Many folk have lots of friends, but only a handful have absolutely no enemies in any degree. Somboon Cheanswaths was one of that rare breed, an instantly and absolutely likeable person with not a single malicious hair on his being.
The journalist turned Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) PR stalwart was well-loved and widely respected, known to many as the ‘Sabai-Sabai’ (a Thai expression meaning ‘relaxed’ or ‘chilled’) guy for his perennially cheery and constantly upbeat outlook. Somboon embraced all facets of existence with open arms, living his life to the fullest and touching all around him with his warmth, sincerity and humour.
Sadly, Somboon left us way too soon at age 64 on July 6, succumbing to complications from a protracted battle with Covid-19. While his loved ones including wife Parveen were unable to be by his side, Somboon was by no means alone when he passed on to the other side. Thoughts and prayers from all over surrounded him in those testing last few days and moments, ensuring that his passing had the same effect as his life – bringing people of all walks of life, from all races and religions, together.
For those who did not know him, Somboon is a Malaysian of part Thai descent, hailing from the sleepy hollow of Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A journalist with RTM, The Star and other media before he joined TAT’s Malaysia office in the mid-1990s where he served faithfully until retirement in 2017, Somboon kept active with various consulting gigs over the past few years and was also a ParGolf contributor.
I’ve lost count of the number of times Somboon led us on media and FAM trips to the Land of Smiles from whence his ancestors came, but each outing had one common trait – he was the gel that held the group together, often livening things up with a funny anecdote or quirky tale from his colourful past. With Somboon around, long bus rides sped by swiftly, and you could always count on him to point us to the best Thai food during a pit-stop.
Somboon was one of those rare folk whose eyes actually sparkled when he laughed or smiled … which, as those who know him will attest, was pretty often. But, when little emergencies arose during a trip, as they often do, that sparkle turned into a steely glint as he swung into action to rectify the issue. And, make no mistake, he was quite the problem-solver. Once things were back running smoothly, the sparkle returned and Somboon would revert in the wink of an eye to doing what he does best – being an excellent host and travel buddy.
One of my earliest memories of Somboon is somewhat blurry, but if my grey cells recall correctly, it was us hanging out with a few other folk in his then rather dingy abode above a shoplot which he shared with – and I kid you not – about two dozen cats. It must have been the mid-1990s or therabouts, not long before he joined TAT. We were actually discussing starting a new magazine and, while the project never took off, those were fun times indeed filled with precious memories.
As perennially happy-go-lucky as Somboon was or seemed to be, it was undoubtedly his wedding day that provided the most joyous moment of his life. I was privileged to be there seven years ago at Aman Club in KL when Somboon and Parveen celebrated their union, the bride looking absolutely radiant in her red ‘Lehenga’ (traditional Punjabi bridal dress) and the groom cutting a dashing figure (while looking a mite uncomfortable) in a suit. Marriage made him an even happier man, for sure, and it was heart-warming to see Somboon find his soul-mate after most had given up on him ever tying the knot.
So let us not grieve his passing. Rather, as Somboon would have wanted, let’s celebrate his life and cherish the many wonderful moments shared.
Take care my friend, keep on smiling and spreading joy on that wonderful final trip to the greatest destination of all.
By Jonathan Ponniah
REMEMBERING SOMBOON
Countless tributes for Somboon flowed in from his colleagues and from travel industry folk, all of whom counted him as a good friend.
Richard Lim, Marketing Manager – Tourism Authority of Thailand, Malaysia:
“Somboon is part of our TAT family here in Kuala Lumpur and was with us for a very long time. He is always cool and sabai-sabai (takes it easy) … very much an authentic Thai characteristic!
“Somboon is certainly more patient than me and I’ve never seen him angry. He’s very friendly to all and loves to talk … long and winding stories, about his friends and more. Somboon always goes the extra mile to help those in need.
“I’m going to miss him dearly. Farewell, my dear brother.”
Noor Ashikin Mohd Desa, Marketing Officer – Tourism Authority of Thailand, Malaysia:
“We were colleagues for more than 15 years until his retirement in 2017. Somboon will always be remembered as the guy with the ‘sabai-sabai’ attitude with his easy-going and relaxed demeanour, both in work and personally.
“I learnt a lot from him, and enjoyed listening to his many stories and working alongside him in events. Been through good and bad times but I will always cherish the moments. Thank you for everything.”
CE Wong, CSSB:
“Words alone cannot describe my sorrow as Somboon is like a brother to me. I’ve known him for more than 20 years.
“Somboon was a warm-hearted and generous person. He will always remain in my memories. May his soul rest in peace.”
Ng Eu Shen, Liberty Golf:
“Somboon was a true gentleman who would unsuspectingly crack up the whole room in laughter while he maintains a sheepish grin in the background. You may not see him at the forefront because he’s always making sure things are working well behind the scenes.
“One thing I remember clearly is what he told me about a FAM trip itinerary: ‘Dei, if you see ‘golf inspection’ and it’s five hours, means ada golf. If you see ‘golf inspection’ tapi one hour only, means takda golf!'”
