Music maestro Dato’ Ooi Eow Jin’s presence at the Dewan Sri Pinang became the focal point of the day. Ooi was a household name to those who love music as he had composed many famous songs sung by Alleycats, M. Nasir, Francis Yip, Dahlan Zainudin and more.
Ooi loves to talk about music and shared with Buletin Mutiara’s Chan Lilian about his music. Though a bit hard on hearing, Ooi’s face lighted up when asked about those songs that had remained the favou
rite of many.
Not many know that Ooi is Penangite until news of him getting a Datukship (Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri or DSPN) was published. Ooi who was born in 1938 had his education from Wellesley and Westlands primary schools before going to Penang Free School. He became a teacher in Li Tek Chinese school before joining the civil service as a clerk.
From civil service, Ooi pursued his love for music and played in a band at the E&O Hotel and became RTM Orchestra and then TV3 composer.
Buletin Mutiara’s Chan Lilian asked Ooi how he felt getting a Datukship. At first he said it is a bit too much of an award for him but he was assured that he has left a legacy of good music in the local industry and he is recognised and remembered as a composer.
Ooi then said, “I feel that if you do something which is very good, you deserve some recognition. Composing is part of own personal feelings, if you have any music knowledge, composing not difficult but again, it is not easy.”
Ooi was in the limelight recently when Old Frees friends rallied around him to raise funds to help Ooi as he has Alzheimer and caring for a son with brain tumour