KUALA LUMPUR: Visionary educationist Teoh Teik Lee, who revolutionised physical education and pioneered life-saving in Malaysia, has died of Covid-19.
He succumbed to the disease yesterday at Hospital Sungai Buloh. He was 97.
To many, the former lecturer at the then Specialist Teachers’ Training Institute (STTI) in Cheras was the “father of physical education” in Malaysia.
To those involved in water safety, he was an unsung life-saver.
Teoh’s unwavering commitment to developing a fit nation, and a vibrant sporting Malaysia, remains an inspiration to his former students.
Frederick Ng said his mentor was an extraordinary intellect whose “exceptional generosity allowed us to work together on the most pressing problems facing the physical wellbeing of Malaysians.”
“His selfless service, his concern for humanity, his creativity, his curiosity, and his optimism will forever be cherished,” he said.
Helen Ten said she was indebted to Teoh for his help in getting her a scholarship in 1961 to study physical education (PE) in the UK.
“I was privileged to be the only Asian in the all-British class and equally honoured to be working with Malaysia’s father of physical education later,” she said.
Teoh was a symbol of the fitness culture in the country from the 1960s to the 80s, and set up the Physical Education Association of Malaysia (PEAM) in 1962.
He was a radio personality in the mid-60s, with a daily morning show, “Exercise with Teoh”.
It was an idea by then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who wanted a fit country.
Until recently, Teoh never missed a day in the swimming pool, often doing 25 laps in a 30-metre pool at his condominium.
In an interview with FMT two years ago, he spoke proudly of the first physical fitness test he had created for students nationwide to ensure a healthy mind and body.
Specially-trained teachers cultivated a love for physical activity among students, focusing on fundamental movement skills in a fun, positive and motivating manner.
The then quality of PE in schools produced athletes in various sports at national and international levels.
Teoh bemoaned the lack of proper sports activities in schools today, which he said contributed to laziness, obesity and other ailments among children.
With the knowledge he gained studying PE, on a scholarship, at Carnegie College in England, he also developed professional courses in the discipline.
His courses were readily accredited to graduate studies in universities abroad.
To STTI graduates, he was the lynchpin of the physical education department, which he set up in 1959 and managed, until his retirement in 1980.
However, Teoh, who played a crucial role in the careers of many PE teachers, often insisted that the graduates were the main contributors to the development of a fit lifestyle, and sports and recreation in the country.
Blueprint for sports development
During his time, STTI was synonymous with physical education.
The infrastructure and facilities there gave the impression that it was a physical education institution rather than a multi-disciplinary one.
STTI became the model for several countries in the region and Teoh was drawn in to craft the blueprint for a national sports development programme.
Teachers and heads of PE departments in colleges and universities had their seminal training there, while STTI-trained teachers were appointed administrators and coaches.
His team included the late Toh Boon Hwa, who played a major role in the growth of the School Sports Council of Malaysia (MSSM) as its secretary-general.
It proved beneficial to STTI graduates who became state school sports secretaries, ensuring the high standard of sports in schools.
For Teoh, the most successful of the initiatives was the multi-tiered sports science courses for coaches.
Among those on hand to midwife the delivery of the courses was Leonard de Vries, an outstanding alumnus of STTI (now Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Ilmu Khas in Cheras).
Malaysia soon had a rich line of experts. Idris Nordin became the first Malaysian to gain a doctorate in physical education from the University of Oregon, US, in 1970 followed by de Vries from Columbia University, New York, in 1975.
By the time de Vries became president of PEAM in the early 80s, more coaches obtained doctorates and the concept of PE became all-inclusive.
To reflect the evolution of PEAM, its name was changed to Malaysian Association for Physical Education, Sports Science and Fitness.
Teoh was also elated about STTI’s involvement in the development of water safety and lifeguard programmes in Malaysia.
The story behind Teoh’s formation of the Royal Life Saving Society, Malaysian Branch (RLSS) in 1964 is engrossing.
In 1962, Teoh received a call from the British High Commission inviting him to meet Louis Mountbatten at Carcosa, the then residence of the high commissioner.
In the FMT interview, Teoh said: “I was overwhelmed by the invitation, yet anxious. The sight of him was intimidating as it was glorious.”
He was a teacher in Ipoh when the war clouds encased Japanese-occupied Malaya from 1941-1945, and knew of Mountbatten as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the region.
Mountbatten wanted Teoh, who was a member of RLSS, United Kingdom, to form a similar organisation in Malaysia as per the wish of Queen Elizabeth II to have such bodies in the Commonwealth.
That was the beginning of organised life-saving in the country and the national body is now called the Life Saving Society Malaysia.
It was also the start of a long friendship with Mountbatten during which time he met generations of British royalty including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
One of the highpoints in Teoh’s career was in 2001 when he received the King Edward VII Cup from the queen at Buckingham Palace for his contributions to the life-saving movement in the Commonwealth.
The award sat well with Teoh who was educated at King Edward VII school in Taiping where he was born.
Teoh, who was a lecturer in PE in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) after his retirement from 1981 to 1983, had hoped the present STTI will create its own history and be well remembered by its graduates. - FMT
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