KOTA KINABALU: Prominent Chinese community leader Datuk Seri Panglima Sari Nuar JP passed away at the age of 70 at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital here at 9.05am yesterday.
He is survived by his wife Tseu Yee Ming, 64, son Eric Mohamad Sari, 37, and daughter Esther Mohamad Sari, 33.
During his lifetime, Sari helmed the leadership posts of various Chinese associations, including Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) and Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI).
He had also contributed immensely towards Chinese education and was the chairman of the board of governors for Sekolah Menengah Kian Kok for over 30 years.
In May 2012, Sari was taken to Hong Kong for medical treatment and returned to Kota Kinabalu on January 2 this year. He succumbed to his illness yesterday morning.
When news of his passing broke out, many Chinese politicians and leaders went to KK Tionghua Funeral Parlour to offer their words of comfort and condolences to his family members.
Among those present at the funeral parlour were Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah and spouse Datin Mary Wong, former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai and spouse Datin Vicky Yee, Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah branch president Datuk Lau Kok Sing, Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association president Datuk Clement Yeh, KKCCCI president Datuk Michael Lui, KKCCCI deputy president Dr Ling Hie Sing, Putatan Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Frankie Liew, Tuaran Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Tan Kim Beng, Ma-Zhong Friendship Association Sabah president Dr Oh Ei Sun, prominent businessman Datuk James Hwong, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vice president Chin Shu Ying and LDP organizing secretary Peter Chong Su Leong.
Sari was born at Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China in 1944.
His father and grandfather were textile traders in the Philippines. In the early 1950s, Sari’s father moved his family to Hong Kong due to racial discrimination and later settled down in North Borneo, now known as Sabah. His father passed away in the 1960s.
In the early days in North Borneo, Sari had ventured into trading and rubber plantation. He had also attempted a deep sea fishing business but the operation could not be sustained due to issues in recruiting workers at that time.
In 1968, he ventured into the timber industry which lasted 26 years till a bumiputra company took over the business in 1994.
Since then, it was property and trading for Sari.
Business aside, he was heavily involved in Chinese associations and was the president of KKCCCI from 1985 to 2012, 27 years in total.
Sari also served as the chairman of the board of governors for SM Kian Kok for over 30 years; as Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association president for 22 years; as the Federation of Hokkien Associations of Sabah president for 22 years and was SUCCC president for 22 years.
He had also led FCAS for 19 consecutive years since its inception.
He was conferred the Justice of Peace (JP), Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) and Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK) which carry the title Datuk and Datuk Seri Panglima respectively for his contribution to society.
A public memorial will be held for Sari at SM Kian Kok at 8am on March 31.