Major Teoh passed away at 3.30 pm Malaysian time on Monday 15 June 2009, at the age of 71. He has been an HR man all hs life, first in the armed forces, then, when he retired, in a bank in Kuala Lumpur as HR director. He retired from being HR director and set up malaysiaHRonline as a forum to help HR practitioners do a better job. He was owner, moderator of this discussion forum until the day he died.
He is also Past President, HRD Gateway.
Truly, a man with passion for everything HR.
Perhaps you'd like to say something about the late Major Teoh. Please mention your country if you are not from Malaysia, and the name of the HR discussion forum that you are a member of.
Apart from malaysiaHRonline, Major Teoh also founded and moderated HR Vietnam, HR Thailand, HR Cambodia, HR Asia, HR Laos, HR Myanmar, HR Brunei, Cyber Youth. He founded HR Philippines and then passed it to Ma Concepcion Ureta ( Jing) to own / manage it. gklim
ReplyDeleteDear Friends,
ReplyDeleteIn 1972 I came to know a very fine Army Officer and a gentlemen. He was Lieutenant Teoh Tang Hai who was married to Judy and was blessed with a
charming daughter Janice. It did not take long for us to become close buddy. Serving the army together, we had a very eventful tour of duty at Tawau.
We had "kenduri" session every Thursday night at our surau and at time at one of the officers' house. The coordinating officer was none other than Lt Teoh. He was always there, to take charge of the administration of the occasion, except he did not join the prayer. We had a Quran reading competition and again Major Teoh was the chief coordinator. Due to his passion in organizing such functions we gave him a nickname "Haji Kassim".
Our tour of duty took us to Sandakan and later Penang. Major Teoh never fail to play his role as a true Army Officer and a Gentleman. He handled the ustaz, ustazah and imam for the army unit, he commended the soldiers at the front line ( during the height of the insurgent at Thai Border). He came out with outstanding result. All the time, our closeness remain, I took him as my brother ( he was born in the late 1930s), and Judy as my sister, Janice, Jackie and Jason was regarded as my nephew and nieces.
We parted company when I left the Army in 1981. Next thing I knew was that Major Teoh who was then commanding a unit up north ( somewhere along East West Highway). On Fridays he would travel by land-rover to Taiping (to meet his beloved wife Judy), left the same evening by train to KL, reached KL about 6.00 am took a nap at KL railway station and by 8.30 he was attending Diploma in Human Resource at Raintree Club Ampang. In the evening (Saturday) he would leave for Taiping spent the night with Judy and next day he would travelled back to his front line unit up north. This went on every weekend until he graduated. At all time we were in contact (withouthand-phone of course). At that time I was employed by a commercial bank in
KL. He help me to catch and dismissed a bank staff for manipulating the ASN accounts for the army personnel. That prompted me to take him to join the bank when he retired from the army. He served with me in the bank under a contract employment. We will together go to MIPM PJ to attend the Diploma in Industrial Relations. Our objectives then was not to chase for the paper
instead to acquire the professional knowledge and skill in dealing with IR matters. We implemented what we learnt in class immediately. Of course we took the assignments, and exam and passed all the exams with high rating.
In the late 80s I left the bank to do consulting, and Major Teoh was my partner. The consulting project did not last long as I returned to my former employer B.Braun in Penang. Not wasting any time, I took Major Teoh with me along with few others who shared our aspirations. Major was instrumental in
enforcing the discipline in the factory, dismissing a Technician (who faced ten charged drawn by Major Teoh), a supervisor who masterminded the punching of attendance card ( 20 cards punched by a single person), dismissed two supervisors for manipulating production records and raw materials. At the same time his dedication, passion and compassion lead to improvement of a lot of the staff benefits for the company. Again we parted company when I left the company for KL.
Later Major Teoh left B.Braun to take up employment in KL before I engaged him again to manage a factory at Kuantan. After serving at Kuantan for a year he went for his second retirement and returned to Taiping where he
spent his retirement days with Judy. Janice is married and now residing in Australia, Jackie got married and now in Switzerland and Jason married and now in KL.
Part II
ReplyDeleteMajor Teoh is one person who refused to become complacent. One day in 1999 he called me and talked of forming a network meant to stay in touch with oldfriends, chatting about common issues i.e. HR matters. We agreed and concluded to confine the group to about 30 old friends. However, the response was good and we decided to open the forum to any person interested
to talk about HR matters. This was how Malaysia HROnline was established. He wanted me to be the moderator, but I decline due to my other commitment.
From then on Major became the backbone to Malaysia HROnline. In 2000 we held our first HROnline seminar at KL. The response was beyond our expectation. In three weeks without issuing any brochures we had 160 participants, not
less than ten volunteers including Zakiah Anas who volunteered to be the MC and 10 speakers including three from Singapore. It was indeed an instant success. Of course Major Teoh was the driving force in making the event a reality. From then on Major has led the network group and saw its growth to what it is today.
WE HAVE LOST A GREAT LEADER, A FINE GENTLEMAN AND A VERY DEAR FRIEND.
PERSONALLY I HAVE LOST A BROTHER. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT HE HAS GIVEN RESOUNDING EFFORTS ALL HIS LIFE TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE HR COMMUNITY. HE WAS NEVER SELFISH, EVER WILLING TO SHARE AND ALWAYS WILLING TO LEARN. HE WAS A MAN OF PRINCIPLES, FIRM, FAIR AND COMPASSIONATE. HIS PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE SURPASSED ANYONE OF US.
LETS US CONTINUE TO MAKE HRONLINE A NETWROK THAT HE ASPIRED TO BE.
MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
Posted by Harmain Haji Zaiyadi
Human Capital Dimensions Consultng Sdn Bhd
Kuala Lumpur.
I missed the opportunity to meet this great man when I was in KL. I have admired him for his great indepth knowledge on HR issues and his ever willing to share.
ReplyDeleteHe is alike the candle...burn himself while shedding light for others.
We will miss him and may the LORD be with him.
Kien Hock Lim
Houston. USA.
I have not met Major Teoh personally but I am a witness to how much passion he has for HR. He founded HR Philippines and was very visible during the egroup's formative years. He was never selfish and would always share what he knows. His was a life lived well.
ReplyDeleteHe will surely be missed by members of HR Philippines.
Major Teo supported humantalents International and HRSriLanka from its inception in 2000. Major Teo has provideda link to us in his our website. He gave me several logo ideas as well. We have never met personally.Yet my admiration of Major Teo is immense.
ReplyDeleteHe had posted several useful tools to HR professionals through malaysia HRonline Group
Members of HRSriLanka and humantalents are saddened by his death
Jayadeva de Silva
Even thou never met him but read most of his articles on HRD Gateway. I am sorry to hear the News. I wish that the God would take to him.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shock news to me. What A Man He Was! I am what I am today simply by copying the way Major lived his life! He will live in my heart forever!
ReplyDeleteMEHAN
(UPM/MIHRM)
I wasnt have any idea what was HR forum all about. Not until Major Teoh personally had replied my silly email asking him bluntly too add me in. I never known that to my surprised that he was an honored man, successful, insightful and value added man whom worth so much of repects..Still he actually not failed replied my every email in the forum... I am most humbly wanna thank him for his attribute.
ReplyDeleteI personally did not get the opportunity to meet with such a great man. He had inspired many of us in one way or the other. But reading his comments and articles sure makes us wonder the effort the late Major Teoh has contributed to MHRO.
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to show His grace to the family, especially to Mrs Judy Teoh, Janice, Jackie and Jason.
Continue to be strong and remember that we love you all. God bless!!
I have never had the opportunity to meet major Teoh, but i do know that he has immensely contributed to the development of people over the years. He will be missed. May his soul rest in peace, and attain eternal joy.
ReplyDeleteI have not met Major Teoh in person though he had been in contact with me a couple of times urging me to attend the HR breakfast meetings.
ReplyDeleteI let him down, but I think he would forgive me as he was a big man with a big heart.
We are deeply sorry to hear about the death of Major Teoh, words seem
ReplyDeleteinadequate to express the sadness we feel about Major.
Major Teoh brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget him!!
I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death.
They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make.
Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in
knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. Leo
Buscaglia
Our warmest and heartfelt condolences, to the family of late Major Teoh
My heartfelt condolences to Major Teoh's family on his sudden demised. Though I am yet to meet him personally but on several occassions I have contacted him either via phone or email on HR related issues and he has been of great help to me. I feel indebted with all those guidance from him and since knowing him I was quite regular face at the Breakfast talks. We lost a good friend and a good mentor..may his soul rest in peace..May GOD bless u always..
ReplyDeletefrom a friend,
Major(R) Nordin M Dahlan
It was with a great sense of loss when we heard the demise of Major Theo.
ReplyDeleteMajor was more than just a wonderful person; he was always so kind and considerate to us and also helped us to form HR Maldives in 2004 and enhanced and enriched our knowledge curves immensely.
We know that his passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but in the hearts of all those who knew him and interacted with him.
Major will always remain within our hearts,
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family.
With our deepest sympathy
Vincent Baby
HR Maldives
We had lost a great Leader in HR forum and with our deepest sympathy
ReplyDeleteMajor Teoh, a man that i have always wanted to meet .. unfortunately, may not meet until the day we meet in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences to the family ...
I'm sad that Major Teoh is no longer with us. I started working with him in 2000 on a number of human resource development initiatives, e.g. e-ASEAN endorsed project. He has been most supportive in our work. Today, HRD Gateway is 50,000+ strong. We owed a lot of our success to Major.
ReplyDeleteMajor has inspired us with his dedication and persistency in sharing knowledge and enabling people to connect on both a professional and personal level. He was and will always be a great role model for us.
Let's carry on his tourch and continue our common journey of human resource development.
My deepest condolences to Judy and family on the demise of our beloved Major Teoh. He was indeed a very fine gentleman and he was very passionate about what he was doing. I came to know Major Teoh through MalaysiaHROnline which he established. After joining this e-group I attended my first HR Forum that he organized which was held at Armada Hotel, PJ. On the first day of the HR Forum and immediately after I have registered, I saw him and took the opportunity to introduce myself and he was very warm and friendly. During the course of the forum I sat next to Judy who was consistently by his side. We talked during the two days and although I was just another participant, he treated me like his friend and I really felt appreciated. Subsequently after that, at all the HR Forums that he attended and out of respect for him, I will never fail to greet and talk to him and reminding him of what a great job he has done for HR. Last year he personally wrote to me canvassing for door gifts for the HR Forum and our company obligingly did contribute. Such was the man who was truly passionate about what he is doing and will go out of his way to achieve it. That was my brief personal experience with him but I am sure that those who are closer to him would know how wonderful a man he was.
ReplyDeleteMajor Teoh, May you Rest In Peace and God Bless your soul.
Azar.
My heartfelt condolences to Mrs Judy Teoh and children on Major Teoh's untimely demise.
ReplyDeleteHe was a HERO and will remain a HERO to the HR fraternity.
Dr Mohd Kamal Khir
Chief Executive Officer
Institut Bank-Bank Malaysia
(Institute of Bankers Malaysia)
Tel:603-20956833 ext 109
Fax:603-20952322
www.ibbm.org.my
My deepest condolence to Major Teoh's family. I never expect he will leave us so quick and fast in all of sudden way.
ReplyDeleteThe last news that I have heard and received is, he is actually recovering from his surgery. I believe God only knows what is waiting for him in another dimension world.
May his soul rest in peace and always be blessed. In fact, I felt very sad and again to prove 1 thing, life is being so fragile nowadays.
We should appreciate on things that we have and people that are still around us before it's too late and while we still breathing.
Well, we have lost 2 precious people in our HR Forum. In year 2007, we have lost our late Rupunda and this year 2009, our beloved Major Teoh. What a day and year ... :'(
My deepest condolence to Major Teoh and his beloved family!
ReplyDeleteMalaysia in particular have lost an HR Expert & Professional.
Joshua Jeyaraj & Family
Ipoh, Perak.
How can you forget a person with the kindest and compassionate heart? I never met him and wish I did. the closest was in 2001 in sibu Malaysia where he was supposed to be present during the HRDgateway conference. he never did because he was too sick to travel.
ReplyDeleteMajor always knew how to push people to accept their potentials. In 2001 I got an email from him asking me if I can group own and moderate hrphilippines. I refuse because in the first place i never knew the man from malaysia. Besides I was never a techie person I was involved with the academe.
He was persistent and wrote to me one day.."Jing why do you keep running aways from opportunities?"
Those words were more than enough to make me accept his offer. From the 5 members that we started now hrphilippines has grown to 3414 and still counting.
Major is my mentor, my best friend. he was like a father to me who would always support my cause, gives advises and never let go even on toughest times. He has a big heart especially for the newbies in the group. He was always concern of their welfare and abhors those who takes advantage of the small ones.
He trained me well and be better in my field of endeavor. I wish i can do more for him. It is unfortunate that i didnt have the time to work on the hrphilippines website that he endorse me to do. he said it was his gift since he knew I could never afford to own one much less pay for one.
Major i will work on the website and dedicate this to your loving memory.
to Major's family thank you for sharing his life to us and making us part of his. May god continue to shower his blessings to you and may he received eternal blessings from above.
Jing Ureta
HRPhilippines Group owner
PHILIPPINES
I have not met Major Teoh personally but I've heard about him several times through colleagues in HR Philippines and HR Asia. I would always be thankful to Major for starting HR Philippines, which I am a member now. I've learned so much from the groups he started and I would forever be grateful that a big chunk of my growth came from Major's initiative to bring HR practitioners in one roof. Will continue to pray for him and for his family.
ReplyDeletePia Domingo
HR Philippines member
Am so priviledged to have met him at the iHR Conference in KL last year and was struck by his passion and humility, as well as the by the loving support of his wife who was at his side. My grateful thanks for the legacy he has left us all.
ReplyDeleteTo his family: thank you for so generously sharing him with us and for supporting his work for the HR community.
Evelyn Samuel
MHROnline
Please accept my heartfelt condolences
ReplyDeleteMangal, India
Major Teoh,
ReplyDeleteYou have enlightened the HR community with your wisdom, experience and knowledge.
May the community always be brightened by your passion and light of wisdom.
"Dear Major, I came to know about your departure very very late. I am really shocked saddened by this news. You'll be in my prayer, regardless. Amin"
ReplyDeleteI knew him when I was working in one of the industries in Penang. My last meeting with Major was in 2006in Taiping. I consulted him for some advise and he treated me lunch. We kept close touch after that and our last correspondence was after my mother passed away in April 2008. Never did he tell me about his illness or condition.
I miss you, Major. You were a good friend. May you rest in peace.