Yeoh, who died last Friday, aged 79, had a profound impact on the inclusivity and development of basketball in the country.
His philosophy was simple yet deep: basketball, like any sport, should be a unifying force, serving as a powerful tool for social integration.
Yeoh was a champion at breaking barriers and building bridges, and according to Dina Rizal, the chairman of SportsUnite Sports Club, “ a beacon of inclusion.”
The former secretary-general and vice-president of the Malaysia Basketball Association (Maba), national coach (1975 to 1989) and Perlis’ Agong’s Cup player (1969) and head coach (1970), was known for his visionary approach and dogged dedication.
Yeoh played a pivotal role in encouraging non-Chinese communities in Malaysia to embrace and excel in basketball.
In the early 1970s, he initially focused on Chinese schools as the game was more popular among the Chinese community in Malaysia.
However, Yeoh quickly realised the potential for the sport to bridge cultural divides and promote unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the country.
He recognised that while basketball had a strong following among the Chinese community, it was underrepresented among Malays, Indians, and other ethnic groups.
Yeoh was determined to change this dynamic and one of his major initiatives was the annual non-Chinese basketball championship.
In 1973, the first non-Chinese basketball tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur to bring the game to all Malaysians.
The competition only lasted two years due to the challenges in overcoming the perception that basketball was a ‘Chinese sport’, but it was revived in 1995 as the national basketball championship, Sedap Cup.
Yeoh worked tirelessly to dispel the “Chinese sport” notion, often visiting schools and speaking to parents and community leaders about the benefits of basketball for all children, regardless of their ethnic background and gender.
He launched the “Basketball for Peace” movement to popularise the sport among the various ethnic communities.
There was the “Tall Talent” project where scouts went nationwide to find tall players, free basketball clinics in rural areas and urban neighbourhoods, all in partnership with schools, community centres, and local organisations.
The efforts of Yeoh and his Maba colleagues gradually began to pay off as more non-Chinese students showed interest in the sport.
In 1974, full boarding schools started the Hamdan Cup for boys and Zainab Cup for girls, and basketball became popular in Mara science junior colleges.
Since Zabri Chik made the national men’s team in the 1970s, former captain K Satyaseelan has been among the non-Chinese players who have done the country proud in recent years.
Former national women’s basketball team captain Nur Izzati Yaakob and R Kalaimathi won gold medals in the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games.
Today, over half a million non-Chinese in Malaysia play basketball.
A beacon of togetherness
In 2007, Dina formed SportsUnite, a club dedicated to promoting unity through sports especially among children of different races.
SportsUnite’s unity carnivals are named after sports icons and as a tribute to Yeoh, a junior 3-on-3 basketball carnival, Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock Cup, came into being in 2015.
Dina said the event fostered a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among young players.
“He not only developed basketball in Malaysia but also promoted a message of unity and inclusivity that resonates to this day.
“His legacy is a testament to the fact that with vision, passion, and perseverance, one individual can make a substantial difference in society,” he said.
Dina hopes Maba will honour Yeoh with a major annual championship for non-Chinese youth. “It would be a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of sports.”
He said some of the ties could be played at the court that Yeoh built in his hometown Kangar, Perlis.
In Yeoh’s memoir, “My Life, My Journey”, two notable American basketball personalities ranked him as the James Naismith of Malaysia’s basketball.
“Naismith was the inventor of basketball and that is what Yeoh was for his country,” said Dale Brown, former college basketball coach who spent 25 years coaching the LSU Tigers.
Bruce O’Neil, founder, president and CEO of the United States Basketball Academy, said: “Naismith would have loved Dato’ Yeoh. I know I do!”
Defining figure on and off the court
Yeoh’s work caught the attention of international basketball organisations, earning him invitations to speak at global conferences on sports and social integration.
He was recognised with numerous accolades abroad, including the 1997 Best CEO Award by the USA Basketball Association and the 2001 John Wooden Lifetime Service Award, named after the legendary American college basketball coach.
In Malaysia, he collected the national Sports Leadership Award 2015, which was the final major accolade he had received.
Yeoh was a game-changer in basketball not just in Malaysia but also in Asia, culminating in his recognition as secretary-general emeritus of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia in 2012.
Fiba Asia bestowed the honour after Yeoh suffered a serious stroke during a trip back to Kangar in the same year. They did not want to let him go, and he refused to let things be as well.
Last month, Maba nominated Yeoh for induction into the world body’s Hall of Fame.
As coach, he led the national basketball team to a gold medal at the 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
Many of his former players have gone on to become successful professionals, coaches, and community leaders, carrying forward his vision of diversity and unity through sports.
During his years in physical education, Yeoh served as the president of the Federal Territories Gymnastics Association between 1987 and 2000.
On his basketball trips abroad, he met gymnastics coaches and used that networking to get Malaysian gymnasts to compete in international competitions.
Beyond sport, Yeoh was a staunch follower of Sathya Sai Baba and built the Sai Lotus Divine Centre in Janda Baik, Pahang.
Former national 400m hurdles record-holder Keney Martin, whose wife Mary Ang is Yeoh’s niece, said: “His life was a demonstration of the values of hard work, perseverance and integrity.
“His spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him and in the game he loved so dearly.”
Yeoh is survived by his wife, Hong Eu Thee, daughters Ee Leen and Ee Von, and their families, and mourned by a community of grateful athletes, colleagues, and admirers.
The wake for Yeoh will be held today (3pm-10pm) and tomorrow (11am-10pm) at Nirvana 2, Jalan Dewan Bahasa, Bukit Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.
The cortege leaves for cremation at Nirvana Crematorium, Shah Alam at 9.30am on Tuesday.