Sdr Dr Chan Man Hin founded the DAP in 1966 with a vision of building a multiethnic Malaysian identity and Malaysian dream.
He stabilised the party whenever there was a crisis.
DAP would not have survived the May 13 period when Sdr Lim Kit Siang was detained and then Secretary-General Goh Hock Guan went into hiding overseas, if not for Dr Chen who held the fort.
Again, when Kit Siang and more than a dozen national leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act in Ops Lalang, Dr Chen kept the party intact.
Even as recent as a decade ago in 2011, I personally witnessed him quietly working behind the scene to bring together leaders with differing views to see the national mission of DAP.
Without Dr Chen’s stewardship and support, selfless contribution and generous financial donations, it would have been even harder for DAP and the leadership of Sdr Kit Siang during the party’s first three decades when survival was often in doubt.
Dr Chen’s faith in Kit Siang’s leadership was unwavering. Their bond was very close and intimate.
When the party suffered one of its greatest defeats in 1999, Dr Chen retired as chairman of the party to make way for Kit Siang, who in turn made way for Sdr Kerk Kim Hock to take over as Secretary-General.
Speak to generations of Seremban folks, and they will tell you about this generous doctor who had the kindest soul and helped so many lives.
He was a very dedicated doctor. One day I was in Seremban and passed by his clinic. To my surprise, I found out that he was still performing minor surgeries for patients when he was in his late 80s then.
Farewell Sdr Dr Chen – one of the very greats in DAP’s history and a towering Malaysian.
May his soul rest in peace.
To all Malaysians who created the GE14 miracle, keep fighting. We will be back stronger.