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44 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE
Tan Buck Soon has a
Bachelor of Engineering
degree from Universiti
Malaya. He began his
engineering career with
the Government, and later
founded his own highly
successful engineering
consultancy. He was the former President of the
Methodist Boys’ School (Penang) Buddhist Society,
Publication Secretary of the University of Malaya
Buddhist Society, former President of the Buddhist
Graduates Fellowship, and founding President of
the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society. He is a regular
Dhamma speaker at colleges and universities and a
meditation teacher.
Charlie Chia is an Advocate
and Solicitor and a Non-
Executive Director of
GDB Holdings Berhad.
A Chartered Quantity
Surveyor, he was a former
Group CEO of United
Malayan Land Bhd, CEO of
Malton Berhad, and Director of Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd.
He has founded various Buddhist organizations,
namely the Buddhist Missionary Society Youth
Section, Kota Tinggi Buddhist Society, Metta Lodge
Johor Bahru, and Kuantan Buddhist Association. In
2017 he was conferred the Nalanda Award for his
contribution to Buddhism in Malaysia.
Benny Liow, who has known both Buck Soon and
Charlie for decades, regards them as role models of
highly successful lay Buddhist leaders, and therefore
an inspiration for young Buddhists to emulate. Both
of them very happily share with Eastern Horizon
their passion for the Dharma and what motivates
them in their missionary zeal all these years.
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Bringing
Buddhism to
Beginners
By Tan Buck Soon and Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng
Both of you have been active in Dharma work
for over 40 years since your student days in the
university. What started you on Buddhism?
Buck Soon: I came into contact with Buddhism in 1972,
at the age of 14 when I attended a Buddhist Sunday
School in Wat Ping Bang Onn, Penang. At that time, I
was very keen to study the life of the Buddha, how he
taught the Dharma to different types of people, and how
he established the Sangha. I was also fascinated with the
Pali chanting (Thai style) that was done every Sunday.
In 1975, together with a few schoolmates, I started a
Buddhist society at the Methodist Boys’ School, Penang.
When I entered University Malaya, I continued to be
active and served as an executive committee member
of the campus Buddhist Society. After graduation, I was
part of a group of friends who started the Buddhist
Graduates Fellowship (now known as Buddhist Gem
Fellowship). In 2000, together with some Buddhist
friends, we started the Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
(BUBS) in a popular residential area in Petaling Jaya.
Charlie: It was in 1970, as a young 15-year-old, that I
was first introduced by a friend to Seck Kia Eenh (SKE)
Buddhist Temple, Melaka. As I had stated in my school
report card that I was Buddhist, I was curious to find
out about Buddhism. So I enrolled in the temple’s
Sunday School. After a few classes in Sunday School, I
seemed to be naturally attracted to Buddhism, like a fish
would take to water!
However, at SKE I was just a normal participant who
enjoyed the activities of Sunday School but didn’t join
any Committee or volunteer to support any missionary
activities. It was while studying at Universiti Teknologi
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