Our Story of Paul Tan

With many people and organizations writing about Paul.. I've decided that BB too should say something about him. I will talk about him from a personal view point without making it sound like a funeral service testimony.

Paul Tan Yik Mun is just like any one of us, with similar dreams and ambitions. His struggle was to keep up with the rest of us as he suffered from numerous health problems. Back then, he was unable to do heavy physical excercises or follow us for jogs in fears of an asthma attack.. should one occur could see him ending up on medical supervision for a week. He also could not be allowed to have his body wet overtime as if he catches cold it would lead to severe shivering, fever, and eventually shock.

Paul is a year younger than me. We both studied in the same school from primary at SK Taman Desa , to secondary at SMK Taman Desa 2 which was later renamed as SMK Desa Perdana. Paul joined the BB in the Junior Section at Standard 6 (which no doubt proved to be a wise choice.. as it comes with an extra badge into Seniors). My first impression of him was, a 'small midget sized average human being'. After I got to know him better.. he was really just like any of us. He was very verbal and never passes up any program thrown at him from the BB, although some maybe against his parents will.

BB Club Photo during Rowley's (a tebby bear from Australia) visit in 1998 SMK Taman Desa 2.

Paul's on the bottom row, second from right.

Due to his health conditions he has often 'highlighted himself' in order to gain attention and respect from his peers. Many people called him a show off, but I felt that he was just trying to be normal (ok.. maybe at times he overdoes it to attract the girls).

In the BB, just like any private working towards promotion, Paul would often volunteer himself in any situation. In many occasions he has also taken lead in several practices (KL Battalion Drill competition and Pesta 2000), speaking of which he was most punctual and regular despite his conditions. Although many didn't know or appreciate it, he has never used his health conditions as an excuse to sit out "tough and tiring" BB programs and has pushed himself to not-slow-down-progress of the team - true espirit-de-corp.

KL Battalion Drill Competition cum Founders Day 1999. 3rd KL Co. Drill team.

Paul's the second from the right.

Paul was with us until Sept 2000, a month after the Enrolments & Awards Day. Having won the Pesta a month or two back, all eyes were set on promotions for the hard efforts put in by deserving members who have made the success of the Pesta possible true their initiative and passion for the company.

It was however a sad day for us.. the beginning of a major crisis for 3rd KL as that year, many Privates who deserved a promotion, such as Paul, did not receive it. Instead, a lame lazy suck up which I'll only name as Kit got the promotion. He was the only new NCO.

Although the officers gave the excuse that "if you are loyal to the company and really deserve to be an NCO.. you will not quit!".. I doubt in reality things really work out that way. Paul and a few others (namely Poh Yueng Zhi and several other Desa Perdanaians) did exactly what the other members did not want to do. You see, the 3rd Kuala Lumpur almost didn't make it for the Pesta.. all thanks to passive-conservative-low-life-lazy-NCOs-from-SMK "ehem" which simply voted not to go. When the Captain eventually forced us to, no doubt the "ehem" NCOs were not bothered about the Pesta. So guess who fuelled the fire? People like Paul, Yueng Zhi, Kenrick, Rick, Jonathan Scully and myself (Terence Ng wanted to pull out too. Loser. Pengkhianat.) Imagine after you have given so much.. sacrificed your time and energy.. doing something the others won't do.. and even being a private acting the role of an NCO.. and your efforts go unnoticed and punished to a certain extent... what would you do?

To me, Paul's resignation (and the others) lie as a bitter reminder to me, now as an officer, of how we need to know our members well.. not to be ignorant. It also teaches us to be careful with promotions as it definitely means alot to teenagers. Officers should never assume a members maturity and capability.. they should know it.

Paul was definately loyal and faithful to the BB. But I guess, it needs to be a two way thing to work out, ha?

3rd Kuala Lumpur Band Pesta 2000. Paul's the second on the left.

I remember bits of pieces from the speech Paul gave at the Enrolment & Awards Day.. he roughly said that "it was the BB.. and the people in BB which made my life possible.. the people in BB encouraged me to strive and push harder.. which allowed me to overcome my health limits.. and has made me become the more confident and normal person I am today.."

At this very moment, Paul would be spending his 3rd week in a coma in HUKM. He is still steadfastly holding on to his live.. and at the moment is touching and inspiring the lifes of his peers and people around him. He is Sure and Stedfast.




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Note: I would like to ask all members, Christian and non-Christian to pray for his recovery. The hospital is proving to be a real flop. He has had one or two life threatening situations due to the hospitals inefficiency and ignorance. Please ask for the Lords protection on Paul. After he wakes up, we'll invite him to give us his testimony.

For daily updates on Paul please visit:
http://ycblogspot.blogspot.com/

To have a wider perspective of Paul, visit his blog at:
http://www.xanga.com/hmaker