The Man Who Believed Malaysia Could Be Better

By Anne Das

Thirty years after Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon’s passing, his daughter Tan Poh Lai is bringing his story to Perak Academy. Known as “Mr Opposition”, Tan remains one of Malaysia’s most respected public figures.

He is remembered for his integrity, multiracial ideals and fearless defence of ordinary Malaysians.

The talk will be held on Thursday, 3 September 2026, from 7.30pm to 9pm at No. 1 Jalan Lasam, Ipoh. The speakers are Tan Poh Lai and public policy scholar Prof Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.

Kuala Lumpur and Penang will also host separate sessions, placing Tan Chee Khoon’s life and legacy back into public conversation across Malaysia.

For readers born after his time, the name may need introduction.

Tan Chee Khoon was a doctor, parliamentarian and writer. He entered Parliament in 1964 as a member of the Labour Party of Malaya and built a reputation for relentless, carefully researched questions.

His command of Parliament’s rules and Bahasa Malaysia made him difficult to dismiss. His integrity made him impossible to ignore. He did not oppose for its own sake. He asked tough questions because he believed leaders must explain themselves to the people they serve.

A stroke in the late 1970s left him partially paralysed and forced his retirement from Parliament. Newspapers at the time ran the headline, “The Old Warrior Bows Out.”

What followed surprised many. The government he had criticised for years awarded him the PSM, with the title Tan Sri. It was a rare honour for a career opposition figure. He joked that he was already half Tan Sri by virtue of his surname, Tan.

The Sultan of Selangor later conferred on him the DPMS title of Datuk Seri for his service to the Selangor State Assembly.

His public voice did not end with Parliament. The Star invited him to write a column, Without Fear or Favour, which ran for years and became one of the country’s notable spaces for dissent in print.

Outside politics, Tan Chee Khoon was respected in Malaysia’s medical fraternity. He also played a role in education, serving as a council member of the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and later as its chairman in 1971.

His writings offer another window into his mind. His books include Without Fear or Favour, The Monarchy in Malaysia, Sabah: A Triumph for Democracy and his autobiography, Tan Chee Khoon: From Village Boy to Mr Opposition.

The Ipoh talk will ask why his ideals still matter as Malaysia continues to grapple with race, religion and public trust.

Can Malaysians move beyond race? Can leaders serve everyone fairly? Can people disagree without becoming enemies? These are old questions with new urgency.

Seats are limited. Members of the public who wish to attend are encouraged to register early.

📍 Venue: No. 1 Jalan Lasam, 30350 Ipoh
📅 Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
🕒 Time: 7.30pm to 9pm
📞 Registration / enquiries: 016 412 3742