BEHIND every trailblazer lies a story worth telling, and Cheah Bok Eng’s new book, Trailblazer Unleashed, invites readers on a 10-day journey to discover 15 of them.
For someone who is not a full-time writer, releasing his second book in less than two years after his debut is a remarkable feat.
Bok Eng’s first book, Innovation Unleashed … a 10-day journey with an inventor, drew on his extensive industry experience as an engineer to guide and inspire budding innovators and inventors. In contrast, Trailblazer Unleashed … a 10-day journey with noteworthy pathfinders, shines a spotlight on others, chronicling the stories and journeys of 15 individuals personally known to Bok Eng, and offering insights into the diverse paths they have taken to success.
“I’m so blessed to cross paths with many prominent associates from diverse fields such as semiconductor, aerospace, finance, intellectual property, academia, medical and sports,” Bok Eng said.
“In my second book, I am delighted to bring readers along the trailblazing journeys of unsung local leaders involved in sports, aerospace, start-ups, high-tech companies, professional associations, community services and social enterprises.
“There is so much we can learn from these leaders. They have spent years becoming who they are today through the wisdom they pursued and the hard work they put in. So, I thought, why not document it? Whatever they’ve gone through is nothing new, but sharing their stories can help others avoid similar pitfalls and be better prepared to take on their own challenges.”
Just recently, Bok Eng had the privilege of presenting an autographed copy of Trailblazer Unleashed to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who browsed through the pages with interest and excitement. He was accompanied by Penang Women’s Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Ong Bee Leng, Squash Rackets Association of Penang president Datuk Linda Geh and Electronics Manufacturing Expo Asia (EMAX) adviser J. Philip Vincent – three of the 15 personalities featured in the book.
Bok Eng is deeply grateful to remarkable pathfinders — Past President of Rose Charities Malaysia Dato’ Seri Lawrence Cheah Seong Paik, Founder of the Malaysia Association of Sustainable Supply Chain and Innovation (MASSCI) Datin Prof. Lorela Chia, Founder of Penang Care Ir Dr Ngoo Seong Boon, President of the International Intellectual Property Commercialization Council (IIPCC) Malaysia Prof. Particia Chung, President of Malaysia TRIZ Innovation Association (MyTRIZ) Tan Eng Hoo, Director of Centre for Innovation and Consultation (CIC) USM Prof. Ir Dr Srimala Sreekantan, Past-Chair of IEEE Electronic Packaging Society (EPS) Malaysia Dr Eu Poh Leng, C-suite leaders Koh Dim Kuan, Tan Chun Chiat, Lok Choon Hong, Shariman Jamil and Dr Norilmi Amilia Ismail — for their generosity in imparting and sharing invaluable experiences that are pivotal for our next generation trailblazers to bring our nation and the world forward.
With 236 worldwide patent grants to his name in the Malaysia Book of Records, Bok Eng is himself a notable pathfinder. This second book reflects his desire to share a broader perspective of the community around him.
So, what makes a person a trailblazer?
A trailblazer is someone who dares to venture into uncharted territory, challenges convention, and leaves a path for others to follow. They combine vision and courage with the perseverance to turn ideas into reality, often making a lasting impact on society with their creations.
Bok Eng, who served as the organising chairman of the inaugural Malaysia Inventor and Innovator Convention (MyIIC), held at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, last December, believes true pathfinders are those who project the future and anticipate what is coming, positioning themselves to take action.
“I hope to equip our trailblazers-in-the-making with the essential mindset to be globally competitive, and to unearth the unsung heroes who are making an impact in modern industry and society.
“You need to acquire these skills, you need to observe, read, and be aware of what’s going on. Then, put on your engineering judgement. If your technical projection is inaccurate, it’s fine — then sharpen your skillset again.
“When you create new value propositions, people will start paying attention. Investors will not run after adopters or followers; they will run after creators. We need to create content and contribute to the value chain.
“By doing so, you draw the ecosystem to come and work with you. This is how you continue to elevate yourself, get connected to bigger networks, and solve bigger problems. If we have nothing to offer, we will most probably end up as a spectator or a follower,” he said.
Perseverance, Bok Eng emphasises, is essential because difficulties are inevitable — just as he experienced before earning his first patent.
“I failed 10 times before I got my first patent. That’s where I kept working with the right people and remained open to criticism. It’s important to stay humble and be agile in navigating through the unpleasant experiences.
“Before achieving something, there is always a barrier. Once you’ve overcome it and start getting used to the process or methodology, you’ll know how to do it again.”
One of his greatest satisfactions as an inventor is helping others achieve breakthroughs, especially in the ideation process that leads to intellectual property (IP) creation. This, he says, is not about seeking fame but growing the ecosystem and inspiring more inventors to achieve our national aspiration of “Made by Malaysian”.
He shared an example of an individual who once came to him for advice after his invention proposal was rejected.
“After he came to me, we discussed the matter and eventually turned that rejected idea into a successful one. It’s like a doctor saving a dying patient, turning something seemingly without hope into a success. From there, the individual gained the confidence to aim for more milestones.”
As an engineer and professional, Bok Eng strongly believes in adding value to oneself by continually learning. A former chemistry student, he has since acquired professional certification for Data Science and knowledge in IP laws, in addition to his domain expertise in signal integrity and advanced semiconductor packaging.
“We need to keep on learning and adding value to ourselves. This is essential for us to stay relevant in the industry. Otherwise, we’ll be obsolete,” he said.
Asked why both his books include “a 10-day journey” in the title, Bok Eng explained that it helps readers overcome the resistance to reading. Many people are not avid readers, but he found that those who committed to just five to ten minutes a day managed to complete his first book in 10 days.
His second book also includes key takeaways at the end of each chapter, designed to help readers digest and apply the lessons shared.
Despite being headhunted by Taiwanese and Chinese companies with tempting offers, Bok Eng has chosen to remain in Malaysia.
“I am not against the idea of working abroad. It is my personal preference and calling. At a certain point, it’s not about money. For me, it’s about significance — playing my role to turn the place I call home into a progressive and prosperous society. It’s nation-building,” he explained.
Inventor Cheah has been advocating for the awareness and importance of intellectual property creation, as the world is steering towards an innovation-driven economy.
Having strong IP portfolios, such as patent rights to technical solutions the industry relies on, would accelerate our local champions to become global players. Possessing the legal right to mitigate forward-looking technical challenges will easily attract the attention of industry fore-runners and investors.
Recently promoted to a senior technical position in a multinational company, Bok Eng juggles a busy life as a professional, husband, and father.
He often spends his Friday evenings swimming. Ironically, the quiet time in the pool is where he bubbles with new ideas for his writing projects.
By telling the stories of 15 remarkable people and his own reflections, Bok Eng shows that a true trailblazer makes an impact by sharing knowledge and helping others, not by seeking the spotlight. For anyone wanting ideas, encouragement, or just a reminder to keep going, this book is worth picking up.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian