KUALA LUMPUR (March 3): Tan Sri Lee San Choon, MCA's fourth president from April 1974 to March 1983, passed away at the age of 87 on Friday (March 3), according to the party’s incumbent president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“As one of the youngest Members of Parliament who had won in a general election when he was elected on Aug 18, 1959, Tan Sri Lee San Choon had made great contributions to the community and the nation,” said Wee in a Facebook post.

“His fighting spirit has always been a source of motivation and inspiration to many of our leaders today, including myself. Personally, I am most inspired by his strong leadership skills, his passion in protecting the interest of all racial groups, and building the nation.

“During his lifetime, he had been elected as the Seremban MP and had the honour of being appointed as the minister of transport. In Wisma MCA, we have Dewan San Choon, which was named after this great leader of ours,” Wee added.

The late Lee took over the leadership of the party in April 1974 from Tun Tan Siew Sin, and resigned in March 1983, succeeded by acting president Datuk Dr Neo Yee Pan, before Tan Sri Dr Tan Koon Swan was elected as the fifth president of MCA in November 1985.