MARCH 27 — Firstly, on behalf of the Tan family, I would like to thank everyone for their condolence messages, the wreaths sent and all those who have taken time out of their busy schedules to visit and pay their last respects to this great man over the past week. We are overwhelmed and extremely grateful for all your kind words and tributes.

My grandfather, Tan Sri Datuk Tan Kim Hor as he was known to the public, was just known as our dear “Ah Kong” to us. While others had known him as a firm, demanding but generous boss, my siblings and cousins knew him as our loving and cheerful grandfather.

I have had the privilege of spending the last 30 years of my life growing up, walking and talking to this giant of a man, whose legacy as the co-founder of Tan Chong Motors has stood the test of time.

Throughout my life, he has always been there; always positive, always smiling and constantly full of wisdom. Always quiet and reserved in his ways, he always made time for the family and always dished out extremely sound advice for us to “lim chui” (Hokkien for “drink water”), keep healthy, exercise and not to gamble. Presumably this was the key to his longevity as he consistently practised what he preached.

Amongst my cousins, I was one out of his many grandchildren fortunate enough to have been close to him. I remember fondly when I was working for the family business under Wawasan TKH, Ah Kong would make it a point, when he was well into his 90s, to come into the office everyday. Many a time he would call me into his office and we would talk about health, the economy and politics. Even late in life, his mind was still sharp and he continued to walk unaided.

His philanthropic endeavours never cease to amaze me. To my knowledge, he has helped to build three Chinese schools in Kepong and Jinjang, as well as a middle school and high school in our ancestral hometown of Anxi, Fujian Province in China. During the wake, I met one of the students who had graduated from the “Kim Hor Junior School” and flew all the way to Malaysia from China to pay his last respects to Ah Kong. I welled up with tears, touched and humbled by his tribute.

Ah Kong has always emphasised the importance of education. As a person who has never finished secondary school, he taught himself not only to speak Mandarin but also to read and write Chinese. He subsequently became very fond of Chinese calligraphy. He taught us a valuable lesson to never let a handicap get the better of us, but rather find ways to overcome it as he did time and time again.

Despite his laments of not receiving a good education, he ensured that every single one of his children received graduate degrees, which also holds true for his grandchildren. His desire to build schools stemmed from his strong belief in the importance of good education, and making it accessible to the community at large. He gave so much back to the community, but without any trumpet or fanfare in his typical, reserved and humble manner.

Walking around the house during the wake and seeing the beautiful wreaths sent from around the country and from China from schools, associations, business leaders, politicians and friends showed the immense influence he had in so many people’s lives. He always believed in the value of creation and innovation, but was a staunch advocate of being humble and giving back to the community.

One of my final memories was this past Chinese New Year, when I took my final selfie with him. He looked at my iPhone screen and gave his signature smile while I captured the most significant photos I’ve ever taken. I count it an absolute honour and privilege to be by his side, along with my parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings when he peacefully passed away at home. He is an inspiration to myself, and so many others, and as we lay him in his final resting place, it is now our duty to continue to carry his entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit, so that we can be the change that we want to see in this world.

Thank you for everything, Ah Kong. We love you, and will sorely miss you.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.