I believe that when countries and people with different histories, philosophies, religions and cultures collaborate there can be mutual learning to enrich ourselves and develop innovative paradigms for meeting 21st Century challenges as humanity evolves.
Dr Yeow Poon
Dr Yeow Poon
It is with deep sadness that we wish to announce the passing of our Hon President Dr Yeow Poon after a two year battle against pancreatic cancer. He was a giant of man and will be greatly missed by all, not least his colleagues and friends at Chinese Liberal Democrats.
Born in Malaysia, Dr Poon attended university in the UK and became naturalised as a British citizen. He was the Chair of the Chinese Community Centre – Birmingham, President of England China Business Forum, Chair of Arts in the Yard, Trustee of Chinese Welfare Trust and a core member of the Covid-19 Anti-Racism Group. He was the Business Desk Midlands Leadership Award Winner: Public and Third Sector Leader 2018.
As management consultant he worked primarily in the public and voluntary sectors, on public administration reform, capacity building, management and leadership development projects in the United Kingdom, Vietnam, China, LAO PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, South Africa and Greece. He had particular interest in cross-culture-AI governance, leadership, management and organisation development issues.
Many know of his amazing work with the Midlands business community, and with the Chinese and SE Asian diaspora communities. However, some may be surprised that he has written some short stories too, which you can read on his website
Most recently Yeow wrote two significant chapters in a publication by the Paddy Ashdown Forum and the European Liberal Forum on The Five Decade journey of EU and ASEAN Relations covering the topic of human rights as well as chronicling his own personal journey as an international development consultant for multi-lateral organisations. The book can be downloaded here:
The Five Decade Journey of EU-ASEAN Relations – Which Path For The Decades To Come?
We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to his widow, Jutta Stahlhacke and thank her for maintaining Yeow’s rich legacy of written work. It is to this that we return, on Yeow’s philosophical approach when encountering his own mortality:
When death comes, I have no idea whether there is a soul that continues another journey or whether there is a God.I do not feel that it is necessary to speculate as what will be will be. I do know that I want to be part of the wind, the water and soil, as my ashes return to the earth that has fed, nurtured and given me life. Our lives maybe short, compared to the aeons of the Universe, but they are precious and well worth living.
RIP Dr Yeow Poon
Editor’s Note We at LDV would like to extend our sympathy to Dr Poon’s loved ones. We appreciate the posts he wrote for us which you can read here.
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8 Comments
Thank you Caron and LDV editors for posting this obituary. I believe Yeow’s widow, Jutta Stahlhacke, will be maintaining his writing and blogs at http://www.yeowpoon.com
Yeow will be missed by his friends and colleagues, both in the West Midlands, where he was Chair of Policy on the Regional Executive and by those party members active in international matters. Yeow always brought a fresh approach to every situation, often stripping back problems to first principles. The obituary captures his philosophical approach to all challenges. Thanks for posting.
So sorry to hear the news of Yeow’s passing. I had the real pleasure of working with him on producing a Liberal Democrat West Midlands paper to encourage a common approach for groups across the area, His input and encouragement was an inspiration.
Yeow’s approach to his own mortality you qoted above is a fitting example of his quiet, philosophical approach to all he put his hand to. It goes without saying, he will be sorely missed.
It was very sad to read this news. Yeow was a lovely man and it was a pleasure to work with him on the Key Messages and Underlying Policies document that the West Midlands worked on so that Local Parties could work on a common approach. He will be sadly missed both as a friend and colleague, but also for his contribution to our approach to policy.
Yeow was an incredible person who created a wonderful legacy
It is indeed very sad new that Yeow Poon has passed away. Yeow’s writings, speeches and epecially private conversations, were full of surpridsing, extraordinary insights. I, like many, many others, benefitted greatly from his wisdom and ability to approach political issues from different perspectives. He was fearless in introdicing ideas that did not dovetail with conventional thinking; a great character trait. His expressed thoughts on the differences between Western and Eastern cultural assumptions, were worth their weight in gold. It is a sad loss and my sympathies are extended to Yeow’s family and close friends.
This is a tribute from Black Lives Action Committee (BLAC) for Dr Yeow Poon. A respected, influential and unifying Liberal Democrat. He was very supportive to us from different Ethnic Communities groups. He often participated in BLAC activities and gave updates by giving feedback from the Chinese Liberal Democrats. He was a formidable link for us. We have all lost a great member and an ally.
He shall be truly missed by BLAC – Black Lives Action Committee. and all of us as Liberal Democrats.
In loving Memories
Black Lives Action Committee (Blac) Liberal Democrats and supporters
I humbly submit our voice to the tributes of this giant of a man that we had in the Liberal Democrat Party.
We learnt a lot through his guidance.
Thank you to the support of all in Chinese Liberal Democrats. All of us in the Liberal Democrat organisations, we enrich our political Liberal Demicrat Party.
Dr Yeow Poon, you were always supportive and giving especially as guidance to BLAC and all those who had ears to hear your words of wisdom.
Thank you Dr Yeow Poon.
I am so incredibly sad to hear the news of Yeow’s passing and we have lost a real light in the world. I will always remember Yeow for being the embodiment of the liberal values he joined the party for – openness, tolerance, fairness and kindness. We will ensure his legacy lives on. Rest in peace x