I can see why he’s so highly regarded in this unique world of puzzle-solving adventures.

Another reunion coming up!

This is an old picture from the 1990s, taken after Ban Hin Lee Bank had moved from downtown Beach Street to the multi-storey building on Northam Road. The podium block had four storeys, with the entire third level occupied by the Information Technology Department. From this floor, the view overlooking the main road and the old mansions on the opposite side was outstanding...we were positioned high enough to get an elevated view as life (and the traffic) passed by below us. I was with the Systems and Quality Control Department at the time, which took up about a third of the overall floor space. My unit was responsible for reviewing the bank's operations manuals and coordinating the implementation of new services that required practical testing of the computer systems. This was one of the very few photos we took back then. It’s quite blurry and fuzzy, and I can barely make out the faces of some of my former colleagues.

But never mind, there’ll be a chance for us to take fresh pictures, nearly three decades later, when we meet at the Mercure Hotel in Tanjong Bungah on the 9th of November for an Ex-BHL ITD Gathering. That’s what they’re calling it. The organising committee told me they've managed to compile a list of more than 150 people who worked in the ITD Division over the years. For the past month or two, they’ve been hard at work reaching out to all these former colleagues, encouraging them to join the gathering. The latest update is that 77 of us will be attending the dinner. A few are bringing their spouses. Not a bad turnout, really, considering that the bank ceased to exist 24 years ago and everyone had gone their separate ways. But for this reunion, we even have someone making the trip from Singapore! It’ll be great to meet again…

Are wikis reliable?

Are wikis reliable? I know that many people swear by them and believe in them completely. Wikis have become indispensable tools for quick access to information on an array of topics, from pop culture to historical events. Their appeal lies in their accessibility, breadth of content and the fact that they are constantly updated by a global community of contributors. However, when it comes to reliability, wikis present a more nuanced and complex picture.

The strength of wikis lies in their collaborative nature. Thousands of people can contribute to and edit content, bringing diverse knowledge and perspectives to the table. This crowd-sourced approach can lead to a wealth of information that is expansive and up-to-date. For many users, this democratic model of information creation is appealing and they trust the content implicitly. But this same feature also introduces potential pitfalls that make it essential to approach wikis with a healthy degree of scepticism.

One of the biggest challenges is the variability in the quality of information. Since anyone can edit a wiki, the content might be contributed by individuals who are not experts in the subject matter. While many wiki pages are well-researched and include citations to reputable sources, others may be based on personal opinions, outdated information or even deliberate misinformation. The open-editing model also means that content can be changed at any time, and not every change is reviewed or verified by knowledgeable editors. 

Another concern is the potential for bias. Wiki contributors come from different backgrounds and may bring their own perspectives and biases to the content they create. This can result in skewed or unbalanced representations of certain topics. For instance, controversial issues might be portrayed in a way that reflects the dominant views of the contributors rather than presenting a neutral or comprehensive overview. This is particularly problematic when readers are unaware of these biases and take the information at face value.

Cross-verification is another critical issue. Reliable information should ideally be supported by multiple independent sources, but not all wiki entries meet this standard. Some entries might rely heavily on a single source or on sources of dubious credibility, raising questions about the accuracy of the information. Moreover, the references themselves may not always be scrutinised or updated, leading to the perpetuation of outdated or incorrect data.

Recently, I came across https://penang.fandom.com/wiki/Penang_Wikia which is a small niche wiki maintained by some local enthusiasts. The work is promoting information about Penang island is commendable. But the question of reliability arises. While I am not suggesting that the information there is unreliable, I would like to point out that the challenges of reliability can be even more pronounced. These specialised wikis often focus on very specific topics, sometimes with a limited number of contributors. While the depth of information on such niche topics can be impressive, the quality control might be less stringent than on more popular, widely-used wikis like Wikipedia. The smaller the community, the less likely it is that there will be robust editorial oversight, which can lead to inaccuracies, unverified claims or even content that reflects the personal views of a small group of enthusiasts rather than a broader, balanced perspective.

Furthermore, niche wikis may lack the same level of cross-referencing and fact-checking as larger platforms. This is particularly important to keep in mind if information is used from a niche wiki for research or other critical purposes. Just because a topic is covered in detail doesn’t guarantee that the information is accurate or comprehensive.

Given these concerns, it is wise to approach wikis as a starting point rather than a definitive source. They are excellent for getting a quick overview of a topic or for discovering new areas of interest. However, if the information is going to be used for academic research, professional purposes or any situation where accuracy is crucial, it is important to cross-verify the facts with more authoritative sources. Academic journals, books by reputable authors, official reports and other peer-reviewed materials are far more reliable when it comes to ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information.

So, while wikis, including small niche ones, offer a valuable resource for general and specialised information, they should be approached with caution. They are useful for gaining a preliminary understanding of a topic, but for in-depth or critical research, it is prudent to dig deeper and consult more reliable sources. Believing everything that is read in a wiki without question can be risky, and it is always best to maintain a critical eye and verify information independently whenever possible.

Utterly shameless posturing

So....the Paris Olympics has finally ended and the United States are at the top of the medals standing ahead of China, but only just. Both countries finished with 40 golds each but the Americans were placed ahead because they had more silver and bronze medals than any other country in the competition. But the Americans have proven themselves quite shameless. Up until the last day of the Olympics while they were still trailing in the gold medal standings, their newspapers consistently placed their country above China. Their posturing was not based on the number of gold medals achieved but the total number of gold, silver and bronze medals collected by their athletes. It's not wrong to do that, mind you, but it is more the exception than the norm. Most countries do not subscribe to this point of view. How low can they go? Obviously, very, very low indeed to pander to their own domestic readership, if these screenshots from the websites of (left to right, below) USA Today, Washington Post, The New York Times and NBC are anything to go by. And these are among American's top newspapers!

Light's legacy

Captain Francis Light, the man credited with putting Penang on the map. This year, 2024, marks the 238th anniversary of the island's founding as a British settlement on 11 August 1786. This picture, originally published in the Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle on 4 October 1939, depicts the 10-foot tall bronze statue of Francis Light, modelled after his son, Colonel William Light, Surveyor-General of South Australia and founder of Adelaide. The statue was mounted on a 12-foot high granite pedestal and unveiled a day earlier by the Straits Settlements Governor, Shenton Thomas. It was the work of Frederick John Wilcoxson (1888-1974), an Associate of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, and cost roughly Straits Dollars $15,000 (British Pounds £1,050) to create. 

On the pedestal was a brass plaque, measuring 1' 9" by 3' 5½", bearng the inscription:

FRANCIS LIGHT

FOUNDER OF PENANG

1786 

This plaque was surmounted by the crest of the island, consisting of three ostrich feathers, executed in bronze and cast as an integral part of the plaque. This addition increased the height by another nine inches, making it 2' 6" inches in total. The statue arrived in Penang by the ss Glenfinlas on 13 May 1939, and the plaque on the sixth of August. 

Contrary to what historians and bloggers have previously written about the statue's original location, it was erected not inside Fort Cornwallis but outside, on the grass verge in Light Street between two of the Fort's bastions, at a point opposite the District and Police Courts, which are now the Penang State Legislative Assembly building, as shown here by the encircled X in red  (source: Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicles, 10 May 1939). 

According to the Straits Settlements (Penang) Association, they made the suggestion to the Municipal Commissioners to have the statue erected there instead of alternative sites like Downing Street or King Edward Place, with Fort Cornwallis as a background and facing the Courts, and it was subsequently approved (source: Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, 10 Jan 1938). 

About two years after its unveiling, the statue was unceremoniously dumped by the Imperial Japanese Army which occupied Penang during the Second World War from December 1941 until August 1945. It was later rescued after the British re-occupation and moved to the lawn of the Supreme Court grounds in August 1946. 

In June 1966, the Penang Government succumbed to pressure groups seeking to remove all vestiges of Penang's colonial past. The Francis Light statue was among the casualties and was consigned to the Penang State Museum in Farquhar Street where it first languished in a corridor before being relocated to a more respectable, though still secluded, outdoor spot often missed by human traffic. 

When the Adelaide City Council heard of the statue's downgrading, they attempted to have it transferred to them. However, this request was rebuffed by the then Chief Minister, Wong Pow Nee, who, to his credit, could still recognise that the statue was "an historical object and should be retained in Penang for posterity" (source: The Straits Times, 29 July 1966). 

Since 2003, the Francis Light statue has been returned to a site within Fort Cornwallis, albeit without a proper pedestal and now missing its brass plaque.

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