Emeritus Professor Dr Christopher Ng, a Malaysian icon

Jul 21, 2023

By Tianne Ramona Pereira
When we think of Malaysian icons, we usually think of our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, professional squash player, Datuk Nicol David, and maybe even fashion designer Datuk Jimmy Choo. But did you know, nestled between these familiar faces on an installation known as the Bird of Malaysia, erected at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) celebrating our national heroes, is our Catholic brother in Christ – Emeritus Prof Dr Christopher Ng Kwan Hoong.

Attached to Universiti Malaya’s Department of Biomedical Imaging, Dr Ng is a pioneer in medical physics, and his work in the early diagnosis of breast cancer significantly aided the global struggle to combat the disease. In 2018, he was honoured as the first ever scientist from a developing country to receive the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award – an honour from the International Organisation of Medical Physics, for his substantial contribution to research, education, and leadership. He is also the recipient of the Merdeka Award for outstanding scholastic achievement.

If that is not “wow” enough, Dr Ng is also certified by the American Board of Medical Physics, consults for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is a member of its elite study team that works on the health consequences of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster.

With all these accreditations, awards and responsibilities under his belt, Dr Ng still makes it his priority to serve actively as a parishioner of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. Together with his wife, Leng Suan, they lead the Golden Eagles group at the cathedral and work closely with youth groups and various charities.

True to the definition of an unsung hero, Dr Ng has greatly impacted the progress of both our Catholic Church and the country – and for this very reason, we applaud and celebrate him!

The installation honours the remarkable accomplishments of Malaysians. To drop names, some of the icons you would recognise on this structure include the nation’s former Prime Ministers and current leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tan Sri Robert Kuok, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid (Lat), Tun V. T. Sambanthan, Prof Khoo Kay Kim, and Irene Fernandez, among others.

Bird of Malaysia started as a student project in 2021 and recently reached its culmination with the physical installation at the airport. It is the collective achievement of a team of architecture and engineering students from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The structure takes the form of a wing spread, mimicking the flight of a bird.

The Star reported that according to Assoc Prof Dr Mohamad Fakri Zaky Ja’afar, a lecturer from UPM’s Faculty of Design and Architecture, the centrepiece of the installation is “an egg that symbolises our roots, encapsulating the primary structural anchor. This signifies the significance of our origins in attaining greater heights”.

The project director, who also serves as the head of the Architecture Department, explained that the bird’s wing, encompassing the egg, serves as a representation of growth and advancement. The wings, adorned with portraits of national figures, pay homage to those who propelled the nation toward greater accomplishments.

“This is precisely why we named it the Bird of Malaysia. It symbolises our flourishing nation and celebrates the achievements of numerous Malaysians,” Dr Mohamad reportedly said.

“We aspire to inspire more Malaysians to reach new heights,” he added.

Let us learn from Dr Ng the invaluable lesson that honest work is a divine calling for every individual.

Through various means God tells us that engaging in honest labour while keeping faith in our hearts can lead to the great things he has planned. The installation will be displayed in the airport until Aug 31.