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Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
The Soon family's amazing military odyssey
Retired lieutenant Soon Tet Leong's journey in the Royal Malaysian Navy was all about service, sacrifice and solidarity. PETALING JAYA : On Lorong Berani ( lane of the brave) in Butterworth, Penang, a modest home exudes quiet heroism. Inside, framed moments and keepsakes of the Soon military family chronicle a tradition defined by sacrifice. Each item whispers of courage passed down through the Soon family, whose Chinese heritage has been intertwined with Malaysia's uniformed ranks for decades. Seven Soons once stood in uniform together across the army, air force and navy. From World War II medics to modern elite officers, the Soons' proud line of service stands as a testament to loyalty beyond ethnicity. The family's narrative reminds us that allegiance to king and country can be as much a family heirloom as a well‑worn photograph. Retired navy lieutenant Soon Tet Leong, 74, who is of Chinese-Gujarati parentage, is the family's chronicler. In the 2019 anthology, 'Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans', he challenged claims that Malaysian Chinese lack patriotism or shun national service. Some of the Soons who stood shoulder to shoulder in uniform, (from left) Tet Leong, Tet Loy, Tat Kong and Tet Seong pictured during Chinese New Year in 2018. (Tet Leong pic) 'Our story depicts all the good ingredients of citizenry, loyalty, and love for the homeland,' he declared in a chapter tracing his lineage. Tet Leong said his article, titled 'A family serving the nation', was a typical Malaysian story about migration, ancestry, homeland and loyalty. Tonight, he will help launch the book's follow‑up, 'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo at War', published by the Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva). It is a collection of firsthand recollections spanning the Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation and decades of counter‑insurgency. The first Soon In the early 1800s, Soon Ah Yoong fled the turmoil in Guangdong, China, and arrived in Malaya. Born around 1790, he settled in Bukit Mertajam, where his descendants would make their mark. Ah Yoong died in 1862 and stands as generation one in the family's ancestral archive. By mid‑20th century, his family members, including Tet Leong's late father, Boon Sooi, from generation five, were on the front lines of defence. The Soons during Chinese New Year last year at their family house in Butterworth. Roots in wartime sacrifice In 1942, brothers Boon Sooi and Boon Leong enlisted in the royal army medical corps at Tanglin Barracks, Singapore. Hoo Eng Chong, the future husband of their sister, Boon Chin, joined them. Together, the medics dubbed themselves the band of brothers. Boon Chin joined the police force at a time when it was uncommon for women to be educated, let alone be proficient in English. She was the stenographer to the British chief police officer for Kedah and Perlis during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960). The band of brothers endured the fall of Singapore, makeshift field hospitals under fire, and captivity as prisoners of war after the British surrender on Feb 15. Released on separate marches home, Boon Sooi and Boon Leong trekked overland. Eng Chong remained interned until June 1943, when the Japanese sent him to build the death railway in Siam. Generations three, four and five in 1929 at the Soon family house in Bukit Mertajam. Tet Leong's uncle, Boon Leong and father Boon Sooi are the young ones seated third and fifth from right respectively. (Tet Leong pic) Their survival forged the family's ethos of grit and unity. Both brothers passed away in 1988, six months apart, but their tradition lived on. In the 1950s, as Malaya moved toward independence, the other Soons branched into the tri-service. Military life became their hallmark, not merely a career choice. Generation six Tet Leong followed suit, and was commissioned as a Royal Malaysian Navy officer in 1979. He served in the navy's first frigate, KD Hang Tuah, that conducted operations like Ops Cabut to prevent arrivals of Vietnamese refugees fleeing their homeland. Tet Leong rose to engineering officer before taking optional retirement in 1992 at age 40. His second career was in the oil and gas industry. Husband and wife defenders, Soon Tet Leong and Loo Lee Fum, at the ministry of defence's central officers mess in 1980, the year they got married. (Tet Leong pic) His wife, retired Lt-Col Loo Lee Fum, cultivated the family's service spirit. In 1977, Loo and Toh Lian Sim, from Kuala Terengganu, became the only Chinese cadets admitted to the army's first women's intake. Both Loo and Toh were selected to join the royal intelligence corps due to their educational background, and ability to speak in multiple dialects and languages. Her father, Loo Yok Tian, a rubber trader turned home guard volunteer in 1953, once defended remote villages against communist insurgents in Baling, Kedah. Soon Boon Chin (seated fifth from right) sits proudly as the only woman among male Kedah police personnel during an event in 1957. (Tet Leong pic) The couple's sons, Pow Lee, 43, and Pow Yik, 39, both born on Feb 28, honed their discipline at the Royal Military College. Their seven-year-old granddaughter, Yu Hui, continues as the eighth-generation Soon. In retirement, Tet Leong and his wife lobby through Macva for better recognition of tri‑service contributions and improved veteran transition programmes. Inspiring the next generation Across the globe, countries celebrate military dynasties with pageantry and parades. Here, families like the Soons and others such as the Thongs, Yuens, Kwongs, Rodrigues, Stevensons and Lais remain largely unsung. Their sacrifices never grace school syllabi or national remembrance ceremonies. Worse, self-serving politicians forget the contributions of all races in nation-building. Yet their steadfast allegiance, captured in worn service registers and cherished photographs, is as vital to Malaysia's story as any battle plan. As the next generation weighs life paths, the Soon family's saga offers both inspiration and a challenge: to recognise that devotion to king and country can be the finest inheritance of all. To purchase 'Memoirs: Malaya and Borneo At War', visit Macva's website.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Rye man reunited with father's World War Two documents
A man has been reunited with World War Two documents that belonged to his father after they were found in a desk 18 years after he Reid, from Lanark in Scotland, bought the desk at auction four years ago and recently discovered the folder behind a drawer that had been documents had belonged to the late Ian Rodger, from Glasgow, who served in the signal regiment and fought in Italy and Tunisia during the son Sandy Rodger said: "It's a proud and detailed account of an extraordinary endeavour, told by a young man who, with the benefit of hindsight, survived and could be said to have had a 'good war'." Mr Rodger was made aware of his father's documents, that included photographs, letters and maps, following an appeal for information made through the Church of travelled from his home in Rye in East Sussex to Edinburgh to meet Mr Reid and collect the Rodger said he had a collection of his father's old papers and letters from the war but had never seen the contents of the folder 62-year-old explained that in 2021 he cleared out his mother's flat and must have missed the documents that fell behind a desk drawer. Mr Reid bought the desk for £110 and used it regularly at his home over the years, not knowing the historic papers were hidden inside until he found them in March."Sandy is a lovely guy and very proud of his father and it was very moving seeing his reaction as he leafed through the folder and shared anecdotes," he said. Additional reporting from PA Media.
Arab News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Review: The secret ingredient is love in Netflix's heartwarming film ‘Nonnas'
Netflix's latest heartwarming film, 'Nonnas' serves up more than just mouthwatering Americanized Italian food — it delivers a heartfelt story rooted in real life, proving that passion and purpose have no expiration date. It has steadily hovered in the top 10 Netflix film list in Saudi Arabia since its debut earlier this month. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Inspired by the true story of local Italian New Yorker Joe Scaravela's Staten Island restaurant, Enoteca Maria/Nonnas of the World, which it self-describes as: 'Convivial trattoria featuring real international grandmothers cooking on a rotating schedule,' the film highlights a special concept: Grandmothers, or 'nonnas' (the Italian word for grandmother), from diverse backgrounds cook authentic, home-style meals for customers. Vince Vaughn whips up a storm as Scaravela, the visionary who transforms deep personal loss into a vibrant tribute to family heritage: Handwritten scribbled recipes and all. Alongside him, legendary actresses Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro bring the nonnas to life with warmth, humor and undeniable charm. Their performances challenge stereotypes about aging women, showing that these culinary matriarchs are far from 'past their prime.' Instead, they are vibrant, innovative, creative and full of surprises — proving that life's best chapters can unfold well beyond what society expects. The film is a delightful reminder to believe in yourself, and also about the power of community. It celebrates the resilience and strength found in embracing one's roots, sharing stories and opening hearts while breaking bread. Whether through a shared meal or unexpected romance, 'Nonnas' reveals that love can always be found, no matter your age. While some moments tread the line of predictable and are a bit too sentimental, the film's earnest spirit and genuine affection for its characters shine through. A bit cheesy? Absolutely. But who doesn't love a bit — or a lot — of cheese sprinkled in, especially when it's served with a side of a home-cooked meal (for the soul)?
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Oldest home in New Hampshire is literally older than the country. Here's where it is
Portsmouth has it's fair share of older buildings, and not just because of the Strawberry Banke Museum. Englishmen first settled the Portsmouth area in 1630, only a decade after the Mayflower has landed in Massachusetts. By 1653, Portsmouth was incorporated into what was then Massachusetts and took Portsmouth as its name. The oldest building in the state was built not long after that, and it opens for summer tours starting in June. Interested in visiting? Here's what to know about it. The oldest building in the Granite State, the Jackson House in Portsmouth dates back to 1664, built by Richard Jackson, a woodworker, farmer, and mariner. Like houses of a similar age, it's seen its fair share of modifications since it was originally built. Succeeding generations added a lean-to by 1715, along with more additions in the 1700s and 1800s to accommodate different family groups sharing the house at once. The property remained with the Jackson family for seven generations, until 1924 when it was acquired by William Sumner Appleton, founder of the non-profit Historic New England that maintains the building. The Jackson House is located at 76 Northwest St., Portsmouth. It's open for tours during the summer on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from June to October. The 45-minute guided tours are held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 for students and children. Members of Historic New England can attend free. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Oldest building in NH is older than the U.S. Here's where it is
