JABATAN SEJARAH

No. 9 June 2019

In Memoriam The Khoo Kay Kim I Knew

Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay of Malaya library. My room was just a few was never locked and you could meet him Kim was a personality I got to know about doors away from his. He was the internal anywhere, anytime. He would never tell during my Form Six days in 1982 when his examiner for my MA thesis. He anyone to leave his room or to even writings were published in an academic appreciated my work and had good things excuse him. Most often it would be visitors magazine named Diskusi. I referred to his to say about my ability to conduct vigorous who had to say thanks and excuse writings to write essays for assignments as research and the potential he saw in me to themselves. He was such a kind and a well as to study for examinations. I knew be a good historian. I also worked as a good-hearted person. him personally when I did my part time Research Assistant for him on I admired Prof. Khoo’s self-discipline and undergraduate study at the History the topic of History of time management. He would be in office at Department in 1985. His style of lecture before being appointed as a lecturer in the 9 am and then head to the microfilm was very different from what I had department in 1995. research room at the main library with an expected and so I did not enroll in any of Prof. Khoo was very generous to provide umbrella at around 1.30 pm to 4 pm. He his courses or attempt to approach him to references when I needed them after I would return between 4 pm-5.30 pm. His be my supervisor for my postgraduate completed my Master’s research. He was car, a Mercedes with the number plate research. I nonetheless admired his also kind enough to write a preface for the WTA 7102, would leave the faculty around scholarly personality and research works many books I published in the 1990s. One 6pm. He was a role model on what it that undoubtedly changed the landscape of these was Tamadun Dunia (World meant to be a dedicated historian. of Malaysian history. Civilization), which became the main Moving to Prof Khoo’s academic works, I had the chance to get to know Prof. Khoo reference for Form Six history students one cannot deny that he was an better when I enrolled for my Master’s from 1998 until 2012. I got to know him instrumental scholar who contributed programme at the department where I better when I pursued my Ph.D. at the enormously to the writings of Malaysian spent so much time engaging in same department and again we met history. He was the first academic to write conversation with him pertaining to my frequently in the microfilm rooms. Malaysian history from the Malaysian research – “Free Trade and Free Ports in What I admired most in him during and perspective or the Malaysian-centric view. the Straits Settlements in the late 18 and after my undergraduate days was his In his article entitled “Recent Advances in 19th century”. He spent many hours in the openness and welcoming nature. His door the Study and Writing of Malaysian microfilm research rooms at the University JABATAN SEJARAH

History” published in Peninjau Sejarah in of knowledge should be used to explain history. It was through his leadership that 1968 (Vol. 3, No. 1, April), he mentions the past. Prof. Khoo’s works were thus the early 1970s and 1980s witnessed that writing Malaysian history from the mostly written using the objective- many works at the undergraduate level Malaysian point of view did not oblige descriptive narrative style, as opposed to dealing with local history. It is not far- one to adopt a condemnatory attitude the constructionist/analytical school that fetched to say it was he who introduced towards the British. He encouraged employs statistics, model-construction the tradition of oral history at the Malaysian historians to look into various and theoretical frameworks. In short, he department when there was no relevant factors, external and internal, social, did not believe in theories. unit or center available in the university. political and economic, perhaps even Because of the school of thought he To me, one of his greatest contributions psychological to see how they interact to belonged to, Prof. Khoo often became is in highlighting the historiography of produce our present society and where entangled in controversies with young for students who are keen to precisely has the pattern of traditional historians who felt his views were rather pursue their higher studies in history. His Malay society been transformed. He was outdated. If one were to look into his writings “Recent Advances in the Study also concerned with the ultra-nationalists work closely, it would be seen that he too and Writing of Malaysian History”, who would not hesitate to indulge in self- had subscribed to theory in one form or Peninjau Sejarah, 1968; “Recent deceit by pretending that the British another without him realizing it. His work Malaysian Historiography”, Journal of never existed here and therefore Western Malay States has a chapter on Southeast Asian Studies, September contributed nothing to the making of Topography and Polity, discussing in the 1979; “Local Historians and the Writing of modern Malaysia. aspect of geo-history how the natural Malaysian History in the Twentieth His magnum opus, The Western Malay environment – rivers, lands and hills – Century” in Perceptions of the Past in States, 1850-1873 (Oxford University affected the economic life of the Malays Southeast Asia, 1979; “Historiography of Press, , 1972) is an and their political system in the western Peninsular Malaysia: Past and Present”, excellent study of the impact of peninsular states. On page 15, he adopts Malaysian Studies: Archeology, commercial development on Malay J.M. Gullick’s socio-anthropological Historiography, Geography and society and politics in the Straits theory that a traditional Malay Society Bibliography, 1985; “Malaysian Settlements and in the western was composed of two main divisions – a Historiography: A Further Look”, Kajian peninsular states of Negeri Sembilan, ruling class and subject class, with the Malaysia, 1992 and “20th Century and . The work achieves Yang DiPertuan Agong occupying the Malaysia: A Historiographical a high-level of objectivity largely due to apex of the political system. Perspective”, Sejarah, 2000 are some of Prof. Khoo’s adoption of a descriptive- the must-read references for researchers Prof. Khoo, along with R.R. Bonney, did empiricist methodology as well as his use who intend to work on Malaysian history. not hesitate to take issue with western of social theory. It is an authoritative scholars in the 1960s and 1970s in many I also admired Prof. Khoo’s role as a piece of Malaysian socio-economic of his writings and seminars organized by public intellectual. He responded to many history. The amount of meticulous the History Department. His works like historical controversies that gripped research that went into this work is clear “J.W.W. Birch: A Victorian Moralist in public attention. These included among by its extensive footnotes. Perak’s Augean Stable?, Journal of the others the controversy over whether Prof. Khoo belongs to the Rankean Historical Society, Vol. IV, 1965/66; “The Hang Tuah existed, who was the founder school of thought (Reconstructionist or Origins of British Administration in of Kuala Lumpur, the issue of objective/empiricist school of history) who Malaya”, JMBRAS, Vol. 39, No. 1, 1966 pendatang/immigrants, whether Malaya believed history should be based on and “Malay Society 1874-1920s”, Journal was actually colonized and many more. empirical evidence or, in other words, by of Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2, While I would not agree with all his narrating how things really (or actually) 1974 provide new interpretations in views/interpretations, but by engaging happened. Rankean historians’ emphasis Malaysian history. with the subject, he kept the subject on knowledge through interpretation of alive. Indeed, it was Prof. Khoo who He became a rising star in the 1970s the written text leads them to reject made the attempt to popularize history when he was the first academic at the relativism in history – that is, the rejection among the masses. Through the column department to lecture in Bahasa of the idea that morality exists in a History Alive, which appeared in the Malaysia, the national language. He also historical context. For them, no theories Sunday Star in 1993, Prof. Khoo along contributed in enriching Malaysian local 2 Buletin June 2019 JABATAN SEJARAH with Dr. Ranjit Singh Malhi discussed Prof. Khoo joined those road shows and The local sabbatical was a blessing in controversial issues in Malaysian shared his thoughts with the students on disguise. I had ample of time to meet him historiography. The earlier articles the importance of history. As a result, the many days in a week, be it in the focused on the nature of pre-colonial number of undergraduate students saw a morning, afternoon or night to discuss Malay society and particularly whether it remarkable fourfold increase in the many subjects pertaining to history and was feudal or pre-colonial Malays who following years. He was the first to knock some casual chat. were traders or peasant farmers. In one on my door to congratulate me when the The operation took a toll on Prof. Khoo’s article, it was suggested that pre-colonial department was ranked as the top history body. He was nevertheless determined to Malay society was neither feudal nor department in the country in the QS return to the department, but his health agricultural but maritime and trading in Ranking on subject in 2017. condition did not permit him. He did try nature. Prof. Khoo also commented on Prof. Khoo participated in all the activities his very best to engage with the public. the works of British colonial historians. organized by the department during my He gave interviews and had time to meet The public were always looking forward tenure as the head from September 2015 some close friends. I could see that he to such writings every weekend. The until September 2018. He felt the past was becoming weaker day by day. But I historical subjects were close to the heart intellectual vibrancy of the department also saw a strong fighting spirit in him. of the lay readers. He also touched on was revived and eagerly looked forward He was sharp and even cracked jokes. unconventional subjects, including the to more engagements with the public. He oldest English newspaper in the country, He was looking forward to meet me more also presented many papers in the the first Indian members of the Straits often. It was all smiles when I popped department’s seminars. He was and Federal Legislative Councils, first over for a visit at home or at University particularly excited with the History Text Malay ruler to study abroad and on why Malaya Medical Centre. He had a craving Book Seminar entitled “The Study of Malaysia has nine rulers and not one of a for American groundnuts, which I History: Its Relevance and Significance” typical sultanate. He was the father of occasionally bought for him. I did not that I organized with Association of titbits of Malaysian history. know he liked corn and he enjoyed it very Voices of Peace, Conscience and much when I brought that for him. I I got closer to Prof. Khoo with increasing Reason (PCORE) in 2016; the Teachers celebrated his 82nd birthday with my acquaintance when I became the Head History Seminar in 2017 and People’s daughter at his place. He enjoyed the of the History Department in September History in 2017 on the subject of Death cake I brought for him. It was a moment 2015. In all the conversations I had with Railway. The lecture halls and seminar to rejoice. him, as an academic, he strongly felt that rooms where Prof. Khoo delivered his the department’s atmosphere now lacked presentations were mostly packed and In all the many visits I had, I must say the intellectual vibrancy it had during the many questions were raised from the Prof. Khoo’s better half, Puan Sri Rathi 1960s and 1970s. He hugged me when floor. He was so delighted with the Khoo, stood by him at all times. Her love he came to know I was appointed as the animated environment that he once came for him has no bounds. She new head. He attended the mission to me and said, “Siva, you have to do this accompanied him during the many statement of the department meeting, more”. follow-ups at UMMC, attended to his which I organized in the same month of medication and ensured he had his My tenure as the head of department my appointment. He was happy to give meals on time. She made sure that he ended in September 2018 when I opted many inputs to raise the standard of the was always happy. There were many for local sabbatical. I needed a break to department. One of the major problems occasions when both shared their spend more time with my family. Due to a faced by the department in that particular happy moments they spent with their hectic schedule and workload during the year was the fall in the number of friends, relatives and children. Prof. Khoo past three years, my health was at times undergraduate students. The department will interject to correct the years the event affected. Prof. Khoo too went for a by- only had 17 students, a big fall compared took place. pass operation in October at University to more than 50 and even hundreds of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and I was unable to visit him on the 15th of students we had before. I embarked on a then made a special request through his May when he was admitted again at series of road shows in Forms Six wife that I pay him a visit at his residence. UMMC due to a bad cough. I left for schools in the Klang Valley to encourage What followed was a journey I would South India for a week for an academic students to enroll in history after their cherish my whole life, as I got to know visit. I was shocked when Puan Sri STPM (Higher School Certificate) the other side of Prof. Khoo. studies. 3 Buletin June 2019 JABATAN SEJARAH

informed me upon my return that he had lung infection and his There are a lot of writings and acknowledgements by the public condition was bad. I rushed to UMMC and was devastated to praising Prof. Khoo’s achievements. I think what matters for see him on nebulizer. Puan Sri told him that “your favorite someone who is aging is the time we spend to keep them student Siva is here”. “Siva has to come again and again”, he happy. replied. I guess he missed me. I was at the hospital for the rest As the saying goes, “never ignore a person who loves you, of the day. My last visit was when he was admitted to the ICU cares for you and misses you, because one day, you might on the 26th of May (Sunday) at 7pm. I spent half an hour with wake up and realize you lost the moon while counting the him. He could hear me and even tried hard to open his eyes to stars”. look at me. He finally lifted his hand to hold me. I was touched. Deeply. Rest In Peace, Prof. Khoo. I was happy that I was there for him during his final days. It was Associate Professor. Dr. Sivachandralingam Sundara Raja an honour that I was requested by Puan Sri Rathi Khoo to History Department carry his casket along with his three sons during his final rites at Nirvana Memorial Centre on 1st June 2019.

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