72YO retired Malaysian engineer repairs toys and gives them back to charity

The Star

3 days ago

Tan Guan Poh, 75, hung up his tools as an electrical and electronics engineer over 25 years ago – but he never stopped tinkering.
His favourite project these days? Faulty toys.
'I worked as an engineer for decades, so I am familiar with electronics.
'When I open up a faulty toy, I can see the wires – I know how the circuit works and where the power flows,' he says during a chat in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
When I open up a toy, I can see the wires – I know how the circuit works and and where the power flows,' says Tan. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran
In the 1980s, Tan was inspired by the popular TV series MacGyver , which featured secret agent Angus MacGyver who could fix or find solutions to almost anything with everyday objects.
'In my eyes, MacGyver was so cool. And I wanted to be like him.
'I liked how MacGyver used his intelligence to solve things,' he says with a smile.
'Now I repair toys. It keeps my mind active, and I enjoy breathing new life into old toys.'
At his home in Subang Perdana Goodyear Court, stacks of old toys fill plastic boxes belonging to his grandchildren, who usually visit him on weekends.
In a few cardboard boxes are toy cars and robots, some broken, brought in by his church for Tan to fix and donate to underprivileged and Orang Asli children in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang.
Angus MacGyver (played by Richard Dean Anderson) was the coolest fix-it guy on the telly in the 1980s. Screengrab: Culturapoparigor/Instagram
'Most of these battery-operated toys stop working because of simple issues – faulty circuits or missing parts.
'It is easy to throw broken things away, but if they can be fixed, why not (salvage them)?'
Fondly known as Uncle GP, Tan is one of many senior citizens who believe in staying active.
While some opt to pursue their hobbies or take on part-time jobs, he uses his expertise to help others.
The Kedahan believes active ageing helps seniors remain mentally sharp and socially connected.
Tan (right) with his church members and the Orang Asli community from Kampung Chemperoh, Bentong, Pahang. Photo: Tan Guan Poh
'Retirement doesn't mean you stop living.
'Look at me – I feel younger doing this. And the best part is, I get to play with toys,' says the grandfather of nine, who once worked as a process engineer in Kulim, Kedah.
A 2020 research titled Health Promotion and Active Ageing Among Seniors in Malaysia finds that seniors who were mentally and physically active tended to have an overall positive assessment of their well- being.
The study, published in the Journal Of Health Research, also states that health promotion and active ageing are two central components in enhancing quality of life and allowing seniors to retain a sense of control in their life.
Reuse, reduce and recycle
Tan's community work began during the pandemic, when he offered toy repair services at the now-defunct Re:Play Toy Hub and Toy Library, a free play space run by social enterprise Play Unlimited at a mall in USJ.
'One day, I walked past and saw toys inside the store.
'Curious, I stepped in and found out some of the preloved toys were faulty.
'I offered to help – it was my way of giving back,' says Tan, who was born and raised in Kuala Muda, Kedah.
He was with Re:Play for almost two years and repaired hundreds of battery-operated toys – from remote-controlled cars and light-up educational toys to interactive plushies.
While at Re:Play, he even trained a few volunteers to repair toys.
Tan is a firm believer in the 3Rs – reuse, reduce and recycle – and wants to help build a more sustainable Malaysia with less trash and plastic waste.
Through toy repair, he extends the life of items that would otherwise end up in landfills, and also teaches children to value their belongings.
'Kids these days have everything.
'Sometimes they lack the passion and motivation to learn because they are given too much.
'Parents should not pamper their kids too much,' says the father of three.
An active lifestyle helps seniors maintain purpose, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran
He recalls his own childhood, where toys were a rare luxury.
'My father worked at Sungkap Para Estate in Sungai Petani.
'We couldn't afford toys, so I made my own.
'I used matchboxes to build toy cars and Coca-Cola bottle caps as wheels.
'I was about eight then,' he recalls.
That early resourcefulness never left him. As a boy, he learned to sew from his mother, who used a Singer sewing machine.
Tan uses his trusted sewing machine to mend torn toys, giving them a second life before donating them to charity. Photo: The Star/Sheela Chandran
Today, he still uses an old sewing machine he bought for RM200.
'I sew pillowcases and repair teddy bears by hand before donating them to charity,' he says proudly.
He adds that while kids today are lucky to have access to phones and technology, he believes they must also be guided on how to use them creatively.
'They can play games, but also use the phone to learn and discover new things. That is important.'
A bigger mission
Tan's passion for helping others extends beyond toy repair.
Tan is passionate about giving back to the community and caring for toys. He also serves as a chaplain (a person who provides spiritual and emotional care in communities) at a church in USJ 1, Subang Jaya.
Part of his duties include visiting nursing homes and being a standby pastor for a funeral company in Kuala Lumpur.
'In life, we must do what we can to help others.
'Even small deeds can make a big difference,' he says.
After retiring in 2000, Tan served as a pastor at several Methodist churches across the country. In 2008, he pursued his studies in Clinical Pastoral Education at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Bedford, Texas. He later worked for five years as a hospital chaplain in Singapore.
'My job was to support patients emotionally and spiritually. When they feel more positive, they're more likely to take their medication and, over time, respond better to treatment.'
He returned to Malaysia just before the pandemic – and quickly found new ways to contribute.
'When I came back, I felt the need to serve the community.
'So I used my skills to repair toys at Re:Play,' he says.
These days, he continues to offer his services at PARC, a community hub in Subang Jaya, where he fixes broken items on Wednesdays and Fridays for a small fee.
Tan is a firm believer in the 3Rs and wants to help build a more sustainable Malaysia with less trash and plastic waste.
His technical know-how has led him to invent simple solutions.
For example, he now converts battery-powered toys to USB-powered ones.
'Most toys run on five volts, just like on a USB.
'So I open the toy, find the terminals, and connect a USB cable.
'That way, there isn't a need to keep replacing batteries.'
At home, he is always learning, especially when something new challenges him.
'I go to the Internet to learn. I didn't know how to match a transmitter and receiver for a remote-control toy, but now I'm learning it bit by bit.'
Passing it on
Looking ahead, Tan hopes to run repair workshops for senior citizens, teaching them basic electronic and toy repair skills.
'Many seniors feel bored. I believe in sharing my knowledge. So far, I have trained a few women when I was volunteering at Re:Play. I know I can train more.'
He believes that with some guidance, anyone can learn the basics.
'As long as you know how to open up a toy, identify positive and negative terminals, and not mix them up, you are halfway there.
'The mechanical parts are easy. Electronics just need a bit of practice – changing parts, understanding wires and soldering.'
A few basic tools are all you need to carry out simple toy repairs.
Some USB cables (the kind used for toys), he notes, only have two wires.
'Once you get that, and know how to use a screwdriver, you can start fixing things.
'You don't need an engineering degree.'
Tan also highlights the emotional value of toys, especially for the elderly.
'Toys aren't just for kids. They can bring back memories.
'For dementia patients, old toys can serve as powerful reminders of their past,' he concludes.