Paying their respects: Dr Wee (middle), Yew (third left), Chan (right) and representatives from TAR UMT and Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society were present to see Lee off on his final journey.
KUALA LUMPUR: The family of the late Tan Sri Lee San Choon will always remember him as a loving and dedicated father, which was a side of him that the public hardly knew other than him being a wise and firm man at work.
In their eulogies, his son Kwan Por and daughter Ann Gee recalled the times spent with Lee during their formative years.
Ann Gee said she would always cherish memories of being held by Lee’s reassuring hands that calmed her down and made her feel secure whenever she was nervous.
“I remember my first day of school. He knew I was anxious and worried. So he held my hand. Dad had really thick, cushy hands, and when I held them, I felt his warmth, and I felt very secure, and I knew that everything was going to be okay.”
She attributed her love for animals to Lee, who used to take her to the zoo.
Her father, she said, would put her on his shoulders so that she could reach up and feed the giraffes.
Mark of respect: Mourners following Lee’s funeral procession. — ART CHEN/The Star
“That’s how my dad was to me. He was a big teddy bear at home. That’s the side that you don’t get to see in public.”
She recounted the times when she would cut his nails and how her father would give out a big reaction of being in pain, “although I hadn’t even touched him yet”.
During his final days, Ann Gee spoke of how her father would always insist that she and her brother go home and rest.
“He kept telling us, ‘hui jia xiu xi’, because he did not want to trouble us.”
Ann Gee, who was in tears, ended her eulogy by saying:
“Papa, don’t worry. We will take care of each other. You are home now; please rest well.”
Born in Pahang, Lee, who was the MCA president from 1974 to 1983, passed away last Friday at the age of 88.
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.
Lee rose up in the party’s youth wing and eventually went on to become its youngest MP at the age of 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.
Lee announced his resignation at the height of his political career in March 1983, relinquishing his presidency.
Wisma MCA, which houses the party headquarters now, was one of the major projects during his tenure.
He also launched fundraisers for then TAR College and set up both Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd and the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society.
In his eulogy, his son Kwan Por said:
“His work and career may have been extremely public, but he would never take it home.
“He was concerned that it was unfair to saddle his wife and family with such a political burden. That was the man he was,” he said at the Xiao En Centre here yesterday.
Describing Lee’s vision, execution and determination as “exemplary”, Kwan Por said many of his father’s achievements were attained when he was quite young, in his 30s and 40s, making them all the more impressive.
“My sister and I were kids when all these things happened. We did not know about it until we read about it in the news or watched it on TV,” he said, adding that even his school teacher was in disbelief that he was unaware of his father’s achievements.
“He was a man who was uncomfortable with the gushing tributes. For him, what he did in MCA, for education and the country, was something that had to be done. It was his job.
“He may not have been perfect; nobody is, but he did his work to the best of his ability.
“For him, there was no need to have a tribute for doing your job,” he said, adding that Lee was a man of few words.
For a long time, Kwan Por said he wondered why his interests were so different from Lee’s.
“But on reflection, I think it was more his principle that he used to bring up my sister and me.
“My work in human rights and democratic governance and my sister’s passion for animal rights may have nothing to do with our father’s career in politics.
“But in some way, I feel these are things that he quietly approved of,” he said, adding that Lee dedicated his time fully to his wife and family after retiring from politics.
“Papa, thank you so much for being an inspiration in my life. We truly love you; I know we never said that enough,” he added.
Several other long-time friends also gave eulogies, remembering their happier times and memories with Lee.
Many also gave words of comfort and hugs to Lee’s wife, Puan Sri Dianne Mok Thye Yuen.
During the funeral ceremony, scores of friends, relatives, representatives from MCA and the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, the former Tunku Abdul Rahman College, and the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society were present to see Lee off on his final journey.
Led by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, some 30 members of the central committee, youth leaders, and veterans were present to pay their last respects during a simple but solemn ceremony.
Among those from MCA who were present were deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, vice-presidents Datuk Yew Teong Look and Datuk Lim Ban Hong, secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, national Youth chief Datuk Nicole Wong, and party veterans Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, and Datuk Fu Ah Kiow.
Lee’s remains were later brought to the Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, for cremation.
