COMMENT | I feel very saddened by Kee Phaik Cheen’s untimely demise.

I have known her since we were in Sixth Form in the Methodist Boys’ School (MBS) Penang in 1965 and have become close to her and her husband, Dr Choong Sim Poey, after I joined Gerakan in 1982.

Kee should be remembered for her great contributions to tourism development for Penang and Malaysia during her tenure of three terms (1990 - 2004) as the Penang state executive council (exco) member, and later as the deputy chairperson of Tourism Malaysia.

In Penang, she first pioneered the promotion of multi-cultural festive occasions as tourism events in 1992, starting with Chap Goh Meh (15th Day of Chinese New Year), which later became the Chinese New Year Street Party, Pasar Ramadhan, Deepavali “Festival of Lights”, Christmas Party, Japanese “Bon Odori,” etc.

These festive events became so successful in attracting not only tourists but also participation by locals in the thousands that they eventually evolved to become annual national events sponsored by the federal government, held by rotation in various states, and graced by the prime minister or even the king or sultan.

Penang’s success in cultural tourism as promoted by Kee had also convinced the federal government in adopting the tagline, “Malaysia, Truly Asia,” in 2000 for tourism promotion globally which propelled Malaysia to be...