MCA man dies after birthday bash

GEORGE TOWN: Former Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Datuk Dr Hee Tien Lai died of a heart attack at a private hospital here.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang in his blog said Dr Hee, who was his Batu Pahat High School classmate, died early yesterday after attending his 75th birthday reunion at a hotel here on Saturday night.

“He was the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat in 1982 and a Barisan Nasional MP for Ayer Hitam (MCA) in Johor.

We were also classmates with a former minister and ambassador Datuk Mustapha Mohamed,” he said.

“Dr Hee had migrated to Australia and carried out a successful medical practice. He leaves behind a wife, Datin Loke Siew Chin, three daughters and eight grandchildren,” he added.

Lim’s birthday was attended by about 900 guests including his family, friends, DAP members and also some special guests including Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Amanah president Mohamed Sabu.