GEORGE TOWN: An 800m stretch at The Light City, formerly known as Persiaran Pantai Sinaran, has been renamed Persiaran Chin Fung Kee in honour of the late pioneering engineer Tan Sri Prof Datuk Dr Chin Fung Kee.
Born in 1923, Chin was among the country’s most distinguished engineers and played a key role in shaping Malaysia’s engineering and infrastructure development.
He received his early education at Bukit Mertajam High School before continuing his studies at Raffles College in Singapore.
He later obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom.
Among his major contributions was the development of the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaya in 1957.
He also served as the fourth president of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia from 1966 to 1968.
In 1970, Chin developed the “Chin Method”, an engineering technique associated with major projects such as Komtar and the first Penang Bridge.
He later served as president of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society from 1973 to 1975 and chaired the Commonwealth Engineers Council from 1973 to 1977.
From 1981 to 1985, he was vice-president of the Asian Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Chin also held several prominent scientific and engineering advisory roles, including chairman of the governing council of the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research Malaysia, a member of the National UNESCO Commission, and a member of the coordinating advisory committee of the Malaysian Rubber Research and Development Board.
Throughout his career, he received numerous honours and recognitions, including an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Queen’s University Belfast, honorary science doctorates from the University of Singapore and the University of Glasgow, and the National Science Award from the National Council for Scientific Research and Development Malaysia.
Several awards, lectures and institutions were later named after him, including the Prof Chin Fung Kee Gold Medal at Universiti Malaya and the Chin Fung Kee Auditorium at the Institution of Engineers Malaysia.
He was conferred the Johan Mangku Negara (JMN) in 1967, the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) in 1980, and Penang’s Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri (DMPN) in 1985.
Chin died on Aug 29, 1990.
The renaming of the road was approved by the Penang executive council on Feb 25, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“The move is a symbol of the highest recognition for the late Tan Sri Prof Datuk Dr Chin Fung Kee for his extraordinary contributions to the development of Penang and the nation’s academic progress,” he said during the renaming ceremony yesterday.
Chow said Chin’s contributions could not be denied and had been etched into the history of both Penang and Malaysia.
“May the naming of this road serve as a lasting reminder to all of us of the legacy of a figure who brought the name of Penang and Malaysia to the world stage,” he said.
Also present at the ceremony were Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, Penang deputy secretary Mohamed Abdul Rahman, Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) president Yau Chau Fong, and IJM (North) senior general manager Datuk Khoo Teck Chong.
