Ong Kok Hai, a Malaysian microbiologist and Professor of Microbiology at the International Medical University, died on March 16, 2026.
Born in Penang on 12 November 1945, he was one of the founders of the International Medical University in 1992 and played a major role in establishing the medical schools at the University of Science, Malaysia, in 1979 and at the National University of Malaysia. He lectured at the National University of Malaysia from 1977 before joining the University of Science to help start its medical school.
Ong was involved in typhoid research and, in 1995, co-founded Malaysian Bio-Diagnostics Research Sdn Bhd, which developed a rapid diagnostic test for typhoid fever used in many endemic countries.
Ong Kok Hai (12 November 1945 – 2 March 2026) was a Malaysian microbiologist and Professor of Microbiology at the International Medical University. He was one of the founders of the International Medical University in 1992 and also played a major role in the establishment of the medical schools at the University of Science, Malaysia in 1979 and at the National University of Malaysia. Ong was involved in typhoid research, and in 1995 he co-founded the medical biotechnology company Malaysian Bio-Diagnostics Research Sdn Bhd (MBDr), which develops a rapid diagnostic test for typhoid fever used in many typhoid endemic countries.