My heart will go on

 

It must be at least twenty years ago when I first encountered Malaysia’s very own Stevie Wonder, Colin Ng Soon Beng.

It was during Chinese New Year, at the home of a mutual friend. Colin was only about ten years old then. His mother introduced him to me as a “special child.” She said, “Pick a song. We’ll play it for Colin to listen, and he will play it back for you.”

I chose My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. To this day, Colin still remembers that it was the song he played for me.

Born with multiple disabilities, Colin’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Being visually impaired, he could not learn music the way most children do. Yet God blessed him with an extraordinary gift: a razor-sharp ear. He could identify the brand of a photocopier or the model of a car simply by hearing its sound.

His mother, Janet, devoted her life to nurturing his talent. After losing her husband when Colin was 24, she became not only a mother but also a father figure, chauffeur, and companion in the classroom. She even painstakingly typed and transcribed books into Braille so Colin could study. Her dedication carried him through to a Bachelor of Music degree at a local institution.

Despite his brilliance, Colin’s gift has too often been overlooked. I once suggested to a client that he perform at their dinner function for an entire evening. I knew his music would mesmerise the audience. My conviction came from witnessing his graduation performance: when a power failure plunged the auditorium into darkness, Colin played on unfazed. For him, blindness meant the music flowed just as beautifully in light or darkness. It was unforgettable.

Yet, opportunities slipped away. Clients chose “me-too” performers, and the media lost interest. In earlier years, I managed to secure coverage in print and on television, where Colin’s ability to hear a song once and reproduce it amazed everyone. Today, however, the spotlight has dimmed, drowned out by political noise and fleeting trends.

Now, with Janet a senior citizen, I worry about Colin’s future. Will he have the means to hire an assistant? Or will he be left to survive in a home for the disabled? For all his talent, he has been given only a small corner at Bangsar Village II to perform. Without the generosity of its management, even that opportunity might not exist.

Malaysia has produced a remarkable young man in Colin Ng Soon Beng—a musician whose gift deserves recognition. His story is one of resilience, motherly love, and extraordinary talent. It is also a reminder of how easily true brilliance can be ignored.

Postscript:

It is encouraging to receive this feedback from Prof Dr Living Lee:

“Yes, our church People's Park Baptist Church Petaling Jaya has been involved with them from the time Colin was a school boy. 

“A church member put them up in his apartment in Wangsa Maju near his school. 

“Our church bought them a Braille embossing machine so that Janet could braille his text books which they shared with other blind students and many other involvements thru the years.”

From Janet’s church member, Christina Chee: “Colin’s extraordinary hearing is a true blessing. It stands as powerful evidence of two things: God’s wonderful creativity and Colin’s incredible personal resilience.🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻”

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Due to the number of unsolicited calls, Janet may not entertain calls from unknown numbers. Please only WhatsApp Janet Ooi instead of calling her unless it is important or urgent: +6019 3274095. Stalkers will be blocked and reported to the police