Remembered: In a picture taken on Aug 24, 1980, Lee, who was the MCA president then, officiating the new Selangor MCA headquarters.
PETALING JAYA: The legacy left behind by the late Tan Sri Lee San Choon will remain etched in the annals of MCA history as one of a staunch, wise and unyielding leader who pushed boundaries.
Highly respected and admired during his time due to his immense contributions to nation-building and to the Chinese community, the former MCA president remains an icon to look up to for the party’s younger generation.
Many were not aware that Lee, who was the fourth MCA president from April 1974 to March 1983, had been instrumental in ensuring that youth from the Chinese community had access to a tertiary education in public universities.
When the New Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented back in the 1970s, many young Malaysian-Chinese were not able to continue their higher education studies due to an intake quota.
It was a hotly debated issue in 1979. Expressing his concerns over a possible brain drain, Lee steadfastly initiated a discussion between MCA and Umno.
Leading a delegation, he had a four-hour talk with then prime minister and Umno president Tun Hussein Onn.
As a result, the intake quota at five public universities was fixed at 55% for bumiputras and 45% for others.
Ling (in blue) paying his respects to Lee. Looking on is former MCA leader Datuk Lim Si Cheng (right).
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said this was later known as the “628 formula” as the meeting with Hussein took place on June 28, 1979.
“It was a true show of grit and tenacity of Lee as a leader and it remains a fascinating incident for many of us in MCA.
“He will always remain as one of the most effective party presidents,” he said when met at Lee’s wake on Saturday.
Recalling Lee’s contributions, Dr Wee said it was under the former’s presidency that a major five-pronged plan was introduced, a pivotal turnaround for the party that was going through a rough patch following the May 13 incident in 1969.
The five-pronged plan included the building of Wisma MCA, which houses the party headquarters in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
The others were the setting up of a building fund for then Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TAR College) to expand tertiary education opportunities for the Chinese community; the founding of Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd, an investment holding company; the establishment of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society; and a drive to increase MCA’s membership.
“This plan marked a major milestone in the history of the party. It also laid the foundation for the Chinese to be self-reliant in facing the challenges of a rapidly changing society,” said Dr Wee.
During the initial years, he said TAR College operated on borrowed classrooms before Lee initiated fundraising campaigns to build a campus.
“Through his connections, he managed to raise the necessary funds and realised the construction of TAR College,” he said.
Describing him as a “wise man” with courage and political wisdom, Dr Wee said that Lee had never shied away from issues.
“He bravely faced and solved them each time. I remember he advised the Chinese community to come together and strengthen its economic force.
“With only political strength but without economic power, we would end up like sand on the beach,” said Dr Wee.
Having remained pragmatic in dealing with the various challenges facing the Chinese community, Lee also embarked on the second phase of his five-pronged plan, aimed at steering the party and the community forward.
He announced the launch of the Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Bhd (Kojadi), the setting up of state holding companies, MCA Cadre Training Centre and MCA Education Fund.
According to party records, MCA’s membership doubled from 200,000 to 400,000 under Lee’s presidency, overcoming the issues and dilemmas from the 1960s by adopting this bold new approach.
As a grassroots leader, he had an illustrious political career, having held various positions in the party and the government such as Special Functions Minister, Works Minister, and Transport Minister.
Born in Pekan, Pahang, he rose up in the party’s youth wing to become its youngest MP at 24 in 1959.
His victory in capturing Seremban in the 1982 general election after accepting the Opposition’s challenge remains a significant feat in the party’s history.
The win also led MCA to a landslide victory, winning 24 out of the 28 parliamentary seats and 55 out of 62 state seats it contested.
Lee announced his resignation at the height of his political career in March 1983, relinquishing his presidency.
He passed away last Friday at the age of 88, leaving behind his wife, a son and a daughter.
Former MCA president Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan said he missed Lee as his “comrade in arms” when they worked together to bring changes to the Chinese community in the 1970s.
“He was the one who brought me into MCA. I was the general manager at Genting and he stopped me when I wanted to leave and start my own business.
“He told me I was too young to make money on my own and that I should join him to strengthen the party,” he said.
Tan said he then joined Lee’s team to “reverse the negative impact of the NEP among the Chinese community” amid the low morale at that time.
When the NEP was first implemented, he said it required all big and small businesses to have at least 30% bumiputra participation.
Tan, who was the then CEO of Multi-Purpose Holdings, said he eventually introduced a three-pronged strategy consisting of modernisation, corporatisation and internationalisation to help Chinese businesses transform.
“When you grow big, it’s okay to give or invite 30% participation from the bumiputras.
“I also told the government to concentrate on holding big businesses together.
“That was how we did it, although it was a great challenge. It gave me great motivation to help at that time,” he added.
Another former party president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, who paid his respects to Lee yesterday, said he “lost a good friend, good mentor and good leader”.
He said he got to know Lee in Penang after joining MCA.
Lee, he added, played an important role in his political career.
He thanked Lee for giving him advice when he decided to switch from being a doctor to embark on a political career.
“When I was not sure what to do, I sought his advice. He had the experience,” Dr Ling said.
Also present at the wake were other party veterans such as former ministers Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Tan Sri Fong Chan Onn and Datuk Lim Si Cheng.
