THE state government paid tribute to Tech Dome Penang (TDP) chief executive officer Dr Khong Yoon Loong for his services in a simple farewell ceremony at the dome in Komtar today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow commended Dr Khong for his achievements and tireless efforts in leading TDP for the past five years.
“The state truly appreciates Dr Khong’s efforts to help Tech Dome gain recognition locally and globally.
“Tech Dome has touched many lives, especially students, from the 700,000 visitors to the centre.
“It’s no easy feat but you’ve done it. So, we want to thank Dr Khong and the rest of the team for the tireless efforts put in to increase science and technology literacy in Penang through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programmes.
“We wish Dr Khong good health and great success in his future endeavours,” Chow said in his speech.
Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, who is also the TDP board chairman, thanked Dr Khong for his contributions.
“Dr Khong has done remarkably well. He is very passionate about science and he has the vision to build interest in science and technology,” Dr Ramasamy said.
Dr Khong, in his farewell speech, thanked his staff members for their wonderful teamwork in laying a good foundation for Tech Dome, and the state government as well as many local and foreign establishments for their support to the growth and progress of Tech Dome.
“Tech Dome is not just a science centre but it also helps to promote racial unity through its programmes.
“For a state or country to succeed, science and technology play a very important role. If STEM is not given proper attention, the state and country will eventually lose out and be relegated,” said Dr Khong, adding that he would be spending more time with his family, especially his mother who is now 86 years old.
Dr Khong will be succeeded by Tunku Abdul Rahman University College lecturer Khoo Boo Wooi on May 1.
Also present at the farewell ceremony were state executive councillor Chong Eng, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, TDP acting CEO Ang Lye Hin, TDP board members and heads of several state agencies.
A man who is passionate about science, Dr Khong has given talks in China, Taiwan and Australia.
Under his leadership, Tech Dome was invited to participate in the Belt Road Initiative Science Museums International Symposium (BRISMIS) in Beijing, the World Scientific Literacy Conference in Tianjian and the People and Planet Alliance, which is a global consortium of approximately 40 science centres led by the Natural History Museum in London.
Besides that, among Tech Dome’s noteworthy achievements was the successful implementation of the ESTECC (Energy, Science and Technology, Environment and Climate Change) Education in Schools programme for 145,000 students in 400 schools.
Based on its success in 2019, MOSTI (Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation) invited Tech Dome to run the programme this year but Covid-19 has put a stop to it.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Tech Dome successfully conducted online programmes, such as Science@Home and Science Stream, for kids and the public respectively.
Early last year, Tech Dome collaborated with Whytehouse Education Group to establish a STEM kindergarten at Tech Dome Penang, making it the first kindergarten in a science centre.
Additionally, Tech Dome has also worked with many other partners in many of their programmes such as the Women in Science, Japanese Technology Weekend, Robomania with UBTech, a top 10 global robotics company, Dengue Symposium and annual fund-raiser Glo-Walk among many others.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting