TAKING things apart, putting them together again and making them work better than before has been a lifelong interest for 57-year-old Penangite John Thoo.

The same passion that drove him to understand “how things work” later led Thoo to design and build micro hydroelectric generators as well as solar-powered generators for villages in Sarawak’s interiors.

Thanks to this self-taught inventor and innovator, hundreds of villagers no longer have to rely on expensive and unreliable diesel-powered generators to light up their homes.

After leaving school at the age of 16, Thoo began taking on odd-jobs at rubber and durian estates, and later learnt how to be technician by picking up discarded electrical items and studying them.

“I have a knack for it. I have always been interested in how things work,” he told The Malaysian Insight at his apartment in Paya Terubong, Penang.

Thoo said he honed his skills and knowledge by picking up things, and tearing them apart to learn what made them tick.

“I picked up quite a few broken radios and other electrical gadgets that people had thrown out.

“I took them home, studied them. I even fixed some of them… that was how I learned,” said Thoo, who apart from welding and wiring works, can also operate a construction crane.

Bringing power to villages

Thoo started building micro hydro generators for rural Sarawak villages in 2012 after he was introduced to Sarawak-based charity group Barefoot Mercy through a Penang social activist.

The generators Thoo designed and built are capable of harnessing the power of tiny streams and small rivers near the villages to generate electricity for the rural communities to power their lights and basic household appliances like refrigerators.

“I have built micro hydros for 15, 16 villages. My first was in Bengoh’s Kg Rejoi. Back then, we had to walk almost six hours to get to the village. Now we can take a boat across the Bengoh dam,” he said.

“I also built a micro hydro and a solar-powered generator for Baru Bian’s house on the hill in Lawas,” he said, referring to the newly-minted works minister.

To build a generator for a village, Thoo will make a first trip to take measurements and conduct preparation works.

He then gives Barefoot Mercy the shopping list to buy the equipment needed. When the equipment arrives, the group flies Thoo back to Sarawak again to build the generator.

“The work takes about a week. I will handle all the technical work like the electrical wiring from the micro hydro to the houses. The villagers help carry the pipes as we connect them from the water source to the micro hydro,” he said.

A medal for his service

In recognition of his valuable service, Thoo will be receiving a PJK (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian) medal from Penang governor Abdul Rahman Abbas at the investiture ceremony tomorrow morning.

His nomination for the award came from Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Sim Tze Tzin, who is also Bayan Baru MP.

Thoo said Sim discovered his work in Sarawak three years ago when they ran into each other in Long Lidong.

“I was first nominated for the medal two years ago, but I never received the official letter. The registered letter got lost, I think,” he said with a smile.

Last year, however, Sim’s office called Thoo to inform him of the nomination and he personally collected the letter from the post office.

While he is thankful and grateful for the recognition, Thoo said his work in Sarawak is far from finished and is something he views as a privilege to be a part of.

He said he would continue to go to Sarawak as long as Barefoot Mercy needed his help.

“The trips are also like holidays,” he said.

“I meet new people, stay with them, experience their lifestyle, and make friends. I am just happy to help.” – July 17, 2018.