I’VE HEARD OF many great people who contributed to the development of Malaysia and our region—from Mat Salleh’s rebellions against the British to Onn Jaafar’s struggle for Malayan independence, and from Sun Yat-sen’s trips to Nanyang to fund the Chinese Revolution, to the founder of Malaysia’s most vibrant urban centre, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy.

However, I had never heard of the contributions of Dr. Wu Lien-teh until I moved to Penang from East Malaysia. A brilliant Malaysian physician who played an instrumental role in modernising China’s and Malaysia’s healthcare, Wu Lien-teh saved Manchuria when it was hit by a deadly pneumonic plague in 1910. His work on the plague also contributed heavily to the development of many modern medical protocols.

Known in his hometown as Goh Lean Tuck, Wu Lien-teh was born in George Town, Penang, in 1879 to parents from Taishan. He enrolled in Penang Free School, where he excelled at his studies, leading him to apply and win the Queen’s scholarship. In 1896, he was admitted into Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge to study medicine. In commemoration of his admittance, the women of his family made the college crest of Emmanuel College in Peranakan beadwork for him, replacing the English lion with a Chinese lion.

Wu was an exceptional student even amongst his peers in Cambridge—his achievements won him plenty of scholarships and prizes. In finishing his Bachelor’s in 1899, he became the first Chinese from Malaya to graduate from Cambridge. He stayed in Europe for a few years afterwards, studying medicine in prestigious institutions across Europe, earning his Master’s and PhD. Returning to Malaya, he worked with the Institute for Medical Research in KL to research on tropical diseases.

He returned to Penang in 1904 to start his private practice on Lebuh Chulia. It was also around this time that he met and married Ruth Huang, the daughter of a Chinese revolutionary, Wong Nai Siong. He was soon invited to Tientsin, China by Yuan Shikai to become the Vice-director of the Imperial Army Medical College in 1908. However, in 1910, he was sent to Manchuria following reports of an unknown plague spreading in the region.

The Manchurian Plague of 1910-1911 was a devastating pneumonic airborne plague that killed 60,000 people. Wu was quick to implement measures to stop the disease. He conducted a postmortem autopsy on a deceased victim to identify the cause of death, a rare practice during that time. When he discovered that the pathogen was airborne, he developed and mass-produced a gauze mask and established quarantine in high-infected areas. To prevent the plague from spreading from the frozen dead to the living population once the Manchurian winter ended, mass cremation of the deceased was implemented. All these protocols were revolutionary at the time, and greatly modernised medical practices in China. His work on the plague led to him being nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1935.

He spent a little more time in China to establish and lead new and modern medical institutions, such as the North Manchurian Plague Prevention Service, the Chinese Medical Association and later, the National Quarantine Service. He also sat on advisory boards for the League of Nations. As a major national and international medical figure, he chaired many conferences on health and medicine, and gained international recognition for his medical research.

The Sino-Japanese War that broke out in 1937 drove him back to Malaya. He started a private practice in Ipoh, Perak along Jalan Brewster. He often provided free medical care for the poor in Ipoh and gave generous support to local education— he held a pivotal role in establishing the Perak Library. He closed his practice in 1959 and retired to Penang, passing away at the age of 80 a year later. He was commemorated with the naming of a road, Jalan Wu Lien-teh in Ipoh; a neighbourhood, Taman Wu Lien-teh in Penang, and a mural at SJK(C) Hu Yew Seah in Penang.

The Doctor’s Forgotten Contributions

Wu’s efforts in containing and eradicating the plague in Manchuria as well as a later cholera epidemic in China saved millions— and likely prevented a wider epidemic. He implemented policies that we now see as standard practice in controlling the spread of unknown infectious diseases—procedures such as autopsies, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and preventive measures like quarantine and cremation.

The gauze mask, developed and used by Wu to prevent infections, has since developed to become the modern-day N95 face mask, which was crucial in limiting the spread of the SARS-CoV-1 and Covid19 viruses in recent pandemics.

He was also an avid social activist during his time. He campaigned heavily for many socially progressive practices, such as the banning of the opium drug trade, education for women and shaving off Qing Queues (which symbolised Chinese subservience to the Manchu conquerors).

A pioneer in anti-narcotic efforts, he chaired numerous conferences, including Malaya’s first anti-opium meeting in Ipoh in 1906. He was also against the racist treatment of people by the British colonial government at the time, which saw him rejecting an offer for a higher position at the Institute for Medical Research in KL.

Wu is a pivotal figure in Malaysian history. He represents the close historical ties of Malaysia with China, and stands as a testament to how nations can benefit from closer cooperation. He embodies the spirit of learning and education, inspiring Malaysians to pursue science for the betterment of society.

Despite his contributions, he remains relatively unknown in his homeland. He is a household name in Ha’erbin in Manchuria, though. As we reflect on the pandemic that ravaged the world three years ago, his contributions, more than ever, were a huge help to our capabilities in combatting Covid-19. Lacking in recognition or not, he is a worthy hero, and one that Malaysians should all be proud of.