From teacher to lawyer
Before becoming a lawyer, Datuk Koo taught at Seg Hwa secondary school in Segamat, Johor. He earned a teaching diploma and later a Bachelor of Arts at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.
At USM, he came to know Professor Ahmad Ibrahim, who encouraged him to study law. He left teaching to study law full time at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
He was called to the Bar on 1 April 1989, with Professor Ahmad Ibrahim by his side. He later continued his studies at IIUM, earning a diploma in shariah and a Master of Comparative Laws.
Building a practice
Datuk Koo chambered at Messrs. P.G. Lim & Co. before establishing his own firm. Its early beginnings were in a rented room within the office of Tuan Haji Razak Ibrahim, who offered guidance as he built his practice.
Over the years, the firm’s offices included Bangunan Cahaya Suria, Bangunan Koperasi Polis, Jalan Pahang, Wisma Methodist and later Wisma Pahlawan. Its Kepong branch opened in Bandar Manjalara in 2008.
His work included criminal matters, copyright disputes, civil litigation and shariah family cases. He later handled land disputes, debt collection and disputes between shareholders. Litigation remained part of his work throughout his career.
In 2006, with his son Kevin assisting, he held a watching brief for the family in the Nyonya Tahir case at the Syariah High Court in Seremban.
Preparation, research and courage
His approach to court work brought together preparation, research and the courage to put an argument before the court. He interviewed people, assembled evidence and prepared submissions. He spoke directly and expressed the truth as he understood it.
His earlier years as a teacher also informed his mentoring of young law graduates. Away from practice, he enjoyed reading.
A life of service
In 2012, he received the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah, which carried the title Datuk. His community work included acting as legal adviser to Chinese temples and associations.
On 22 May 2026, the Kuala Lumpur Bar held Reference Proceedings in his memory at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
Datuk Koo taught, advised and practised law with a directness that marked his work.
Further reading: How I Came To IP, Part 1, Kevin’s 2016 account of his father’s early years in practice.
In the press: The uplifting journey of Malaysia’s first non-Muslim shariah lawyer, by Frankie D’Cruz, Free Malaysia Today, 13 April 2025.