A Former Classmate who Refuses to Give Up

Through a casual chat with Siew Fung, the wife of my former high school classmate, Yap Kim Tong, I came to know that Kim Tong - who is still recovering from a stroke he suffered a few months ago - was very eager to reconnect with his old friends.

Finally, on 04.09.2025, three classmates and I visited him at his home. Although he continues to struggle with mobility, sometimes losing balance and falling, we were heartened to see him cheerful, talkative and in remarkably high spirits.

According to Siew Fung, his journey with strokes actually began as far back as 2023. He had unknowingly suffered a mild stroke, which only came to light when a doctor pointed it out during a consultation for chest pain.

At a mini-reunion of former classmates on 09.11.2024, held to welcome newly reconnected friends Paul Yap and Timothy Piazin at a local restaurant, Kim Tong appeared perfectly normal - none of us could have imagined what was to come.

Mini-reunion on 09.11.2024
From left: Me, Timothy Piazin, Peter Tan,
Eddie Chow, Paul Yap and Yap Kim Tong.

Just before Christmas in 2024, I received news from Siew Fung that Kim Tong had suffered a second, more serious stroke and had to be rushed to the hospital by ambulance. I still remember visiting him at the hospital on 26.12.2024, the day after Christmas. He was then unable to walk or speak properly. Yet, with consistent medical care and the aid of acupuncture, he made a remarkable recovery and regained much of his strength.

At the hospital on 26.12.2024.

Unfortunately, his third stroke in April 2025 was far more severe. Even so, his unwavering determination, coupled with the devoted support of his wife and family, has made his ongoing recovery truly extraordinary. His commitment to daily exercises to strengthen his legs is living proof that he refuses to surrender. Despite his mobility challenges, he continues to attend the Senior Citizens Fellowship of his church, BCCM Donggongon, always faithfully accompanied by his wife.

Taken on 04.09.2025 at the residence
of Yap Kim Tong.

Indeed, Kim Tong’s resilience, courage and zest for life are nothing short of inspiring, not only to his family and friends but also to all of us who have been privileged to witness his journey.

It is my prayer that his recovery will continue smoothly and without setbacks. We eagerly look forward to the day he can once again join us for a simple yam cha - sharing coffee, stories and laughter together, just like in the good old days.

Another Empty Seat in Our Class

There’s a certain stage in life when our reunions and conversations become less about plans for the future and more about memories of the past - and too often, farewells. School friendships, once filled with chatter about exams, sports and youthful ambitions, now carry the weight of decades lived and of lives gradually drawing to their close.

Lately, I’ve noticed a shift in the tone of my postings - more often than before, they’ve become farewells to friends, classmates and acquaintances. Sadly, this is inevitable. Many of my peers are now in their seventies, already at or beyond Malaysia’s current average life expectancy of 75.2 years.

On 13.08.2025, a message appeared in our High School Class WhatsApp Chat Group: our former classmate, Richard Chua, had passed away on 10.08.2025.

Richard and I shared the entire journey of high school together at Lok Yuk Secondary School - from Form 1 in 1965 right through to Form 5 in 1969. In the early years, from January 1965 until mid-1966, our lessons were held at the old school premises on Signal Hill. In August 1966, we moved to the new campus along Jalan Teluk Likas. The old school premises, steeped in memories, have since been transformed into the Sabah Theological Seminary.

As a student, Richard stood out - not only for his academic ability but also for his natural leadership. In 1969, he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister of the School Council, a role that suited his steady and responsible nature.

After leaving school, Richard’s career path was as varied as it was interesting. He worked with trading companies dealing in veterinary products and agricultural tractors, and even ventured into breeding guard dogs. Eventually, he turned to vegetarian food marketing - a step that marked his gradual transition into a vegetarian lifestyle. In time, he became, as one classmate put it, “a diehard vegetarian.”

In 2006, Richard suffered a serious stroke that left him wheelchair-bound and made speech difficult. In 2019, when a classmate who has migrated to Hong Kong returned for holidays, several of us visited him (Read here). That was the last time I saw him. His speech was slurred and hard to follow.

In the afternoon I received news of his passing, three other former classmates and I gathered at the funeral parlour to pay our final respects. From his wife, I learned more about the long battle he had endured. Richard had lived with the effects of that stroke for 19 years - nearly two decades confined to a wheelchair, unable to move independently and struggling to communicate. It was a grueling journey, endured with quiet strength. Equally moving was the steadfast devotion of his family, who stood by him through every challenge, ensuring he faced those years with dignity and love.

Now, another familiar face from our class has gone - but the memories remain: his smile, his spirit and the echoes of our youth, carried in the hearts of all who knew him.

11.09.1948 - 10.08.2025

With Richard's wife at the funeral parlour on 13.08.2025.

From left: Johnny Loo, Peter Tan, me and Eddie Chow.

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With Richard's passing, it feels only natural to leaf through old photographs, revisiting the moments and laughter we once shared. They bring back the warmth of friendships and the joy of those bygone days, now etched forever in memory.

Colourized photo.

An old photograph taken in 1965 (Form 1) during class recess at the old school in Signal Hill. Back then, students often lingered along the corridor just outside the Chapel. In the picture, Richard stands second from left while I am beside him at his left.

Colourized photo.

An old photograph from 1967, taken when we were in Form 3 at the new school in Likas. Standing at the rear, Richard is fourth from the left, Peter Tan is fourth from the right, Eddie Chow is fifth from right while I am at the far left. In the front row, Peter Loo is second from the right.

An abstract of the first publication of School Magazine in 1969, "The Hornbill".

An Exceptional Surprise Pre-Birthday Treat

Yesterday morning (02.10.2024) just before 11.00am, I received a phone call from Grace, an ex-classmate and a very good friend from my high school days at Lok Yuk Secondary School, KK. She asked whether I and my wife would be free to join her and her sister, Jessie for lunch at Pacific Sutera Hotel. Even with such short notice, I obliged because such opportunity is really rare to come by. 

I have been asking her out for meal numerous time in the past but somehow the meet up had not been successful. She was supposed to have joined us for a brief reunion with our former Art teacher, Mr. Liew Fui En when he came back from Perth for a re-visit of KK. Just before the scheduled meet up on 26.07.2024, she called to inform that she could not make it for the gathering due to stomach upset. Attempt to have reunion is even harder after her knee cap operation in early February this year.

The greatest surprise of the get-together was when a staff of the hotel brought out a mini birthday cake and placed it in front of me. It was a surprise pre-birthday celebration she and her sister organized for me. Even with movement difficulty and the need to be aided by a walking stick, her kind gesture and effort to arrange this pre-birthday celebration moved me close to tears!

On top of that, the sisters managed to get the team of restaurant staff accompanied by a guitarist to sing a birthday song to the birthday "boy". This is truly the biggest surprise birthday celebration I have ever had so far!

I am truly blessed to have friends like Grace and Jessie!

Birthday "boy" with Grace.

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More than a year ago on 27.07.2023, the sisters too invited us for a buffet lunch at Pacific Sutera Hotel. Coincidentally, we sat at the same table for both occasions :)

Fact of Life - Another Former Classmate of Lok Yuk School KK Has Left For Good

I’ve been debating for some time whether to write yet another blog on the themes of death and the afterlife. Would it feel repetitive to some readers? Perhaps. But in the end, I decided to continue -because these are not just abstract topics; they are part of our shared human journey.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes 8:8 reminds us: “No one has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the time of their death...”

Last Saturday, 27.07.2024, I went to Eddie’s tyre shop to replace the tyres on my car. Eddie is one of my former high school classmates of Lok Yuk School, KK. While waiting, we went for a cup of coffee at a nearby shop. As always, our conversation drifted from the latest happenings to old memories, and inevitably to some of our classmates.

We spoke about Thau Min, whom we last met at a class reunion lunch during Chinese New Year in February 2020 (Read here). He had been quite active in our Class Chat Group last year, but in the past couple of months he had grown unusually quiet. Eddie and I even talked about giving him a call one of these days - perhaps to invite him for coffee, to catch up once more.

Coffee with Eddie Chow on 27.07.2024.

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Then on Monday morning (29.07.2024), I received a WhatsApp message from Ivy, daughter of Thau Min informing that her father has passed away on 27.07.2024. I was rather shocked to receive the news considering that we were just talking about him on the very day he died two day earlier.

As I notified our Class Chat Group about his passing, I couldn't help but said that "Life is truly unpredictable!".

In our visit to the Funeral Parlour to pay our final respects on 29.07.2024, Ivy told us his father died of lung infection which started about two months before he passed away.

With Eddie and Wife of Thau Min at the funeral perlour.

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Thau Min was a very quiet student in the class and hardly mixed with the other classmates. We were classmates for just three years from Form I to Form 3 (1965-1967). He did not continue after finishing Form 3. We lost touch since we parted way at the end of 1967.

Then in 1990 in one of my projects which I handled, I bumped into him. He was working as a Project-in-Charge for the Contractor for that project: The Construction of Staff Quarters for SESB Melawa Power Station at Sepangar Bay. We re-established connection since then.

He was a keen participant of class reunions. He joined the class reunion when one of our former classmates, Miao Ling came back from Hong Kong in early 2019 (Read here). He too signed up for another class reunion when another former classmates came back from Australia in October 2022 (Read here). But he failed to turn up. When I called him after the event, he said that he had to forego attending because he could not find any parking lot to park his car that day. When I chatted with Thau Min's wife at the Funeral Parlour on 29.07.2024 about that incident, she told me that he in fact went but could not locate the venue of the get-together - the Hyatt Hotel. His daughter also told us that her dad had mild dementia since a couple of years ago. Clearly, many of my peers are beginning to be affected by health issues related to advancing age!

The very last time we met at BTC Restaurant, Inanam
 with two other former classmates, Eddie Chow and
Yap Kim Tong on 04.06.2022.

Thau Min attended the reunion of Class of 1967 & 1969
on 01.03.2019.

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This is a biodata he wrote about himself during his Form 1 in 1965 and submitted to Mr. Edward Greenawald, our teacher. His biodata, together with those of other students and many old photographs carefully preserved by Mr. Greenawald, was eventually passed on to me in January 2017 (Read here).

This photo was taken by Edward Greenawald when he was teaching in Lok Yuk School, KK (Read here). Thau Min in Form 1 (1965) was seen sitting for the school examination. 

A class photo of Form 3 (1967) taken in the new school premises. I was standing partially hidden at the right our Form Teacher, Ms. Ruth Moody. Thau Min who was standing next to me is hardly visible and hidden behind Ms. Moody's left.

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Eddie, Thau Min and I met up on 01.10.2016

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At the home of another former classmate, Yap Kim Tong on 25.11.2016.

Former Classmate Back from Canada for CNY 2024

The last time the Chee's or Frankie and Teresa came back to KK was in February 2014, exactly ten years ago. I managed to organize a reunion lunch for them to meet up with our former classmates at one of the local Chinese Restaurants (Read here).

In August 2017 when my wife and I toured Canada, we also met up with the couple in Vancouver before we started our driving tour to the Rockies (Read here).

Taken in front of the Chee's house in Vancouver during our

August 2017 visit to Canada.

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In September 2022, I was informed by Teresa that her husband, Frankie underwent a kidney transplant in a Vancouver hospital on 18 September 2022. The operation was a success. He no longer needs to go thrice weekly for the dialysis. Quality of life has improved.

Frankie was discharged from the Hospital on 23 Sep 2022, five days after the operation.

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Earlier in late December 2023, Teresa whatsApp me that a huge 3-generation group would be visiting Sabah in conjunction with the CNY 2024. The trip would be two-week duration from 4 to 19 February 2024.

Sadly, Frankie was not able to join the group. According to Teresa, such long trip away from home would be too demanding on him.

Teresa's trip program was jammed-packed with activities. Besides KK, the group toured many places - Membakut, Kudat and Kudasang.

I managed to find a slot of just two and half hours in the afternoon of 18 February, the day before they flew back to Canada to meet up. I also managed to get another former classmate, Jeannie within very short notice to join us. Within this short time, we managed to visit our old school at the Signal Hill and had coffee at the popular outlet, Kedai Kopi Fook Yuan.

We visited our old Lok Yuk School at Signal Hill. We were once classmates in this old school and had spent one and a half years together from 1965 to mid 1966 in Form 1 to middle of Form 2. In August 1966, Lok Yuk School moved to the new school at Likas. The old school premise later on became the campus of the Sabah Theological Seminary.

(Left photo) Terasa and Jeannie taken in front of main entrance to Sabah Theological Seminary. (Right photo) An old photo of the entrance signboard to the old school.

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We paused to take a look at the old earth trail winding along the hillside - a path once trodden daily by students making the climb from the foot of the hill to the school grounds.

Seeing a former classmate now leaning on a walking stick stirred a wave of nostalgia tinged with empathy. Sixty years have passed since she last walked that trail; today, it is doubtful she could manage it again.

The moment was bittersweet - memories of youthful days came rushing back: the boundless energy we once had, the laughter we shared, and the friendships that shaped us. Yet, it was also a quiet reminder of the relentless passage of time and the delicate, fleeting nature of life.

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(Top photo) We stopped by the corridor of the old Chapel where (Bottom 2 photos) we had spent countless times during school recess in 1965-1966.

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(Top photo) At the open space where (Bottom 2 photos) students used to have morning school assembly in the 1960s.

(Top photo) We walked down the staircase, (bottom photo) just as students did in the 1960s. Back then, climbing and descending the staircase numerous times were a daily ritual.

At this stage of our lives, we are grateful for a past we can revisit - a past that stirs smiles, rekindles fond memories, and reminds us of the life lessons we once learned. We are thankful, too, for a present we can still savour, and for a future that holds the promise of new moments to cherish.

Who knows - perhaps our paths will cross again, somewhere, on another beautiful day.

Relocation

One key question that crosses the minds of many retirees or senior citizens is - where do you stay to spend the final period of your lives? I recall visiting one retirement centre in George Town in Tasmania and considered these homes both practical and ideal for retirees to spend the final part of their lives (Read here). Of course, not everyone finds this attractive!

For Monica, one of the ex-high school classmates chose to relocate to a place not too far from the homes of her children. Her decision to relocate permanently away from KK prompted the organizing of a farewell brunch. This gathering allowed her to meet up with her former classmates before she moves to KL in early December 2022.

This gathering on 25 November 2022 was held barely two months after we last met at Hyatt on 6 October 2022 when one of the ex-classmates came back to KK from Australia for holidays (Read here).

Brunch on 25 November 2022.

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Just a few days ago, a few of us seniors gathered to look at a proposal about building a more high class retirement home/apartment on a piece of land for retirees and senior citizens. The land which is within reasonable distance to major facilities like airport, hospitals, parks and shopping centres is also within a forested area. All agreed that this setting is ideal for this type of development. While there may not be shortage of takers, the long term success of this retirement home depends very much on the health monitoring, nursing, personal care, social and recreational facilities provided and a good operator. Whether this will ever materialize is yet to be seen!

Copy-right Design.

Lok Yuk School KK Class 67/69 Reunion

With Covid-19 now regarded as endemic in most countries, international travel has largely returned to normal. My former Lok Yuk Secondary School classmate, Robert Lee, was among those taking the opportunity to travel again - returning to Kota Kinabalu for a holiday. Years ago, he moved to Brisbane after his children made Australia their permanent home.

We last had a class reunion in February 2020, just before the pandemic brought the world to a standstill (Read here). So, when we heard Robert was back, we seized the chance to organise a reunion brunch at the Hyatt Hotel on 6 October 2022. Nine of us made it that day. Sadly, three others who had planned to join had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness - a reminder that, at our age, such things are no longer rare.

We have shared over fifty-seven years of friendship since our Form 1 days in 1965 - some bonds going back even further. It was no surprise, then, that everyone who came felt deeply grateful for the good health that allowed us to gather once more, sharing laughter, stories, and the quiet joy of simply being together.

Front row from left: Me, Johnny Loo, Robert Lee, Peter Tan and Eddie Chow.

Back row from left: Lee Nyuk Jin, Jeannie Teo, Ho Nyuk En and Grace Chin.

On 8 October 2022, Robert Lee on his own initiative visited one of our former classmates, Richard Chua who has been immobilized after he suffered a stroke many years ago. I together with some former classmates last visited him in February 2019 when another classmate, Miao Ling came back from Hong Kong for holidays (Read here). 

Sadly, more than three and a half years have passed since then, and it was clear that Richard’s condition had further deteriorated.

8 Oct 2022 vs 26 Feb 2019

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Earlier on on 26 September 2022, I received news from another high school classmate, Teresa who has migrated to Canada that her husband Frankie has finally undergone a kidney transplant on 18 September 2022. Frankie who is also a former classmate is recovering well after the operation. Frankie, a diabetic had to undergo dialysis thrice weekly before the operation. I and my wife last met this couple in Vancouver in August 2017 when we toured Canada (Read here). 

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Going through some of the old photos of the good old days in the high school reminds us of the saying "時光不留人, 歲月催人老!", i.e. "Time waits for no man and age is catching up fast!". Quite a numbers of the classmates had already left us for good for the eternal home!

Colorized photo.

Old photo of Form 2 class in session in year 1966. Grace is in forefront. Eddie is behind Grace. Peter is in the same row at the very back. Robert is in front of Peter. Frankie is at the right of Eddie and Johnny is at the back of Frankie. Robert Chin who is seated behind Johnny passed away many years ago.

Colorized photo.

Photo taken at the same time at another angle. Nyuk Jin is at the forefront in the photo.

Colorized photo.

Form 3 classmates in year 1967. Photo taken at the school compound.

Standing from left: Me, David Liew, Fung Shui Kiong (now living in Taiwan), Richard Chua, Eddie Chow, Peter Tan, Kong Yee Vun, Robert Lee (the tallest in class) and Chin Cheong Pin (now in USA). Squatting from left: Yap Kim Tong, Johnny Loo and the late Yong Chen Chong.

Colorized photo.

Form 3 classmates in Year 1967: From left: Richard Chua, Ho Fui Chong, Peter Tan, Grace Chin, Chin Cheong Pin, Robert Lee and David Liew.