IT is said that in the world of public life, time is the ultimate test of character.
As Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye celebrated his 79th birthday on Dec 30, 2025, Malaysia did not just mark a milestone for an individual; it celebrated the enduring legacy of a man who has become one of the nation’s foremost icons of public service.
For me, this milestone is deeply personal. I first met Lam Thye in the late 1960’s.
At that time, I was a cadet journalist with the ‘Straits Times’, and he was a rising trade unionist and budding politician.
I have followed his work, his progress, and his evolution ever since, as a former politician and now as a community/social activist.
Having observed him through the lens of a journalist and subsequently in other capacities for over 50 years, I can say with certainty that this rare figure commands universal respect across every segment of society, transcending the barriers of political affiliation, race, religion, vocation, position or location.
In those early days, Lam Thye was defined by a deep sense of justice. As the member of parliament for Bukit Bintang for four terms, he redefined the role of a representative.
He was famously known as the “MP with a typewriter”, a man who walked the streets and sat in the squatter areas and wet markets, ready to record and resolve the grievances of his constituents on the spot.
His accessibility was so legendary that it inspired the title of his biography, ‘Call Lee Lam Thye’ — a phrase coined by Malaysia’s beloved cartoonist, Datuk Lat — commemorating the man who was always just a phone call away from helping a fellow citizen.
Datuk Lat also drew a special portrait of Lam Thye for the book. Perhaps one of the more remarkable aspects of Lam Thye’s journey was his cordial relationship with civil servants — working together to resolve the people’s problems and improve their livelihood.
Very recently, he assisted an individual facing a prolonged issue with KL City Hall (DBKL) over a fine.
Characteristically, Lam Thye went to great lengths to resolve the matter, and then, in a final act of grace, paid the fine himself.
Though he never attended university due to financial constraints, he chose the “university of life” instead, through learning and working hard to achieve his ambition.
His contribution to the nation has been so significant that it has awarded him no fewer than six honorary doctorates from prestigious Malaysian universities, including Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Open University Malaysia (OUM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).
It is a poetic irony that a man who started as a temporary teacher ended up being honoured by the highest echelons of the ivory tower.
When Lam Thye retired from active politics in 1990, many expected him to fade into a quiet life. Instead, he transitioned into a second act that was perhaps even more impactful.
For nearly 30 years, as the senior vice-chairman of the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), he brought the community closer to the police and created dialogue between them on crime prevention.
He consistently spoke about crime prevention as a shared responsibility, arguing relentlessly that policing was not merely a job for the men in uniform, but a sacred partnership between the authorities and the people.
His commitment to occupational safety and health was mirrored in his 25-year tenure as NIOSH chairman, where he transformed NIOSH into a household name, making it the preferred partner of companies and industries in training and promoting OSH in the country.
What truly sets him apart are his “pet projects” — the causes that reveal the depth of his empathy. As a member of the Mental Health Promotion Advisory Council, he has become a tireless voice for the emotionally vulnerable. His compassion extends to even the animal kingdom as the patron of SPCA Selangor.
This empathy is why he received several awards, including the Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Award, National Unity Award, Pinel Award for Mental Health, Langkawi Award, the BrandLaureate Brand Icon Leadership Award, the National Unity Icon Leadership Award, the CSR Special Award and the Maulidur Rasul Award.
This is the “Lam Thye magic”: he does not see “us’ and “them”; he only sees the human being.
Behind the long list of titles of well-earned titles — PSM, SPDK, SMW, DPMS, DPMP, JMN — is a man of simple tastes and true humility.
Over 50 years, from my early days at the ‘Straits Times’ to the present, I have seen him navigate the highs and lows of public life with a rare grace.
To my dear friend: Your life is a gift to this country. You have shown us that it is possible to be a leader without losing your humility, and a legend without losing your humanity.
Now in your 80th year, as you lead the Alliance for a Safe Community, a non-governmental organisation you founded, you continue to teach us that ageing is not about the passage of years, but the preservation of purpose.
You have proven that for a man of conviction, this is not a retirement, but a rewiring. Malaysia is a safer, kinder, and more united place because you are in it.
PHILIP MATHEWS
Kuala Lumpur
*The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
