Swee Hock Goh
14 Oct 1940 – 21 May 2024

After schooling in Penang Free School, one of the premier schools of then British Malaya, Swee Hock was Penang state scholar and University entrant scholar into the Science Faculty of the new University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. After acquiring a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry in 1963, followed by a Master’s degree in 1964, he obtained a Fulbright Scholarship which enabled him to proceed to the University of Chicago. There he worked on carbene chemistry under the supervision of the renowned professor G.L Closs of Physical Chemistry, graduating with a Ph.D. in 1968.
Then began his career from lecturer to Professor and Chair of Organic Chemistry at the University of Malaya in 1984, where he served until mandatory retirement at age 55. With specific interest in free radical reactions, his research covers a wide range of areas wherein chemistry plays a role, e.g. in relation to water quality, plants and plant products including lipids, and insect chemistry. Thus he participated in advisory committees of the Forest Research of Malaysia (FRIM), the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the Malaysian Oil Scientists and Technologists’ Association (MOSTA), Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, the Malaysian authority for water quality control and postgraduate development in the new Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia.
As a new lecturer with expertise in the area of carbene chemistry, he was co-opted by Professor R.L. Huang (then Head of Department, later Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong) to co-author a book on free radicals, together with colleague S.H. Ong – The Chemistry of Free Radicals (published by Edward Arnold, 1974). A byproduct of his interest in and search for bioactive plant species was a monograph-like account, published with project associates – 101 Plants to Fight Cancer (published by Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, 2006).
He had contributed in several editorial roles, significantly that of MOST Malaysian Oil Science and Technology (the periodic publication of MOSTA) since its inception, Journal of Palm Oil Research (formerly known Elaeis) and Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics.
After retirement from the University of Malaya, he served for several years as senior fellow in the Chemistry Department of the National University of Singapore. During his whole career, he had spent his periodic sabbatical leaves as visiting professor or senior research associate at renowned research centres, in particular, Cornell University, Texas A & M University, Melbourne University and the Australian National University.
His contribution to national scientific and personnel development had been recognised by the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry with award of its Gold Medal and by the nation’s scientific community with election to fellowship in the Malaysian Academy of Science.
Despite heavy career demands, he had found time to enjoy pleasant comradery with associates, friends and family. He leaves behind his wife, two daughters and an extended family.
Lai Yoong Wong (his wife), FÅ·ÃÀAV, PhD & DSc UCL
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