KUALA LUMPUR: Denis Malcolm Doss, an educator who appeared on television in the late 1970s and early '80s as half of the clown duo 'Bing and Bong' on TV Pendidikan, died today.
He was 82.
His death was first announced by Arthur Nunis on the St. John's Alumni Association Kuala Lumpur (SJAA) Facebook page.
It was corroborated by Andrew Khoo, an alumnus of St. John's Institution where Doss once taught.
In 2020, Doss was admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), allegedly due to a stroke.
Doss was most known by Malaysians for his television role, appearing in black-and-white on TV Pendidikan, an educational network owned by the Education Ministry and produced by school teachers, to teach English to millions of children.
As the clown character Bing, Doss won the affection of viewers with the show's unforgettable theme song: "Learning English is Lots of Fun!"
This affinity with music is not unknown to the many who knew Doss instead as a school teacher.
While he also taught English at St. John's Institution and various Lasallian schools throughout the country, he was also known for his contribution to the schools' band music.
Styled as the school band's 'Leftenan Muda', Doss would serve St. John's Institution as a teacher for 17 years since 1971 and a band master for 12 of those years.
The songs he composed for students were usually simple and catchy.
"We're collecting money for the walk-a-thon. Come along, sing a song for St. John's", one former student commented on the St. John's Institution blog, recalling simple fundraising lyrics from his own time there in the '80s.
However, Doss also left an indelible mark on the historic Kuala Lumpur school.
In 1984, as St. John's Institution was celebrating its 80th anniversary, Doss composed "The Pledge", a strong, motivational exclamation that remains as one of the school's most treasured songs.
"Again we pledge our faith in you. We'll be Johannians bold and true", two verses sang.
His transfer in 1987 from St. John's Institution was seen as a great loss to the school, which he attended as a child.
His final posting was at La Salle Sentul until his retirement in 1992.
Even in his retirement, many of his former colleagues and students, expressed love and appreciation for his dedication to teaching.
In 2013, at St. John's Institution's 109th birthday, Doss was made the celebration's guest of honour.
In conjunction, the school commemorated a poem written by the teacher upon his departure in 1949, its last verse echoing again today as this creative spirit passed away:
"And so, I go,
I don't know what's in store,
But although I'm gone,
I'll never forget St. John's."
Denis Doss' wake will be held at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Petaling Jaya from July 10 while the funeral will be held on Friday, 10am at the Church of The Assumption in Petaling Jaya.