Tributes pour in for late Kee Phaik Cheen of Penang

 

Former and current Penang chief ministers – Koh Tsu Koon and Chow Kon Yeow – remember Kee Phaik Cheen’s contribution to Penang tourism and culture, among other things.

GEORGE TOWN: Former Penang chief minister Koh Tsu Koon and other politicians, including from the DAP, have nothing but words of praise for the late Penang executive councillor Kee Phaik Cheen.

Kee, a former national Gerakan Wanita leader, died of Covid-19 earlier today. She was 74.

Koh, who was Kee’s boss in the Penang government, said she was instrumental in coming up with state-level cultural festivals during her time as Penang tourism committee chairman from 1990 to 2004 and that these were eventually emulated at the national level.

Koh said her promotion of festivals in Penang – namely, Chap Goh Meh (which later evolved to become the Chinese New Year street party), Ramadan bazaars, Festival of Lights for Deepavali, Christmas parties and the Japanese Bon Odori – inspired federal leaders to come up with the same.

He said this led to national-level events which went on rotation to various states, with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the prime minister opening them.

Koh added that Kee, who became Tourism Malaysia’s deputy chairman at the tail end of her political career, was also instrumental in the listing of George Town as a World Heritage Site by Unesco and a key driver of women’s development in Penang.

“I had known her since we were in Sixth Form in the Methodist Boys’ School Penang in 1965 and I became close to her and her husband Dr Choong Sim Poey after I joined Gerakan in 1982.

“Her energy, enthusiasm and endearing personality will be very much missed, not only by her family and friends but also by many in the tourism trade, charitable bodies and NGOs which she had supported and helped,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, chief minister Chow Kon Yeow remembers Kee as one who was vocal and passionate about her job, promoting Penang’s culture to the masses.

He said he got to know her better when she was the head of the Methodist Girls’ School board of directors.

“Penang has lost a very dynamic and jovial woman leader,” he told FMT.

State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh remembers Kee for her good debating skills in the state legislative assembly in the 1990s. The DAP leader said they had maintained close ties despite being in different political parties. Kee was a Gerakan member.

“The moniker ‘Iron Lady’ is most appropriate for Kee. It is most unfortunate that she succumbed to Covid,” he told FMT.

Former state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng said he had a lot of respect for Kee, who was stern on certain matters but was willing to talk to opposition politicians to overcome problems.

Kee died at a private hospital in George Town at 2.40pm today after being infected with the Covid-19 virus on June 20. - FMT