The Origins of the Tan Kah Kee Foundation Malaysia

Tan Kah Kee lived in Malaya and Singapore for 50 years, treating both locations as second homes, harbouring as much feelings towards them as his hometown in Jimei, China. He contributed a lot to the social development and educational development in Southeast Asia. However his long-term dedication and commendable character seems to have been forgotten in today’s context, where it has been absent from people’s lips and the mainstream values for today’s society. 

Malaysia is an important settlement of overseas Chinese, housing up to seven million overseas Chinese. As national sentiment becoming frail and traditional values are gradually taken over by international trends, it seems that it is time to reintroduce the great spirit and thought of Tan Kah Kee to bring out its far-reaching significance. 

In the early summer of 2011, the founder and managing director of Hai-O Enterprise Berhad, the late Tan Kai Hee, who felt that Tan’s spirit is being forgotten, initiated the idea of establishing Tan Kah Kee Foundation Malaysia. By chance, Tan Kai Hee mentioned his idea to the founder of INTI Education Group, Datuk Tan Yew Sing who is unequally an important force promoting culture and education behind the Malaysian Chinese community. From there they hit it off and decided to announce the establishment of the Tan Kah Kee Foundation Malaysia on the 50th anniversary of the death of Tan Kah Kee. Immediately a Preparatory Committee was set up to champion and promote the process of establishing a public fund. 

On one hand the Preparatory Committee tendered and followed closely on its application to the Malaysian Registrar of Societies. On the other hand, all kind of works and activities were planned and prepared. In the early days, the Preparatory Committee focused on organizing forums, symposiums, seminars, dinners and the publication of Tan Kah Kee’s biography in order to accelerate the process of the establishment. 

Tan Kai Hee and Datuk Tan Yew Sing sponsored a million ringgit each as starting funds, also to encourage the fund raising. Shortly after the launch of the Foundation, Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong, the director of Farlim Group, and Dato’ Ir Steve Chong Yoon On, managing director of The Austin Heights Group, each pledged a million ringgit to the Malaysia Tan Kah Kee Foundation. 

In 2018 and 2021, Mr Pang Sar, the Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Econpile Holdings Berhad, and Malaysian Social Entrepreneur Foundation each pledged a million ringgit to Tan Kah Kee Foundation Malaysia, reflecting the support and recognition from Malaysian business community toward the spirit of Tan Kah Kee.