The Demise of Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong

The President, Executive Board and Management of the OCM expressed their deepest condolences to the family members of Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong, who passed away peacefully on Monday, 15th August 2022, at the age of 88.

Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong was widely recognised as the “Father of Body Building in Malaysia” for his life-time’s involvement in the development of the sport of Body Building. He had begun his career in Body Building as an athlete in the 1940s in Melaka. He had then initiated the formation of the “Body Building and Weightlifting Association of Melaka” in 1949, with the registered address at No. 43, Jalan Kubu, Malacca, the piece of land he had inherited from his grandmother. His highest achievement was winning all the Body Building titles available those days namely the “Mr. Melaka”, “Mr. Malaya”, including the “Mr. Asia” title, which he had won in 1956 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

His contributions to the sport of Body Building never end even thought he had retired as an athlete. He was elected to lead the Malaysian Body Building Federation (MBBF) in the following capacities:
a. Chairman (1987 to 2002)
b. President (2003 to 2022)

During his tenure with the MBBF, Malaysia had hosted the following International Body Building Championships:
a. Asian Body Building Championships (1987, 1993 and 1994)
b. World Amateur Body Building Championships (1990)
c. ASEAN Pro Am Classic Championships (1992)
d. Commonwealth Body Building Championships (1998)
e. World Amateur Body Building Championships (2000)

Besides leading the MBBF, he was also elected to the following national/international portfolios:
a. President – Weightlifting Federation of Malaysia (WFM) (1987-2010)
b. Vice President – Asian Body Building & Physique Sports Federation (ABBF) (1986-2022
c. Vice President – Asian Powerlifting Federation (APF) (1990-2010)

In recognition of his contributions and services to the sport of Body Building, the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFBB) had awarded to him the “Honorary Mr. Universe” title during the 2000 World Amateur Body Building Championships held in Melaka. He was also inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2017, under the category of Athlete.

The demise of Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong is a great loss to the Body Building and Weightlifting fraternities in Malaysia. May his soul rest in peace.