THERE was a time when, as a little boy, whenever I walked into my father’s office, I would see a picture on the wall showing a slender Chinese man being hugged by a distressed-looking Indian man, with an Indian woman beside him clearly looking forlorn; on the Chinese man’s face is a look of reciprocating sadness.
The poignant photo, etched forever, serves as an essential tenet: that beyond colour, religion, or creed, human compassion endures.
There are individuals whose contributions to society cannot be measured by titles or positions alone. Their true legacy lies in consistency, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye is one such individual.
To my family, Lee is not only a respected national figure, but a long-standing friend and collaborator. He worked closely for many years with my late father, Datuk Antony Ratos, on community initiatives focused on safety, inclusion, and the dignity of those often overlooked. What bound them together was a shared belief: that a nation is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable communities.
Another memory that remains especially meaningful is from 1987: For an international travel fair at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, my father built a full Orang Asli longhouse to be exhibited, working with the Jahut community from Jerantut, Pahang, to bring indigenous culture into an international space.
When the exhibition ended, he refused to discard the structure. Instead, the longhouse was rebuilt and repurposed in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, where it became a shelter for fire victims – transforming a cultural exhibit into a place of refuge and service. It was in this same space that Lee later stood to champion the needs of minority and marginalised communities.
That longhouse became more than bamboo tied together – it became a symbol of compassion, advocacy, and the unity that Lee long endeavoured for. It reflected what both Lee and my father believed deeply: that culture, service, and social responsibility are inseparable.
Throughout his public life, Lee has demonstrated rare moral consistency. Whether advocating for safety and health or community welfare, he has always spoken with clarity, restraint, and principle. He does not seek attention, yet his voice carries weight because it is trusted.
Recently, even after the rigours of a long, active life, Lee stood firm with us to continue the work of the Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli & Asal. At the event, “Irama Asal Dan Asli”, it was fitting that Lee stood with us and was welcomed by leaders of both the Orang Asli and Orang Asal communities.
His presence symbolised something deeply important: unity without patronage, leadership without ego, and service without condition. His speech touched on the strength of Malaysia through unity in diversity. His voice once again touched me as the photo in my father’s office had always done.
On behalf of my family, and in gratitude for a lifetime of public service, I offer this tribute to Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye – a man whose legacy is not only written in history, but felt in the lives of the many he touched and the communities he has consistently stood beside.
DR ANDRE RATOS
Chairman
Foundation for the Indigenous Arts
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