Diary 22: Dr Larry Wong Chee-Yong

I met Dr Larry Wong a few years back when we attended meetings on the development of new villages at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. He was highly regarded by the then Minister, Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting.

In January 2010, we met again during a public forum on post-Copenhagen where panelists spoke on climate change issues. I passed him my health book, Eating for Good Health, with the hope that the book could help him. He purchased a copy.

The following e-mail dated 29 January 2010 was received from Dr Larry Wong which I wish to share with you.

“Greetings! I would like to purchase more copies (around 20 copies) of your book, which you so kindly introduced to me at the COP15 Forum recently, to give to my relatives and friends. I would also like to invite you to give a talk at ISIS. Can you please contact me so that we can move things forward?”

The email touched my heart. He supports not only my special kind of effort but more importantly his caring for his friends and relatives. I have met people purchasing one or two extra copies of my health books for friends or relatives. To purchase 20 copies for the same purpose and express willingness to organize a health talk, Dr Larry Wong has spread his love and compassion.

I sent the books to his office in the afternoon of 1 February 2010, which was a public holiday for Kuala Lumpur. A little surprise for me, he and another relatively junior staff member were there doing some work. This is a man committed to his work.

Deep in my heart, I was a little curious why this senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) is keen to help organize a health talk for his colleagues, mainly Malays. The answer lies in the Chinese writing displayed on the wall of his office: way to achieve enlightenment.

I must say that we share one thing in common. Help others in this life, right now.

In the morning of 2 February 2010, time and date were proposed for the talk to be delivered in Bahasa Malaysia and English. By the afternoon of the day, he called to confirm that the talk will be held at ISIS in the afternoon of 19 February 2010, the week of the Chinese New Year.

Hopefully, the talk will touch the hearts and minds of his colleagues.

Best health to Dr Larry Wong and those he loves and cares.