Ooi Eow Jin (1938-2024)

It was with some sadness that I learnt that our legendary local pianist and composer, Ooi Eow Jin (Uncle Ooi or OEJ to some people), had passed away today (Wednesday) at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital at the age of 86. His wife, Elaine Khaw Lean Kee, shared that Eow Jin took his final breath around 3.30pm. DJ Dave, chairman of Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanah Air (YKAT), described Eow Jin as a "great musician, composer and icon" and added that his contributions to the Malaysian music scene over the past six decades had been nothing short of remarkable.

Ooi Eow Jin was an Old Free, having studied at Penang Free School, where he sat for his Senior Cambridge examinations in 1955 and passed with a Division II certificate. Like many boys attending Primary schools in Penang, he had also passed through Wellesley School and then Westlands School. While I have scant information about his early years as a musician, I know he worked as a temporary teacher after completing his secondary school education and then, a government clerk in the Survey Department, Penang. Music was in his blood and in his spare moments, he was a pianist at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O Hotel) on Farquhar Street. By the 1960s and 1970s, he was already a key figure in the RTM Orchestra — one of the giants among RTM music maestros, standing alongside other greats like the late Alfonso Soliano and Ahmad Nawab. Working with some of the country's most iconic singers, including P Ramlee and Sudirman Arshad, Eow Jin composed and wrote songs that became part of Malaysia’s musical history.

Later in life, in 2010, Eow Jin became the resident pianist at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, where he played for five years. Sadly, he had to call it a day in 2015 due to declining health, which was later diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, marking the end of his time on stage and in the limelight.

It was around that time that I became more aware of his personal struggles. He never received any government pension because his stints with the RTM Orchestra were on a contract basis. One reason he chose to continue working past retirement was to support his two ailing sons, one suffering from leukaemia and the other with a brain tumour. Having to retire from performing was a major blow for Eow Jin and he gradually withdrew into his shell. In an effort to ease his burden, friends rallied to organise a charity concert in Petaling Jaya. Held on 19 July 2015, the event raised close to RM100,000, with contributions from fellow Old Frees and the public alike. Likewise in 2017, my old classmate, Kee Thuan Chye, staged his play, Swordfish + Concubine, in Kuala Lumpur and raised more than RM30,000 for Eow Jin.

The warmth of two old friends meeting, despite protocol's constraints

In July 2015, I wrote to the Penang Chief Minister, highlighting Eow Jin’s plight and requesting the State Government to recognise his contributions to the nation with an award, even though the official deadline for nominations had long passed. I later learnt through one of the Chief Minister's personal aides that Eow Jin’s name was submitted to the Penang Governor, who instantly recognised him and agreed to an award. In September 2015, the newspapers reported that Eow Jin would receive the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which conferred the title of Dato’.

Things worsened in 2022 when Eow Jin, his wife and their surviving son, Raymond, contracted Covid-19. While Eow Jin and Elaine recovered, they tragically lost Raymond to complications from the virus. Despite his struggles, the Malaysian music community didn’t forget him. In 2018, YKAT stepped in to provide Eow Jin with a RM500 monthly pension, and I hope they will continue to extend the same payments to Elaine now.

Ooi Eow Jin’s passing feels like the closing of a significant chapter in Malaysian music history. His work shaped much of the local music scene, and his influence will be felt for years to come. As DJ Dave said, "Malaysia has lost a true icon." Eow Jin’s legacy as a composer and pianist will continue to resonate, with his melodies, collaborations and contributions leaving an indelible mark. Though his friends and fans mourn his loss, they also celebrate the incredible life and career of a man who gave so much to Malaysian music.