YB Liew Chin Tong and what comes to mind

Recently, I met up with a former colleague, Pet and in the course of conversation, the mention of DAP brought up the names of Liew Chin Tong and Ean Yong (pronounced in their Mandarin names). They were together in New Era College.

I have read Liew’s article 'Speaking for the reformasi generation' in The Malaysian Insider and this part of a sentence more or less confirmed ‘he is the one’.
‘With friends from New Era College, where I was a student of Chinese Literature…’

I always associate New Era College with Dr. Kua Kia Soong, a one time DAP MP who was disqualified on technicality when submitting his nomination form to stand for re-election. Once, I read about his background, still remember him as a graduate from Manchester University and originally from Batu Pahat, Johore. Again, by association, I cannot help thinking if he is a brother of Mickey Kua, our former lecturer in TAR College.

Many years ago, I attended a forum in MTUC building in Jalan Barat, PJ where Dr. Kua was one of the speakers, and I was sitting next to Dr. Tan Chee Khoon. On the way to the hall, my offer to help Dr. Tan up the stairs, was politely refused as he preferred to be independent.

I did a transcript once for Dr. Tan’s interview with Tan Koon Swan, Lee Lam Thye and Dr. Tan Chee Beng, if my memory serves me right. Having to listen to the tape over and over again to get what was actually spoken was difficult especially when it was an informal discussion.

My impression of Dr. Tan Chee Khoon was that of an impatient man. For example, when it was agreed that it would be ready on Friday, he tried on Wednesday hoping it was done!

I was invited to one of Dr. Tan’s book launches at the then Merlin Hotel. It was officiated by Sultan Azlan Shah and Tun Suffian was there too. Anyway, as I was standing next to Dr. Tan’s assistant, Ms. Wong, his daughter came over to introduce herself probably eager to find out who was this stranger, maybe wondering if I was Ms. Wong’s boyfriend!

Anyway, Dr. Kua Kia Soong's position as Principal of New Era College is in the balance with a group led by Dr. Yap trying to remove him, while a group of students are trying to stop the move. More than 10 years ago, Dr. Yap was in our housing development office to buy a shophouse from one of our purchasers. I still remember Pet got so excited knowing his standing in Chinese education movement.