Public-listed Pansar founder passes away at 85

SIBU: Sibu lost one of its most successful and illustrated corporate leaders with the passing of Tan Sri Tai Sing Chii (pic) at the age of 85 yesterday morning.

A statement from the family said Tai passed away peacefully at 8am at the Sibu Medical Specialist Centre.

The statement said the encoffin would be at 7am, Wednesday, at their residence at No. 8, Jalan Kumpang, Lane 15 Brooke Drive.

Thereafter, the memorial service would be held at Xin Fu Yuan Methodist Church at Brooke Drive at 8am on the same day after which the cortege would depart for the final resting place at Sarawak Kutien Association Cemetery in Bukit Aup.

Tai was the founder of the diversified business conglomerate Pansar Berhad (Pansar) which he established in 1963.

Today Pansar, with more than 20 subsidiaries, has become a household name and is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.

Its principal activity is investment holding while its subsidiaries are involved in a variety of business areas including marketing and distribution of construction and building materials, marine and industrial engineering products, wood-engineering equipment and supplies, and design, installation and service maintenance of commercial and industrial air conditioning and ventilation systems.

With the company’s listing last year, Tai had given the running of the company to his two sons, with Datuk James Tai Cheong as non-independent non-executive chairman and Jason Tai Hee as managing director.

Tai came from a humble background of immigrant Foochow parents from China who toiled in a rubber estate when they arrived here more than 90 years ago.

In his young days he took up part time jobs to finance his studies in both English and Chinese medium schools.

His first job was as mathematics teacher which he excelled in at Kwong Hua School. Later he worked for several years in a timber and general imports company before he setting up his own company in 1963.

Spanning over 40 years, Tai’s successful business career also made him the chairman of Blue Scope Lysaght (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, chairman of Perbena Emas Sdn Bhd, chairman of Permodalan Saberkas Bhd, chairman of Pansar Company Sdn Bhd and Pan Sarawak Holdings Sdn Bhd and director of MISC Agencies (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.

In his life time, Tai was also very active in social and community work.

He served the community and on the board of dozens of local and regional clubs and associations. These included appointment as Chinese Area Headman in 1958, Pemanca in 1981 and Temenggong in 1992. He retired as Temenggong in 2008.

Tai also served as the vice-president of Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) from 1979 to 2006.

For his outstanding contributions to the society and country, Tai was conferred the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak (PNBS) which carried the title Datuk in 1981 and also the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) which carried the Tan Sri title in 2002.

As a mark of respect, all Pansar offices in the country will be closed on Wednesday.

Tai is survived by his wife Puan Sri Ling Lah Kiong, sons Tai Cheong and Tai Hee and daughters in-law Yek Siew Ting, Datuk Esther Tiong Ing and Connie Ting Kho Nee and many grand children.