The doctor from Pasar Road who wanted Malaysians (and everybody else) to be safe from nuclear war
This article serves as a tribute to Dr. Ronald McCoy, a Malaysian doctor and peace activist who passed away at age 96. It reflects on his life, his service to humanity, and his long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons.
Why it matters
It honors the legacy of a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist whose life work focused on global humanitarian safety and anti-nuclear advocacy.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Farewell to the real McCoy. The doctor who never stopped worrying about the bomb and kept detesting it.
Ronald McCoy’s extraordinary journey ended on September 1, 2026. He did many things, among them founded with global colleagues an organisation which won the Nobel Peace Prize a decade ago.
He was 96-years-old, epitomised service and love for humanity. As a former schoolboy cricketer, he’d be quite delighted to declare it an inning.
The life of this doctor who delivered so many of my countrymen is a Malaysian story. Both the journey and his thinking.
My own experiences with Dr McCoy were limited but three stand out. Coffee and chat while preparing his citation in 2004, the actual night to honour him and the brief encounter at a city motel reception area.
I did not realise the coffee was over 20 years ago.
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