IT was not too long ago that he was the 'voice' of Malaysian radio. Today he is still the voice of Malaysians - but contrary to popular belief, he still hasn't left RTM! Why, he was never a full-time staff there.
Patrick Teoh is a household name to Malaysians both young and old. About 20 years ago, he achieved fame hosting popular shows on national radio stations such as Radio 4, THR and Rediffusion; today he makes his voice heard in a different way as an active blogger, thespian and writer.
"People have the misconception that I was a part of RTM for many years, and there has been some speculation as to why I left. I never left! I was never employed, and therefore I never left," explains Patrick.
In fact, he has only ever held one full-time job: a 11-year stint at Rediffusion. The shows he hosted on RTM were either on a contractual or sponsored basis.
Popular for his sense of humour and down-to-earth style, millions of listeners tuned in daily to listen to his programmes. His mischievous wit landed him in trouble with the authorities several times; arguably, this just made his shows all the more popular.
From Ais Kacang to Angkasapuri
However, as a youth growing up in Ipoh, this inveterate entertainer was never interested in broadcasting. He never listened to the radio, never sent in requests, never even bought a record.
How did he end up where he did?
"It was pure coincidence," he says.
"After Form 5, I failed my university entrance exams. So I just did what most schoolboys did in those days, I became a salesman. I even sold ais kacang on the roadside with my friend for a few weeks!"
"I just happened to hear about a job vacancy on the radio one day, so I applied. I went to KL, did the interview, and got the job. At the time, I didn't really care what it was as long as it was something."
Well, it was definitely more than just something. In pre-internet days, radio was the most potent form of communication available, a medium that connected people of all cultures and backgrounds. Patrick enabled these people to come together and voice their opinions, and perhaps more importantly, he listened to them.
Patrick recalled one particular incident that really demonstrated the impact his work had on Malaysians. It coincided with the release of the film
Interview with the Vampire
in 1994, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
Radio power
"I decided to do my own interview with a vampire on my midnight show. We publicised it, and then interviewed someone claiming to be a real 'vampire'."
"When we finished the show and came out of the RTM building, there was a long line of cars waiting outside. They were KL listeners who knew where we broadcasted from, and went there to catch a glimpse of the 'vampire' because they were so taken with the show that they thought it was real!"
"It really illustrates how powerful radio is as a medium, compared to newspapers and TV."
It was through this medium that Patrick was able to indulge his passion for communicating with people.
"I guess what I loved most about my job was that it gave me a chance to just sit around, talk to other people, argue and debate. What other job will give you this kind of opportunity?"
"When I was a boy, I harboured dreams of being a doctor or a priest: not because I wanted to make lots of money, but because I always thought of the wonderful interaction I would be able to have with people."
Today, with his work mainly focused on acting and writing, Patrick continues to enjoy communicating with other people. He runs two blogs,
Tokkok
and
Niamah
which deal with everyday grievances faced by the average Malaysian - but disagrees when I suggest that they are popular.
"They're not! If you look at the counter, there are only 150,000 hits after six months. If you cut out the multiple hits, that leaves only around 50,000, so there is no way you can say that they are popular blogs."
"Other sites like Screenshots and Raja Petra have millions of hits. Even pointless blogs about 'today I went to see a movie with my boyfriend' have hundreds of thousands of hits. So how can you say mine are popular?"
He attributes his blog's notoriety to his name.
"I think many people know about my blogs because in an urban area, people know who I am. I doubt many actually read them though."
Happy times
Having branched into so many different areas, Patrick has really proved himself a jack of all trades. But what has he enjoyed most?
"I've been so lucky, everything has been great."
"There haven't had any particular 'wow!' moments in my life, but plenty of continuous small moments. Some might say that's boring, but I'm happy with that."
Patrick's most recent project is Kinta 1881, scheduled to be released in November. It is the first full-length Malaysian kungfu movie, and in it he gets to play the villain.
"I love playing the bad guy, it's a lot more interesting. I think heroes are boring."
"I'd like to do more drama... I've played many different roles, but they tend to be focused on comedy, so I think I want to try doing more serious stuff."
Nevertheless, despite his numerous achievements and projects, Patrick remains "just another Malaysian", albeit one with an extra-sharp sense of humour. And, like any other Malaysian, what remains most important to him is his family.
"I have two daughters from my first marriage, who are both working and married. I also have two little children now; Adam, four, and Laura, who is seven. They are the best thing in my life at the moment." he says with a big smile.
HON YI WEN is an intern with Malaysiakini. Comments can reach Rentakini by emailing [email protected]
