Sunday, December 13, 2009

Honorary Member of MCOBA

Last night, MCOBA honoured Mr. Liew as an honorary member of MCOBA, the second honorary member and the first, probably the last Chinese to be honoured. I was given the honour to read Sir's citation to introduce him to the members.





In 1977 MCKK won the Tun Hamdan Cup (National SBP Basketball Tournament) for the first time.  From then onwards, MCKK Basketball team; popularly known as the Cagers, continued to win the cup 13 times in its 33 years history.
It all started in 1974 when Mr. Liew Yong Choon helped a first former, Aziz Salleh, make a phone call from a booth in KK town. Knowing Aziz was keen in basketball Mr Liew, being a Perak basketball player, volunteered to coach basketball at MCKK starting with the Form one on a part time basis. Mr Liew began coaching the juniors regularly, and every weekend from 1974 he would go back to Kuala Kangsar from where he was posted, as a police officer, for the next 14 years till 1988.  Due to work commitments, he took a break from 1989 till 2002, although he made a short comeback in 92 & 93 to help the Cagers win the Cup again.
After his optional retirement from PDRM in 1997, he came back to MCKK in 2003.  Together with the old Cagers, they set up the Quest-4-Glory project.  Mr Liew, not only coached the Cagers basketball but gave the junior Cagers tuition in English, Maths and Science and arranged extra tuition for the seniors.  Mr Liew would set academic targets for the Cagers and help the Cagers to achieve them.  Failing which they would be suspended and not able to train with the team for several days.
Yes, Mr Liew, has given his time, money and expertise to the Cagers.  His dedication and commitment to uplift the Cagers was not because of money, it was for the love of the game and devotion to the boys.  It was his dedication over a period of 32 years, and his devotion to the Cagers, that has made the Cagers a force to be reckoned with and respected not only by the SBP teams but other basketball teams in Perak and Penang.  He took pride in bringing an all Malay basketball team to play in a Chinese community and became the crowd favourite.
This ex police officer who was one of the youngest promoted to SAC II and a Perakian, born in Kuala Kangsar deserves special mention for his tireless and selfless effort in not only uplifting the Cagers to what it is today, but also as a role model for all to replicate. 
For his contribution to MCKK and for his exemplary devotion to a noble cause in the spirit of ‘FIAT SAPIENTIA VIRTUS’, it is with great pleasure that MCOBA award him the ‘Honorary Membership’ of MCOBA.  Mr. Liew Yong Choon, Sir, you may now proudly wear the college tie, as a member of MCOBA.
12/December/2009








3 comments:

Ikmal ~ RAK said...

Congratulations Mr Liew .... it was long overdue.

Sincere thanks and kindest regards,

Ikmal Hisham
Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
UAE

ISEISMAIL said...

Thanks Cmut. Indeed it was an honor for him.

SalamMedia said...

Awesome stuff!