"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years."
- Abraham Lincoln
- Abraham Lincoln
HEAH HOCK HENG
Departed 20-Oct-2009
Like his famous cooking, Heah was a ‘flavourful’ man – flavourful in the sense of his multi-talents, vast knowledge of anything under the sky and life experiences.
As in the title of the Frank Sinatra's song, ‘I Did It My Way’, Heah discarded the conventional, safe, well-paying job for his love of nature and altruism. He lived his life to the fullest, in the way he wanted it and I believe I am saying for many of us when I said we all wished we had that little bit of Heah in us.
Many wonderful adjectives will come to the minds of the very many people he touched in his life but if I have to choose, the first 3 that came to mine when I think of Heah were ‘multi-talented, generous, unpretentious’.
Endau-Rompin was the reason why me (and I believe many others, too) decided to join MNS back in the 1980s. The awareness and wonderful things being discovered of Endau-Rompin made the many passive nature lovers in us sit up and want to experience this wonderful piece of nature. And to me, the name synonymous with Endau then was Heah Hock Heng. He was a big part (if not the only part) of the success story of Endau-Rompin, and of course many other conservation projects which came after it – MNS Centre in Cameron Highlands, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, etc.
It was on some of these projects that I got to know Heah, especially when I was part of the MNS Selangor Branch committee. Although he declined any office, he was very much the man behind our many activities, supporting us. He proved himself to be a man of vision with leadership qualities. Working with him was often a discovery and we, the committee members, were willing to sacrifice our time and effort to work with this man, who had us believed what we were capable of and who made us proud to be part of the whole game plan of what we wanted the Selangor Branch to be back then. The many successful field courses we organised with Heah, and the numerous trips we made to Cameron Highlands under his leadership to do up the place for members to enjoy and the many weekends in KSNP to build the islands and bunds for the birds were part of the legacies of Heah.
Back in the 1980s, for a greenhorn like me, introverted and yet wanting to touch nature, Heah was somebody that I only read about occasionally in the MNS nature magazines and news releases on Endau-Rompin, a well-known figure within the nature-loving fraternity; so when I first came face-to-face with him at an MNS annual BBQ function, I was surprised at the humbleness and friendliness of this man. For somebody who was always surrounded at any MNS functions, he need not have bothered about a greenhorn like me (and many similar others), but he showed his amity by embracing us into the ‘family’ and made us felt at home, and when I became part of his expedition into Rompin-Endau, the feeling was as if ‘I’ve arrived’! And that was what was Heah all about – no airs, and ever generous with his friendship.
He was a man much admired for his DIY skills, his cooking skills, and last but not least his natural leadership and organisational skills. A man who had people from all walks of life listening with respect when he talked about cooking, nature, D-I-Y’s or even tying knots(!), this much-read man could teach you a few new tricks even when you thought you knew it all.
A man well known for his compassion for the plight of the Orang Asli, Heah always had a soft spot especially for those in Endau-Rompin’s Kg. Peta. Even now, as he departed, he and his wife still have the Endau-Rompin Kg. Peta Orang Asli’s welfare in mind. I was touched that they have pledged all contributions to this community and NASAM (National Stroke Association of Malaysia) and this again showed the compassionate man that he was.
To Heah, thank you for all that you had taught us and the many happy occasions and outings we had with you. I salute you for your generosity and friendship, and to his ever-supportive wife, Cheong Ann, take good care of yourself and hope you will carry on the legacy of Heah Hock Heng.
"Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die."
- Amelia Burr
- Amelia Burr
VL
Reptile Group Member (now defunct), active 1988-96
MNS Selangor Branch
I only have 1 brief encounter with Heah a few years back. We have never exchange any conversation. I was an observer then. Back in the 1980's I was busy with paper chase I do not know anything about Kg Peta, Endau-Rompin.
ReplyDeleteOf the few visit to Endau Rompin recently, even though I do not know this man. Everytime I carried out some brief conversation with the communities there, I could sense how thankful of them to this man whom they fondly called Heah.
In short Heah may has gone to the LORD, but his good works has touch many lives at Kg Peta. He indeed has live to the fullness with every breath that GOD has given to him.
Mr Heah may you rest in peace.. I have never have the chance able to tell you personally that I really marvel at some of the building architecture that you have design at NERC.
indeed vanessa, heah was a man of immense talent+knowledge. humble, generous & passionate for mother earth, his frenz, & to the general membership of the mns.
ReplyDeleteknowing & working with him within the society those days was indeed a great honor & a priviledge. more so hvg known him for so long, since 1976, back in kuantan.
his contribution is without parallel. we hv lost a great fren. he will be missed & will forever hv a special place in all our hearts. so, too, will the mns, and, nature itself.
we do know, deep down in our hearts, thats where he'll be ... in the 'heavenly' forests where his spirit truely belongs.
don haider
hi vanessa,
ReplyDeletei admire and like this man immensely.
Heah decided sometime in his life that he would do exactly what he wanted to.
he excelled in his woodcraft and his woodcraft extended to massive structures like the NEC resthouse in endau rompin.
he was a great cook. in the 1st ER expedition, Dr Kiew Bong Heang had the sad duty of killing a huge 30ft python. this animal was too close to the orang asli kampung, and the headman was concerned for the safety of the kampung children. Dr Kiew did his duty and the python meat was divided up. Heah was then Camp Manager? and cook and he turned that python meat into Pau!!
in all the many years i have known him, i have never heard this man to be judgemental, he was gentle, always encouraging and always leading a ear, and he was a font of knowledge, he was always helped when asked.
and this gentleness and humility showed even with his pets, i remember his rottweiler and Ah Ming, his Great Dane. they grew up with him and grew to be gentle giants.
i last met Heah maybe 9 mths ago. then he offered us the use of his woodworking machines. he offered to teach anyone how to use them properly. unfortunately i did not make full use of his offer.
Heah lived his own life, doing the things he really loved doing and doing them well. he lived a good life his way.
i will miss this man.
Hew Yoonloong
Most of us know him to be closest to a real Mcgyver. Most of the guys, especially myself who know him, would like to emulate him in most of the ways especially doing what he likes and doing it well. We will miss him
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI never had the honour of meeting Heah. Nevertheless, I have heard a lot about him especially from Buyin, the Orang Asli from Endau Rompin whom he had helped generously and passed his knowledge to.
MNS Nature Guides organize annual trip every April to Endau Rompin. Buyin always makes for the participants fried bread with sardine which he said it was Heah that taught him. Buyin speaks fondly of him.
Uncle Heah has passed on but I truly believe his spirit and memories will live on in the Orang Asli communities and in our hearts.
He is an exemplary man and I am touched by him.
John Chan