Farewell to Hotel Equatorial Penang, my uncle's pride and passion

The writer’s family photo taken in 1950. His uncle Kong Wai, founder of Hotel Equatorial Penang, is standing third from right. His grandfather (sixth from right) and granduncle (fifth from left) are on the second row. The writer himself was just a baby; he is being carried by his mother (far left). — GAN CHEE KUAN

A reader shares fond memories of his uncle’s hotel in Penang, which is forced to close down:

I was sad to read the recent news of the closure of Hotel Equatorial Penang. A friend had forwarded me a message containing a letter sent to the hotel staff. It mentioned: “... the adverse business conditions caused by Covid-19” as the reason for the closure.