Heart and Soul: Captain Oh Teik Toh, a disciplinarian with a heart of gold
Heart & Soul

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“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Gunshots rang out in the still of the night. Everybody was terrified. Nobody dared to venture out of the house as the Japanese army had imposed a night curfew.

Early the next morning, Oh Teik Toh heard that a Japanese sergeant had been killed the night before by some communist guerrillas on the outskirts of Kampar town. Soon after, he saw hundreds of Japanese soldiers, with their rifles ready, chasing after some suspected communists fleeing towards the jungle behind his house. Fearful of any stray bullets, Oh shut his doors and windows and stayed indoors.

The next day, when Oh came out of his house, he was dismayed to see that all his hard work was ruined. In their chase, the Japanese soldiers had trampled on his padi field. What saddened Oh even more was that he was about to harvest his ripened padi that he had so painstakingly planted.

Sighing and looking up to the heavens, he shook his head sadly. Although he was just a teenager then, Oh understood his heavy responsibility to feed his family. Fortunately, he had some rice left over from a previous harvest to get by.

After the war, Oh resumed his schooling at St Michael’s Institution, an all-boys school in Ipoh. Before the war, he had studied at ACS Kampar for a few years; this was during the Japanese Occupation. The strong discipline instilled in him helped him to excel in both his studies and sports. He represented his school in soccer, hockey and basketball.

Inspired by the leadership of his principal, Brother Ultan Paul, and believing in touching the lives of others, Oh decided to become a teacher. He described Brother Paul as a visionary and legendary leader with a kind heart and a wise mind. His wish to serve as a teacher under Brother Paul’s principalship was realised when he was posted to teach in his alma mater in 1955.

Sickened by the atrocities and injustices committed by the Japanese during the war, Oh realised the importance of self-defence. With much indignation, he recalled how the cars and other possessions of his family and relatives were confiscated by the Japanese during the war. After the war, Oh earned a black belt in judo and established the first judo club in St Michael’s Institution and Perak.

Capt Oh Teik Toh in his younger days.

Through selfless dedication, he trained a generation of judokas and was appointed the national coach for judo. Entrusted as the delegation chief, Oh brought his judokas to compete in the 1967 SEAP Games and international judo competition in Germany in 1970.

Besides sports, Oh also took charge of the National Cadet corps in St Michael’s Institution. Widely respected as Captain Oh, he was given the honour to be the commanding officer for the Merdeka parade not just for St Michael’s Institution but also other reputable schools such as Star (Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman) and SMK Anderson for many years.

His ex-student Lim Keng Hoo remembers fondly: “I really enjoyed my judo and cadet years in St Michael, thanks to the dedication of Mr Oh.”

As a young and dedicated teacher, Oh also organised many camps and field trips for his students in the surrounding jungle of Ipoh during the 1950s and 60s. That was during the height of the Malayan Emergency war with frequent communist activities around Ipoh. Often, helicopters were seen ferrying British troops towards the surrounding hills for their operations against communist guerrillas and also the wounded to Ipoh hospital.

Captain Oh Teik Toh (circled) with his judokas at St Michael's Institution, Ipoh, in the 1970s.

To ensure the safety of, and a proper educational outdoor education for, his students, Oh often had to make extra efforts and personal sacrifices. His initiative in organising such outdoor activities demonstrated his resolve and conviction in promoting an all-round education for his students.

Besides his many duties, Oh was also the school discipline master. Back in the 1960s and 70s, some of the boys were quite unruly and defiant. To enforce discipline in a boys’ school, he had no choice but to cane some errant students at times.

Once, his motorcycle’s tyres were cut by a naughty boy he had caned. However, Oh took no offence as he understood that some boys might have been carried away in their overreaction.

Due to his sterling performance, Oh was promoted to be senior assistant of St Michael primary school.

Despite his strict disciplinarian approach, many students found Oh to be kind and helpful. One of his ex-students, Ignatius Chew, remarked: “Mr Oh was a dedicated teacher who would go the extra mile for us. Although he appeared strict, he had a heart of gold.”

Another ex-student Oh Teik Hee elaborated: “I am Mr Oh’s relative yet I was caned by him for failing to finish a homework assignment. He was impartial and my class respected him for his fairness!”

Yet another ex-student Roger Yeoh recalled: “Mr Oh was my form and history teacher. He told the class that I was his nephew and if I were to flunk a test, he would whack me twice as hard. Absolutely no favouritism!” Incidentally, Oh is also the uncle of Michelle Yeoh, the international movie star and academy award winner from Ipoh.

Oh’s dedication as a teacher touched the lives of many students over the decades. However, sadly, soon after celebrating his 93rd birthday recently, Oh fell ill and passed away peacefully. While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his rich and eventful life. Oh has run the good race; may his soul rest in peace.

(The writer wishes to extend his deepest condolences to Oh’s family. He also wishes to thank Ignatius Chew and Esther Tan Swee Imm for their kind assistance.)
Heart and Soul,Oh Teik Toh,St Michael’s Institution,judo,Brother Ultan Paul
After the war, Oh earned a black belt in judo and set up the first judo club in St Michael’s Institution and Perak. He trained a generation of judokas and was appointed national coach.