High Court Honours Lawyer And Community Leader Baba Khoo

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Khoo Keat Siew was the brains behind the Baba Nyonya Convention, first held in Penang in 1988, which led to yearly gatherings of Peranakans from the region.GEORGE TOWN: The High Court here yesterday held a poignant reference proceeding to honour the late Khoo Keat Siew, a senior lawyer whose career spanned decades and best known for his community service to Penang.
Khoo, who died at the age of 91 in June 2021, was the second most senior lawyer in the country at the time.
He was remembered as an exemplary advocate who served on the Bar’s disciplinary board and also mentored young lawyers, as well as as a leader committed to uplifting society.
His friend, former Penang Bar chairman T Tharumarajah, told the proceedings that “Baba Khoo” was a fierce guardian of his Peranakan heritage.
“The legal fraternity has lost a splendid gentleman. Despite his stature and background, he was always humble and ready to serve the public,” Tharumarajah said.
Khoo was born into a prominent family in 1930. His father, Khoo Sian Ewe, was a real estate magnate, while his grandfather, Khoo Cheow Teong, served as a Chinese Kapitan in Medan, Indonesia.
Khoo’s children, Poh Chye, 52, (left) and Poh Jin, 55 (standing) and grandchildren Ryan Khoo, 8, (in green) and Kendrick Khoo, 12. With them are members of the Bar: T Tharumarajah (seated,right), Carolyn Oh (standing, right) and Sharmila Kaur (seated, second from right).He overcame the trials of the Japanese Occupation during his childhood before embarking on a career in law in 1957.
His community efforts included founding a home for wayward girls, setting up the Befrienders in Penang, setting up the Cheshire Home for the disabled, and the revival of several old associations, including the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, a clan group with roots in Xiamen, China.
He was also the brains behind the Baba Nyonya Convention, first held in Penang in 1988, which led to yearly gatherings of Peranakans from the region.
Khoo’s contributions earned him the title of Tokoh Kebajikan Kebangsaan in the late 1960s. “Helping the less fortunate is what my family took pride in, and I, too, have immense satisfaction in doing so,” he once said in an interview with FMT.
Khoo was described as a paragon of humility and service by Anand Ponnudurai, the presiding judge in yesterday’s proceedings. “His legacy is one of compassion, justice, and public service. He exemplified what it means to be a guardian of the law and a champion of community welfare,” Anand said.
Reference proceedings are formal court ceremonies to honour and celebrate the life of deceased members of the legal fraternity.
The court also recognised Raziah Fakir Mohamed and Seah Hock Thean for their contributions.
Raziah, who died in 2022 aged 65, was celebrated as a dedicated lawyer and a pioneer in promoting equality in legal practice.
Admitted to the Bar in 1985, she also served on the Bar disciplinary committee and was appointed a notary public.
Seah, who passed away in 2020 aged 59, was honoured for his service as a deputy public prosecutor and federal counsel. Known for his dedication to justice, he handled numerous high-profile cases while balancing personal responsibilities, including raising children with special needs. -FMT

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