KLANG: In spite of his vast contribution to the nation’s economy and Malaysia-China economic ties, the late Tan Kai Hee (pic) had always declined any federal or state titles.

       According to his long-time friend Datuk Seri Michael Chong, Tan, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 85, believed that there were many others who were more deserving than him.

       “I personally took the forms for him to apply for a federal title, but he politely declined, saying he was only a small man,” said Chong, who is MCA Public Services and Complaints Department chief.

       Tan, who is the founder of Hai-O Enterprise Bhd, had been friends with Chong for over 30 years.

       Born in Kluang, Johor, Tan grew up in poverty and understood the struggles of the common man.

       Tan, who lost his wife Tan Siow Eng in 2017, had worked as a street vendor, rubber collector and a bicycle repairman in his early years, and got along very well with the nation’s socialist icons such as Dr Syed Husin Ali and the late Dr MK Rajakumar, among others.

       While he amassed billions through his business acumen, he remained a socialist at heart, being an active member of the Labour Party of Malaya and the Malayan Peoples’ Socialist Front in the 1960s.

       Upon his release from a long spell of detention under the Internal Security Act, Tan set up his company to bring in herbal-based products from China in 1975.

       This was exactly a year after the nation’s second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, made his historic visit to China to establish diplomatic links, said Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI) president Datuk Jeffery Tan.

       “He was the first batch of Malaysian entrepreneurs to conduct business with China, and contributed a lot to strengthen trade ties between the two nations,” said Jeffery.

       He said Tan also founded the Malaysia-China Friendship Association and held important positions in organisations such as the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce.

       “He helped build trade between the two countries, and today, Malaysia is China’s biggest trading partner in Asean.

       “We must thank him for his efforts in strengthening Malaysia-China ties,” said Jeffery, adding that Tan had been the KCCCI president for over a decade during the 1990s.

       He was also a great philanthropist and made it to the Forbes list of Asia’s top philanthropists in 2017.

       Klang Hokkien Association secretary Allan Tan said Tan, who was the association’s adviser, would support all activities it organised.

       “Beyond Chinese-related causes, he contributed generously to many associations, educational institutions as well as Malaysian causes involving all races,” said Allan.

       Tan, who was good friends with national laureate Usman Awang, also contributed towards the Usman Awang Foundation’s growth and its activities.

       Former senator Datuk Tee Thiong Hock said Tan had always held the best interests of others close to his heart.

       “He and his wife had contributed immensely to the betterment of the community by giving back some of their business profits,” he said.

       Former MCA treasurer Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho said he and Tan were a group of 11 men who formed a “brotherhood” of sorts in the early 1990s.

       “We had promised to look out for each other and met once a month for dinner without fail until March 2020, when the movement control order was initiated due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Chai Ho, adding that with Tan’s demise, only eight of them remained.

       Tan leaves behind two daughters and a son, Keng Kang, who is Hai-O Enterprise Bhd managing director, as well as three grandsons and four granddaughters.

       His remains are at the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Sungai Besi, with the funeral scheduled for 11am on Saturday.