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| Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong knew both my wife and I |
True to form, after being helped down from the stage, he surprised everyone by breaking into an impromptu speech, leaving the guest of honour stranded at the rostrum, waiting for this grand, then-96-year-old gentleman to finish. And finish he did—with a flourish, reciting a pantun to the delight of the audience:
Khoo's connection to Scouting began in 1940 when he joined as a Wolf Cub at Westlands School. After the Second World War, he continued his studies at Penang Free School, where he joined the Hamilton Scout Troop and remained until 1948. That same year, he was one of six Scouts selected to attend the Scout Jamboree in Melbourne, Australia—a trip he always described as the adventure of a lifetime.
His dedication to scouting influenced his career choices. He applied to join the teaching profession primarily to continue his scouting journey as a Scoutmaster. In 1950, he became a teacher at Westlands School, where he also served as Scoutmaster. His passion and perseverance were rewarded in 1952 when he was selected for the Malayan Teachers’ Training College (MTTC) in Kirkby, Liverpool.
While in England, Khoo seized the opportunity to attend the internationally renowned Woodbadge Course at Gilwell Park near London, a rite of passage for dedicated Scoutmasters. In 1961, when Khoo returned to Kirkby for another training course, he attended the Training the Team Course at Gilwell Park, earning the distinction of Assistant Leader Trainer. He often credited his time at Gilwell for teaching him resourcefulness, leadership and the importance of earning respect to lead effectively.
His passion for youth development and Scouting led him to rise through the ranks, eventually serving as the president of the Penang State Youth Council and later as the Penang State Scout Commissioner. His contributions to youth leadership and Scouting left a lasting legacy in the community. In 2018, Khoo achieved yet another milestone when he was recognised as the oldest Scouter to receive the Bintang Kesetiaan Mutiara during the World Scouts Day award ceremony at the Ixora Hotel in Penang. It was a fitting tribute to his unwavering dedication to Scouting and youth leadership.
My wife had known him since the 1990s, when he was an appointed trainer of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers. However, I only got to know him personally in 2011 while co-editing Fidelis, the commemorative coffee table book for The Old Frees' Association. Knowing he was one of the association’s most senior members, I reached out to see if he might contribute to the book. True to his generous nature, he shared handwritten notes about his trip to the Scout Jamboree and asked me to clean up his story for publication. Later, he was effusive in his praise for my efforts. In truth, I did the minimal because I wasn't prepared to deviate much from his story. However, at every OFA annual dinner, he would proudly tell those around him, “This is the man who wrote my biography,” much to my mild embarrassment.
Sadly, such moments will no longer be a part of future gatherings. Khoo Yeoh Gan Hong passed away on the 20th of January at the remarkable age of 97. His presence, wit and spirit will be dearly missed.
Challenge yourself to succeed
My life challenges began with the amazing trip to the Pan-Pacific Scout Jamboree in Australia from December 1948 to February 1949. As Troop Leader of First Penang (Hamilton), I had earned a place in the Penang Contingent. This was to be my proudest moment but towards the end of the year I was dropped when the officials realised that the boat would be leaving before the Cambridge Examinations would be over. I was aghast. I had paid my Jamboree fees and then was told that I could not go. To make matters worse, they forgot to refund me!
So there I was, grappling with the difficulties and difficult decisions of life: balancing the dilemma of studying to pass my examinations while brooding about literally missing the boat, saddled with the lack of a passport and also essentially, no funds.
I was in despair. Sometime later in a chance meeting with Mrs Seow Siew Jin, mother of Rodney Seow who was a fellow Scout in the Troop, became a turning point. Having related my predicament to her, expecting her sympathies, she simply asked, “Who said you cannot go?”
Her words hit me like a lightning bolt. For the first time it dawned on me that I had allowed myself to be consumed with self-pity. I was already accepting defeat without searching for an alternative solution to my problem. This was not the Free School Spirit I had been imbued with. My years at Penang Free School would have counted for nothing if I did not try to rise above the challenge. I should not be talking about failure before I had even considered alternatives. This invaluable lesson of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity remains with me till today.
The moment I acknowledged that there was indeed a solution somewhere sparked off the whole machinery of re-discovering myself and me finally making it to the Jamboree. No money? Why, go raise new funds for the journey. The boat would leave before my examinations could end? Well, go find another ship to Australia! By challenging my mindset and embracing the problem, I quickly discovered my potential for leadership and resourcefulness. Today, I still remember the very many benefactors – Heah Joo Seang among them – who believed in me and went the extra mile to make my “Mission Impossible” possible.
That I succeeded despite all the odds became a mini saga. I have to be grateful to the playing fields of Penang Free School for shaping me, developing my leadership and organisational skills. This is my life lesson that I wish to share with my fellow Old Frees and the present pupils of Penang Free School. In the depths of despair, there is always hope. Never give up but continue to challenge yourself, and success will follow.
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