Farewell, outdoor ‘fitness guru’ Dragon Ho

Ho Wah Ying on one of his many trekking expeditions.

PETALING JAYA: They did not call Ho Wah Ying a “dragon” for nothing.

The octogenarian, fondly referred to as Dragon Ho, had breathed plenty of fire since a teen in outdoor recreational activities – just like the fabled creature – from hiking, trekking, mountaineering and cycling for almost seven decades.

Ho was an energetic schoolboy from Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, who was among several handpicked by his British teachers to establish the Boys Brigade in Malaya, following the end of the Japanese Occupation and post-World War II.

In 1955, the die-hard fitness guru went on to establish the Pathfinders of Kuala Lumpur to promote weekly outdoor activities and appreciate nature, leading countless hikes up hills, mountains and forests all over the country.

Members of Pathfinders and Evergreen Hash Walkers paying their last respects to Ho Wah Ying at his wake and funeral at the Kampung Tunku crematorium in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

According to his only son, Max Ho Khee Fok, Ho’s health took a turn for the worse after his third Covid-19 vaccination two years ago and put paid to his outdoor activities.

Max said his father, who had turned 83 last Dec 27, died following health complications at their home in Taman Paramount on Feb 5, five days short of celebrating the start of the Year of the Dragon.

Ho is also survived by daughter Joanna and wife Lim Mooi Ngoh.

Scores of Pathfinders and Evergreen Hash Walkers (EHW) members paid their last respects to Ho at his wake and funeral at the Kampung Tunku crematorium two days later.

Among those present were EHW leader Peter Leong, and Ho’s long-time friend. Brigadier-General (Rtd) Soon Lian Cheng, 82, another avid mountaineer.

Leong said Ho taught them about a healthy lifestyle with plenty of outdoor and recreational activities through fellowships, over materialistic living.

“We will miss his guidance, especially on preserving nature and national parks, where much of our trekking activities were conducted.

“Ho also taught Taijiquan and Qigong exercises to enhance our fitness,” said Leong, who took over as Pathfinders’ grand master chief of mountains from Ho last year.

In his earlier years, Ho was a chartered company secretary who also served with the EPF and undertook welfare activities with the Kiwanis International Down Syndrome Club. He was seconded to the United Nations as a consultant for several Pacific Ocean nations.

He retired in December 1995, following which he continued to be self-employed as a management consultant before handing over his company to Max.