Koon Swan to get lifetime achievement award

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA president Tan Koon Swan (pic) will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the field of politics and business.

The Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) will confer the award on Tan at the Fourth World Chinese Economic Forum to be held in Melbourne from Nov 12 and 13.

Tan and two other Malaysians Star Publications (M) Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee and SP Setia Bhd president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin are among the eight award recipients.

In congratulating Tan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he was a well-known corporate figure before becoming party president.

“Subsequent events and time have proven that he's innocent. He has gone through a difficult period and he deserves this award,” Dr Chua said.

Tan was MCA president from November 1985 until September 1986.

In 1985, the Singapore Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) prosecuted Tan, who faced 15 charges, including criminal breach of trust and share manipulation, following the collapse of Pan-El Industries, which temporarily halted the Malaysia and Singapore stock exchanges.

Tan, who had a stake in Pan-El, pleaded guilty and was jailed two years and fined S$1mil (RM2.5mil). He later quit as MCA president.

In his book, Glenn Knight, then director of CAD who prosecuted Tan, had apologised to him for the wrongful prosecution.

On the forum, Dr Chua said this would the first time that it was being held outside Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will deliver the keynote address at the event, which is expected to be attended by some 400 delegates from 20 countries.

Among those attending are Dr Chua, Star Publications (M) Bhd chairman Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Hong Kong's Sunwah Group chairman Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, Economic Strategy Institute president Clyde Prestowitz and Mines Resort City founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.