This post is specially dedicated to Mr Yip Kok Choong, or rather Uncle Yip to most of us
Uncle Yip was called home by the Lord on 31 October 2008 at 12.25am at the Kwong Wah hospital in Hong Kong after a debilitating illness. A year ago, he was diagnosed with a degenerative illness that affected his motor system.
Despite of the gradual deterioration of his health & capacity to move, he persevered in his work and assumed his responsibilities with as much care and commitment up to his last breath. I believe this is the desire that he possessed to help the society touched many people from all over the world in one way or another. Countless condolence messages came from people from all walks of life around the globe in the memorial blog http://www.yipkc.blogspot.com/ Visits from hundreds of people in the memorial service held in HK & KL last week clearly showed how much he has touched everybody's life in one way or another. This just make me feel proud to be able to know him in person.
Knew Uncle Yip, probably since I'm seven or eight. He was the general secretary of YMCA Kuala Lumpur then & at the same time, being a godfather of sorts to my sis, who has her early deaf educations in YMCA. We still keep in touch even after he moved to Hong Kong to serve as secretary general at regional level Asia Alliances of YMCAs, mainly bcos he's also the husband to my sis's mentor/godmother, Aunty Lucy. There is this special relationship between our family and both Uncle Yip & Aunty Lucy that I can safely say that we're like family members.
Working wise, his reputation is second to none. Well known for spending long hours in office & his life is practically about his works in YMCA. I've heard that even during his last days, he still insists on going to office to attend board meetings....Widely travelled to countries around the world, naturally number of friends spread far & wide too. Being one of the founder members of the YMCA International Deaf HH Camp held every 2 years, he contributed immensely to the deaf society in Malaysia & regional level, not to mention his contributions in other areas such as human rights, poverty eradication etc. I can still remembered those days (my younger days) during the annual Parent Support Group family trips (held for families with deaf children) when Uncle Yip was encouraging parents & children. He always insists on importance of family unity.
Uncle Yip is incredibly down to earth & modest despite holding high positions in office. He loves being around with people & looking for good food whenever he's in town, especially hanging around in mamak or kopitiam in Brickfields. Those kopitiam uncles & aunties in Brickfields will have lots to say bout him. Those makan-makan trips to Tanjung Tualang, Selayang, Port Klang etc & our times with him in Hong Kong shall remains memorable moments to me. Being a joker, he loves teasing people, especially Aunty Lucy with his cynical jokes.
There's a Malay idiom saying "When a tiger dies, it leaves its stripes. When a person passed on, he leaves his legacy behind". That's our Uncle Yip. His works & contributions in his areas of work shall remains as example to be followed for many generations to come. His presence among us all will be sorely missed. And I'm sure God has His plans for him in heaven.
Uncle Yip, may You rest in peace...
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