Wu Lien-teh 3D Mural

Wu Lien-teh 3D Mural (2 November 2013)


Wu Lien-teh 3D Mural honours the first and probably only Malaysian to have ever been nominated to receive a Nobel Prize in Medicine. This is largely due to his effort in helping to suppress the pneumonic plague pandemic that raged through Manchuria, liquidating almost the whole population of Harbin, China.

An alumni of the Penang Free School, he did so well in his studies that it earned him a Queen's Scholarship to study at the Emmanuel College in Cambridge. However it was an age when one is judged by the colour of his skin. For that particular reason, Dr Wu was unable to gain employment in Penang as a fully qualified medical officer, as such positions are reserved only for British nationals. This forced him to eventually opt for private practise.

Dr Wu Lien-teh was staunchly opposed to the opium trade, even founding the Anti-Opium Association of Penang. This however put him on the wrong side of the tracks with the powers that be, which at that time, controlled the opium trade. So they devised devious means to get rid of him, culminating in his arrest for having an ounce of opium at his dispensary - despite the fact that the substance was used by him to treat opium addicts.

The arrest and prosecution of Dr Wu Lien-teh over the opium possession charge brought worldwide attention and general condemnation, but on the bright side, led to his moving to China, to become the Vice-Director of the Imperial Army, right before the fall of the Qing Dynasty. After the Nationalist takeover, Dr Wu stayed on and become involved in suppressing the pneumonic plague pandemic which brought him the Nobel Prize in Medicine nomination in 1935¹.

Dr Wu Lien-teh returned to Malaya as the world prepared for the Second World War. There, he established himself as a general practitioner, running a clinic in Ipoh. He moved back to Penang for his retirement, at the age of 80, but passed away just about a year later. His last known address is 39-I Chor Sin Kheng Road in Air Itam².

Also on Dr Wu Lien-teh

References and Acknowledgement

Made In Penang's 3D Murals and Made In Penang Interactive Museum

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