Tribute to Mr Tay Bok Guan

On the morning of 14th July 2026, a group of us went to send off the late Mr Tay Bok Guan, Hon Captain of 1st Petaling Jaya Company, at their homegrounds at the old sanctuary of Trinity Methodist Church Petalking Jaya. It was a solemn day with many a tear. I appreciated very much the sharings by his oldest daugther, Vera, as well as Mr Jason Tan, 1st PJ BB's current captain. They talked about aspects of him that were unknown to me, that was the man who at the weekly parades as a father figure. My thanks to them for the insight.

Eulogy by Ms Vera Tay, Bok Guan's eldest daugther, who took on his father's lead in becoming a banker and missionary

Touching eulogy by Mr Jason Tan, captain of 1st PJ. He was in tears right from the get-go, showing how much Mr Tay Bok Guan meant to him. Apparently he was one of the handful of Juniors that were around when Mr Tay first came in - that was how close the Company came to closing down

I wrote a Facenook post the night before, which can be read below, just to preserve my own memories of the main a proudly call my former colleague: 

I was sad to learn of the passing of a Brigade strongman – Mr Tay Bok Guan. I remember seeing him for the first time during the 2005 BCM in Sandakan. A vocal individual who was serving as Brigade Treasurer at the time (or was contesting in election to be), he had no problem speaking his mind. Back then, we was already a senior citizen, being a Bank Negara Malaysia retiree. Prior to our first encounter, I’ve already heard much about him from other BB officers – I suppose one could describe his reputation as being one that is “infamous”.

Our next encounter was during 1st Petaling Jaya Company's Enrolment Service of 2006 (see pic), but it was a very brief hi-and-bye. I was impressed by his willingness to volunteer in heading up the Company. 1st PJ is among BB Malaysia’s early companies, founded in 1959, which has seen its share of ups and downs. In fact, it has gone defunct once and was reestablished in 1983. It wasn’t until Bok Guan came along before it experienced a period of stability. He was able to pull a strong team around him – both young and (not so) old (especially compared to him), building a once struggling Company into one of BB Malaysia’s finest.

While my first two encounters with him was brief – but it was more than made up for when I had the privilege of working with him in BB Malaysia Headquarters for 22 months. Bok Guan volunteered to help BBM repair their accounts which was in disarray – particularly that of the depot. He was also asked by the Brigade EXCO to take care of the HQ which did not have an Executive Secretary at the time.

Initially, I was apprehensive starting the job alongside him due to the rumours. Mr Tay had a very charismatic personality with a certain brashness in the way he interacted with people – a type of confidence (one could also say overconfidence), if applied a tad more intensely, can be inaccurately perceived as insults or bragging. I can see why those who did not know him well could easily misunderstand his character. However, the man turned out to be quite a humble and decent man. Despite the difference in his age and seniority, he never once pulled rank. He was willing to listen to suggestions and ideas, rather than dictating how things were to run – a true “working together” experience, rather than one where I was “working for” him. There is a caveat – he’ll treat you well if you’re a team player and hard worker, always having your back and defending you (he certainly vouched for me on numerous occasions with the BBM EXCO). But, if you’re a self-centred slacker – you will incur his wrath and abundant amounts of criticisms/nagging (and he can be very, very vicious).

I have many fond memories working with Bok Guan in BBMHQ. In terms of work ethics, he was very hands on – willing to do the manual work. Once in a while, heavy uniform supplies will arrive at the office – and I mean really heavy boxes. Despite his age, he would push these supplies into the stores by himself, not wanting to bother the other HQ staff, nor did he want to use his seniority to tell us to help (of course I will always panic and insist to help – worried he might break his back. But some mornings I would walk into the office and find that it's all done - old ppl wake up in ungodly early hours). HQ also once had plumbing issues – I remember a morning or two where I would catch him in the septic tank (which is a pretty gross place to be) trying to figure out the issue. Once I was repainting the outer office walls, so I brought a waterjet sprayer to remove the paint. It was only half done on the first day – when I came back the next morning, Bok Guan was out half naked in the sun trying to finish off where I started off (photo available upon request - might put it into the comments if you're interested). He was certainly diligent and a workaholic – there were numerous times after midnight (sometimes at 2am) where I will find him logging on his computer from home, using TeamViewer to continue consolidating the depot accounts (cause the PC screen will be moving in the office and I could see him at work).

Mr Tay was also a man of integrity, preferring to do what is uncomfortable but what is right during times of crisis. In our quarterly meetings with the BBM EXCO, he did not shy away from the sensitive issues in getting to the root of problems (even when he was no longer in the EXCO - acting without fear or favour).

I'll cherish my memories of Mr Tay Bok Guan – driving around in his old Proton Saga, how he was highly looked up upon by his Boys and officers from 1st PJ (as some of them evidently took up his brash personality), the fellowship, mentorship, and being a person I can call a friend (and thank you for the recommending me for an extra half month bonus in 2010 - which I understand the rest didn’t receive, heh). Well done fighting the Good Fight and serving the Lord selflessly. Until we meet again.

Deepest condolences to his family and friends from 1st PJ BB.

Meeting 1st KL's Founder - the Late Mr Khoo Oon Soo

I was asked by the two Terence's (Tay and Yap) for help finding the late Mr Khoo Oon Soo's photos. That led to some digging and reminiscing. 

In August 2004, I happened to be in Sydney for a trip - tagging along with my parents who was visiting my sister studying at Macquarie University. It was a time when phones didn't have the capability of looking up the news (it didn't have 1G yet alone the 5G we enjoy today - GPRS/EDGE were around the corner) and games were restricted to basic ones like the "snake game" for the more trendy Nokia phones. Mine was a large yellow Alcatel that only had a single row on its display. One had little choice but find something to do. 

I've heard about the legendary1st KL founder who resided in Sydney and was encouraged by Terence Tay to seek him out. I remember turning to the Australian version of the Yellow Pages (that's a big physical phone directory each household gets for free, for you young people who've never seen one before). Finding his name and address was fairly easy - there was only one individual who fit the name (it likely had Khoo, O. Soo, rather than the full name). He lived in Castlehill (all the Hillsong fans would immediately recognise this location), a suburb southwest of Sydney.

My dad and I made two visits - because the first time, there was no one home. And at the time, we were not even sure if it was he. I left a simple note beahind - wedged between a netted-screen door, requesting if he was 1st KL's former captain (or founder - can't remember exactly what I wrote) to contact me. I left with my mobile behind - hoping that a Malaysian number would add legimacy to my credentials vs the average brush salesman. 

I got a call a few days later - it was indeed him. We had an appointment to return to his residence. The interview itself has been detailed in a MyBBKul article (you can see below) - but what was not captured was how nervous and clueless I was conducting an interview. We stood the entire time, which on hindsight was poor judgment on my part forcing an older gentlemen to be on his feet for 45 minutes (then again, it was his home - can't just invite myself to be seated). Fortunately, he was very friendly and lovely, which helped me relax. 

I recall very little from our pleasant discussion. He showed me photos of his time in service - not much of him in uniform - many were black and white photos of moments of fellowship (but on hindsight, I should have taken photos of some of them). He named-dropped individuals a young BB officer like me would not have known, especially when many of them were from Penang. An older and far more exposed to BBM me today would have appreciated the conversation much more with him if he were still alive.

One of these individuals was his own father - Rev Khoo Cheng Hoe. In 2004, it was merely a face from old photos. Today, I understand that this individual was the reason 1st Penang (and by that extension - BB in Malaysia) began. It was Rev Khoo who gave the idea to another one of his sons, Dr Khoo Oon Teik, who himself learned about the BB when he studied medicine in Singapore. 

I was holding a recording device - either an Aiwa Cassettte player or a Creative Muvo Slim MP3 player that captured a glimpse of our conversation (the part he talked about his father), giving us a glimpse of the man's voice (I can share to you if you like - drop me a message). 

The below is my original write-up for MyBBKul.org published on 7th March 2005 (putting this here before Wayback Machine decides to expunge it from its archives). Further down are all (but one) of the photos taken during the meet - some not shown to publish before. 

There were a few errors in my article. It mentioned a rough age range - but to be precise, he was 85 the year I met him, not his 90s. And if the date stamp on the photo is correct - I actually met him on a Thursday, on 26th August 2004. His middle name is spelled Oon, not Onn. Here's an opportunity to publicly apologise for the errors made. 

Meeting the first BBM President

Mr. Khoo Onn Soo had a very interesting beginning with the BB. It seems that he was to follow the footsteps of his father, the late Rev. Khoo Cheng Hoe and his brothers which decided to join the Brigade earlier than he did. His father was the first Chaplain of the pioneer BB Company 1 st Penang Company in the year 1946. He decided to follow suite later on when he volunteered as a helper for the Methodist Church . Mr. Khoo Onn Soo took over the captaincy of 1 st Penang from Geh Hun Kheng and became the company's second captain.

Before long, the Methodist Church decided to station Mr. Khoo Onn Soo in Kuala Lumpur at the Wesley Methodist Church in 1954, where he took no delay in setting up the 1st Kuala Lumpur Company where he became the company's first captain.

After the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaya, Mr. Khoo effectively took over the helm of BBM. He remembers how it was like when the first EXCO was formed, and the plans they had for The Boys' Brigade Ministry.

Mr. Khoo was appointed the Youth Advisor for the Methodist Church in Malaysia . With that advantage, and also being the BBM President, he was able to spread the good name of the BB to more churches (which would reason why the BB churches are so common among the Methodist Church in Malaysia ).

He immigrated to Australia in the year 1970 coinciding with his retirement. He found it appropriate to live in Sydney as job opportunities were plentiful at that time. He worked at the correction center. His wife continued her career as a teacher in one of the Aussie schools.

He has not been attached to any BB company in Australia , but Mr. Khoo was still deeply involved in the church ministry, offering his home to church members to conduct activities such as Bible Study and worship. 

Personalized Message From BBM Correspondent, Kenny Voon of 3rd Kuala Lumpur: Although in his 90s, Mr. Khoo is still healthy and strong. When I got to Sydney I wasn't even sure if he was still alive as I only had a address with no phone number nor email. Thankfully, he lived only two grids away from where I stayed in Sydney . He wasn't in when I paid him a visit to his home in Castlehill the first time I visited. I left a note, hoping it'll do some good, and it did. Mr. Khoo rang me up on my mobile and gave me the warmest welcome to his home two days later. He was away on a holiday back to Singapore for a family reunion before I met him. There on a lovely Wednesday morning, I saw for the first time the man whom has served the Brigade which much dedication till the days of his retirement. A friendly man, so anxious to tell his story of his works for the Lord through the BB ministry. I had to say farewell to our first BBM president after a quick 45 minute chat. I was to catch a plane to Melbourne within the hour. He came up to me and shook my hand with the familiar BB handshake, saying “this is how we do it in the BB” and encouraged me not to give up serving the Brigade. Mr. Khoo Onn Soo has obviously not forgotten the Brigade even though he has been away from it for more than 30 years.

 

3rd KL's 65th Anniversary Celebration

On August 21, 2022, 3rd KL Company celebrated its 65th anniversary since its humble beginnings in 1957. The thanksgiving dinner was held at the Chung Kwok Primary School Hall (which was designed by my father by the way) and saw around 230 guest in attendance. 

We only had two months to prepare for the event - a rather last-minute call largely due to my own fault as I was trying not to let too many practices dominate the year, as it has with previous anniversaries. To me, this defeats the point of the actual BB programme. That being said, I do appreciate the fact that events like this give members something to look forward to and work towards. There was real cohesion and excitement from the Boys leading up to the day and commitment levels were far better than average. 

Several performance items were lined up for the evening and each member had something to do to entertain guest while there were having dinner. There was a dance piece from the Juniors, a drill performance by the Seniors, a sketch (which was too long, on hindsight), a band performance, and the Company choir. There were also pre-recorded video interviews in between items, speeches, a pop quiz, and appreciation of former members (which included the celebration of ex-captain Peter Siew's birthday - which was on the day itself).

There was also awards and promotions/appointments, as well as the Enrolment Service, which took up almost an hour. Hence, it was an overly packed programme, which on hindsight, was overkill. Guests didn't really have time to mingle as there weren't sufficient (or any) intervals. A lesson leanred is to keep the programme simple and that it is okay to have plenty of idle time. People can find joy in each other's company

The event marks my second Company anniversary event as Captain. To confess, it was not an event I looked forward to (which partly contributed to me dragging my feet getting plans in motion). While I'm eager to bring together parents and supporters - it's meeting literally decades worth of expectations from the Old Boys which I found absolutely nerve wrecking, especially when the Company is not in great shape in terms of membership. A decade ago 3rd KL was 155 members strong. At the time of the anniversary, we were less than half that size - with 64 members. 

Despite my concerns, once I was able to look beyond my pissy lack of self-esteem/confidence issues, I did look forward to catching up with many who used to be in the Company. While not many Old Boys came, largely because I started off the invites late, there were still fair representations of the various batches of 3rd KL members among our guests. It was an honour to play host to them. 

I'd also like to play acknowledge the financial contributions the Old Boys who raised RM3,200 for our general operations! We could truly feel the 3rd KL spirit from their dedication, despite them no longer serving actively in the Company. 

Despite the challenges faced, the night was a success. I want to thank all the Company officers, NCOs, Boys, parents, Old Boys, BBM, KL State Council, as well as other BB companies present such as 1st PJ, 1st KL, 4th KL, 10th KL, and 12th KL for their support! 

In case people were busy eating and/or weren't listening, either way missed out on something crucial I said during my speech - I announced that this will be my last Enrolment as Captain for the foreseeable future (well, I technically the next Enrolment I will still need to be wearing the red rosette before passing it on to whoever's next). That doesn't mean I will no longer be in the Company though - I'll serve as a Lieutenant and back up the new captain. It just means I will be paving the way for a new generation. I believe when a captain's commitment/passion wanes, it is time for a shakeup and release of the top position - otherwise, it will be highly problematic, even deadly for the Company. 

I'm open to coming back as captain many (and I mean MANY) years later if God calls me (even EXCO if need be). But for now, I will be making way. 

Thank you Lord for your guiding hands of 3rd KL for the past 65 years. We continue to seek you as we continue to serve youth and community. 

3rd KL's Christian Education Basic Syllabus

Below is the content for 3rd Kuala Lumpur Company's Christian Education syllabus developed in 2021. The idea is to give members the basics of what Christian history is about. 

Week 1 - In the Beginning

Week 2 - Adam and Eve

Week 3 - Cain and Able

Week 4 - Noah and the Great Flood

Week 5 - Tower of Bable, Sodom and Gomorrah

Week 6 - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Week 7 - The Story of Joseph

Week 8 - The Story of Moses and Events of Exodus

Week 9 - The Ten Commandments

Week 10 - The Birth of Jesus 

Week 11 - The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry 

Week 12 - Miracle and Life Lessons 

Week 13 - Betrayal and Dying of our Sins

Week 14 - Death and Resurrection 

Environmental Conservation Basic Materials

Oh boy, seems I've not posted for close to two years. Let's reset the clock.

I'm happy to present everyone with some notes you can use for Environmental Conservation Basic. This can be used by any BB company/entity. No permission or acknowledgement is necessary.

It is a short four week course (excluding time needed for practicals and the written exam).

Week 1 - Our trash

Week 2- What we can reuse, recycle and throw away

Week 3 - Composting

Week 4 - Minimum Impact Code

The idea of this course is to instill the right mindset for environmental sustainability and to create some new habits in young people to proactively be involved in the waste reduction process.

Please note that there are FOUR assignments. Three are clearly listed among the slides. Another assignment is a Company-level (or limited to members taking the badge) "gotong royong" where members will clean up a public area (perhaps the neighborhood surrounding the Sponsoring Body or school) together. Please apply the recycling measures taught, which means rubbish should be separated and classified by plastic, paper, metals, and general waste. You may also want to go one step further by soliciting support from your local town council in these efforts.

These materials can be tweaked and improved to suit your teaching requirements.

Hope this helps! God bless.

Pesta Beyond 2018 City Hunt Map

Hi everyone,

Here are the maps for the City Tour which contains some clues/tips which might help!

Petaling Street Mission Area

Lakes Gardens Mission Area

KL Tower - KLCC Mission Area Map 1

KL Tower - KLCC Mission Area Map 2


Lunch Pick Up Points: 
Please note that your squad lunch pick up locations.

E-Booklet
Just in case you lost your booklet, here's an e-copy.

Tip: Short cuts to/fro Wesley Methodist Church KL

Did your there are public transportation options by rail you can use to speed up your time?

By LRT (Kelana Jaya line) : Pasar Seni - KLCC
By MRT : Muzium Negara - Pasar Seni - Merdeka

MRT Stations

LRT Station Routes

https://www.myrapid.com.my/traveling-with-us/how-to-travel-with-us/rapid-kl/monorail-and-lrts

HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE!

Nature Awareness Basic Slides

It seems Facebook doesn't allow us to post ZIP/RAR files. So I'm going to include them here for your benefit. Other BB companies are welcome to these files too. 

Chapter 1 - Introduction, Outline, and Definitions

Chapter 2 - Amphibians & Reptiles

Chapter 3 - Birds & Mammals

Chapter 4 - Practical 1

Chapter 5 - Flora & Fungi

Chapter 7 - Country Code & Map Reading

Chapter 8 - Fish, Insects, and Other Bugs


Here's a sample on how to do practical field notes.