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Polaroid of the Week: Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong, Melaka's Legendary Bodybuilding Icon

Polaroid of the Week: Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong, Melaka s Legendary Bodybuilding Icon

Last week, we returned to Malaysia and finally visited Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage City. We expected quaint Chinese temples, colonial relics from Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule, picturesque shophouses, and vibrant trishaws like those in our favorite spot, Georgetown, Penang.

What surprised us most were four massive golden and bronze statues of a bodybuilder—Datuk Wira Dr. Gan Boon Leong, Melaka's most renowned figure. Born in 1937, he is Malaysia's most decorated bodybuilder, with triumphs like Mr. Asia and Mr. Universe. Known as the 'Father of Bodybuilding in Malaysia,' this 85-year-old legend now serves as a local politician, owns a gym in Melaka, and leads the Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation. The city honors his legacy with these statues, now as iconic as its historic landmarks.

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