27 February 2021

The spirit of Tan Cheng Lock moving through time and space to guide us forward

Full Speech of MCA Vice President cum Commemorating Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Organising Committee Chairperson Datuk Lim Ban Hong on the Occasion of the Launching of Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Memorial Website

Good morning. I would like to begin by welcoming the President, distinguished leaders, and my fellow comrades and friends watching online. Thank you for being present today, and joining us live to witness our party’s flag raising ceremony and the launching of “Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Memorial Website”.

As the Chairperson of the organising committee for the “Commemorating Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock” event, I want to take a moment to show my appreciation to those on the front stage and behind-the-scenes for their hard work and participation.

Marking the 60th Memorial Dedication of the respectable Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock, our committee has organised a series of online and offline events since December last year in order to commemorate this great man who founded our party and country.

The first event was on December 13th, which was also the day of Tun Tan’s 60th Memorial we honored with a ceremony of flowers and a short tribute film.

For the second event, we invited academicians to hold a discourse on the ideologies of Tun Tan to help everyone better understand the spirit encompassed within him.

We initially planned to organise a photo exhibit of Tun Tan, however, in view of the current trend of pandemic, we decided to forgo a physical exhibition. We chose to make available these photos online so everyone can virtually access these precious resources on Tun Tan’s life — and that’s where the “Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Memorial Website” comes in.

You could say this website has all kinds of materials about Tun Tan’s life condensed into one spot. Other than historical photographs, it consists of the complete biography and life-stories of Tun Tan. Additionally, his writings were published on the website, including personal writings and literature written about him by others, open for the public viewing and study.

Anyone who wants to learn, examine closer the thoughts and ideologies of Tun Tan, this website shall become an invaluable source of reference. We hope it becomes an academic platform the general public and scholars can freely browse.

We are fortunate in the sense we can glimpse into the highlights of Tun Tan’s era through this website. Aside from Tun Tan, we also get the opportunity to warm up to many MCA forefathers, including our country’s first Finance Minister Tun Sir Lee Hau Shik, the first Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee, and other leaders.

As we flip through the pages of Tun Tan’s life and study these historical photos, Tun Tan struck as a larger-than-life figure as he jumped to action rescuing the Chinese under oppressive rule, resolutely hammering out his vision of nation-building alongside his fellow Malayan compatriots, radiating the psyche and ambition of a national hero.

But certainly, the greatness of Tun Tan is not defined by these paper materials left behind, but rather his forward-thinking political creed. Decades ago, Tun Tan once declared, “The Malayan Chinese Association must work for all and be broadminded. Its Motto is not ‘for Chinese only’, but ‘for all Malayans’.” This quote not only formed the founding bedrock of MCA for the next 72 years, but it also became the foundation of Malaysia’s moderate and pluralistic political system.

Up till today, as the Prime Minister launches the National Unity Policy, we could discover Tun Tan’s words had long become the yardstick that resonates with all Malaysians. Although it’s been 60 years since Tun Tan departed, his beliefs continue to guide the future generations, reminding us to safeguard vigilantly a diverse, moderate Malaysia.

Dear all, the legacy of Tun Tan is manifold. The content on the newly launched website is just the tip of the iceberg, insufficient to paint a complete picture of Tun Tan. However, we will spare no expense to continuously update the website with more information and pictures to transform it into something encyclopedic and richer. Our mission — to turn this site into a treasure trove of resources about this beloved Malaysian-Chinese founding father of our nation.

 I want to thank from the bottom of my heart Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, the Singaporean Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), the Resource Centre of MCA Headquarters for providing these valuable materials and photographs. Without your contribution, this website wouldn’t be possible.

The values of diversity and moderation have been unchanging at MCA’s core since its inception. The “Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Memorial Website” allows the spirit of Tun Tan to live on virtually, traveling time and space, to go on perpetually providing crucial spiritual inspirations for the descendents of Malaysia.

In the future, we will further organise more activities. I look forward to pursuing and promoting the spirit of Tun Tan through a multitude of methods.

Thank you.

Datuk Lim Ban Hong
MCA Vice President 
Commemorating Tun Sir Tan Cheng Lock Organising Committee Chairperson 

-MCA Online-