Late Sari Tan a role model for contribution to Chinese education

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Yii (third right) and others pay their respects to Sari. Tseu and Lui on second right and far right respectively.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Dong Zong deputy president Dato’ Yii Ching Siew described the late Datuk Seri Panglima Sari Tan J.P. as his role model for contribution to Chinese education.

Yii said Sari was a Chinese community leader who made it a point to repay the individuals whom he owed his gratitude.

He disclosed that Sari once approached him some years back saying that Sekolah Menengah Kian Kok was raising funds to build an information technology (IT) building.

Yii was the chairman of the Foochow Association Kota Kinabalu whereas Sari was the chairman of the board of governors for SM Kian Kok back then. Yii subsequently donated RM300,000 for the IT building. Not long after, Sari invited Yii to his office and expressed his wish to upgrade the parking lot of the Foochow Association Kota Kinabalu by asphalting it.

“Sari asked his secretary to call a contractor to do some measurements of the parking lot right there and then before me, and gave instruction to collect the payment from him.”

Less than a week after the phone call, the upgrading works of the parking lot was completed.

“At that time, the cost to asphalt the parking lot was around RM50,000, which Sari paid for personally.”

Yii broached the idea of putting up a plaque as a gesture of gratitude towards Sari’s donation, but the latter refused.

“So till now, nobody knows who contributed to the upgrading of the parking lot,” he said.

He added that Sari’s wife, Datin Seri Panglima Tseu Yee Ming, had told him that Sari would even take out a loan to donate to associations.

“His passing is a great loss to the Chinese community.”

Yii said he had learnt a lot from Sari from the latter’s contribution to Chinese education and regarded him as his role model.

He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, cabinet ministers and assistant ministers had spoken highly of Sari, which showed that he was a well respected leader.

“His family should be proud to have Sari as a husband and parent,” he aded.

Yii paid his last respects to Sari at KK Tionghua Funeral Parlour yesterday.

Meanwhile, Tham Yun Fook, Assistant Education Director for Chinese Schools in Sabah, said Sari’s contribution, especially to Chinese schools in the State, was unprecedented.

Tham said he was once the vice headmaster and school building committee secretary at SJK(C) Chung Hwa, Kota Belud, 20 years ago. At that time, the school wanted to build a hall that could fit two indoor basketball courts, which cost around RM1 million.

“We called on Sari and he encouraged us to do our best in fund raising, while he would contribute the remaining balance. In the end, Sari donated RM300,000.”

Today, the building is the biggest hall in Kota Belud and is frequently used for major events and wedding banquets, he said.

Tham said he has visited 83 Chinese primary schools in Sabah and almost every school has a hall named after Sari.

“His contributions are scattered in every corner of the State.”

Also present was Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui.

Sari passed away at KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital at 9.05am on March 25. His memorial will be held at SM Kian Kok at 8am on March 31.