Former Thomas Cup Champions Receive Magnificent Honour from YDPA After 56 Years

BY: Michelle Liew

Thomas Cup winner Datuk Yew Cheng Hoe still vividly remembers receiving a Rolex watch from the late Tunku Abdul Rahman following his team's stunning victory.

After 56 years, Cheng Hoe and his teammates who won the 1967 Thomas Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, once again are basking in the good old memories with a great commemoration.

This time, the commemoration is with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Official Birthday at Istana Negara today.

Cheng Hoe together with his teammates Datuk Teh Kew San, the late Datuk Ng Boon Bee, Datuk Billie Ng @ Ng Seow Meng, Datuk Tan Yee Khan @ Tan Ah Hing and Tan Aik Huang received the award of the Commander-in-Chief of the National Service (PJN) from His Majesty, bearing the title 'Datuk'.

The 80-year-old Cheng Hoe said the honour was the highest honour the team received after the award was presented by Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was also the first prime minister.

"We are grateful to His Majesty for appreciating us and bestowing the honour today. It was a worthwhile wait," he told Bernama.

Cheng Hoe who was the first singles player at the prestigious badminton team event, inspired his teammates to win Malaysia's fourth title in the tournament, defeating Indonesia 6-3 in the final. He defeated Indonesian player Ferry Sonneville 15-9, 15-7.

Also honoured today was former Olympic Games athlete Karu Selvaratnam, a native of Batu Gajah, Perak who was awarded by PJN, carrying the title of 'Datuk'.

Karu, who competed in the men's 400 meters (m) hurdles and the men's 4x400m at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, is a talented former athlete.

Apart from athletics, the 82-year-old captained the national cricket team and played hockey and badminton for the Malaysian Armed Forces from 1961 to 1973.