TUN TAN SIEW SIN CENTENNIAL

MCA commemorates Tan Siew Sin's centennial

BY FOONG PEK YEE

(From left) Liow, Tan Siok Choo and Dr Hou tour the exhibition on Tun Tan's centennial.

KUALA LUMPUR: He is known for being thrifty, to the point of not carrying any cash with him when he goes around.

However, Tun Tan Siew Sin, the country's longest serving finance minister, is best remembered for great things, including laying a strong foundation for Malaysia's economy.

Tan, who was MCA president from 1961 to 1974 and finance minister from 1959 to 1974, passed away on Mar 17, 1988.

Born on May 21, 1916, the MCA held a ceremony to commemorate Tan's centennial at the party headquarters here Saturday afternoon.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai paid tribute to Tan, saying the strong financial foundation he laid helped Malaysia weather financial challenges thereafter.

On education, he said Tan set up the Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TAR College) in 1969, and the college had produced 170,000 graduates to date, who in turn contributed to nation-building.

TAR College's status was upgraded to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College in 2013.

Liow, who is also the university college's chairman, pledged to continue Tan's good work.

Besides TAR College, he said, Tan also helped to develop Chinese education in the country.

Liow said TAR College's good track record had enabled the MCA to set up Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) in 2002, and it has subsequently risen to be among the biggest private universities in the country now.

Liow also launched a book titled Ancestral Home of Tun Tan Siew Sin.

Also present were Tan's children, Tan Siok Eng, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo and Tan Siok Lee and other family members.

Those present observed a minute of silence to pay respects to Tan's wife, Toh Puan Catherine Lim Cheng Neo who passed away on May 10.

The event's organising chairman Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung advised the younger generation to visit the exhibition on Tan at Wisma MCA here from Saturday and May 29 to get to know more about the outstanding man.

Webmaster: Tun Tan Siew Sin studied in Malacca High School during his formative years. Datuk Seri Dr. Liow Tiong Lai studied 2 years in MHS for his 6th. Form. He came in from Merlimau/Jasin.