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PAPAR: The Global Union of Tshun Tsin Hakka Associations (Global Hakka) commended WSG Group Managing Director Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen for her remarkable achievements and worthy of being a beacon of success for overseas Chinese. 

Susan was also appointed as Cultural Ambassador by Sabah Economic Development Alliance, in recognition of her ongoing efforts in promoting Chinese culture. 

Susan, who is President of The United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK), introduced her development projects in Papar to representatives from Global Hakka, Malaysia Heyuan Hakka Association and Sabah Economic Development Alliance during their visit to Benoni Show Gallery, here, recently. 

Among the delegates were former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, who is also honorary president of Global Hakka, Global Hakka Chief Executive Officer Tsen Kon Thau, Hakka supervisor Huang Li Ming, Global Hakka Secretary General Wang Chang Jiang, Malaysia Heyuan Hakka Association President cum Global Hakka assistant CEO Datuk Jimmy Tham, Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) Chairman Datuk Seri Winston Liaw, Sabah Maritime Silk Association Chairman Datuk Philip Yong, Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah Chairman Michael Chin, MCCC Sabah Vice President Michael Pan and others.  

Tsen, on his first visit to Sabah, was impressed with Susan’s briefing of her company’s development projects in Papar. 

 “I am moved that the Chinese community in Sabah could accomplish such great feat and being an exemplar and inspiration to other overseas Chinese,” he said.

He said Susan’s success would not have come easy, more so as a woman. “I hope she will continue to scale greater heights.”

Meanwhile, Wang said the autobiographical short film on the life of Susan’s mother, Datin Seri Chen Si Mui, depicts the hardships Chinese experienced when they emigrated to Sabah. 

Nevertheless, he said, the Chinese demonstrated their resilience and perseverance in the face of adversities in order to build a better life for themselves and their family. 

Wang said this visit to Sabah not only opened his eyes to Susan’s empire, but also enlightened him on the overall image and demographics of the Chinese community in Sabah, whereby Sabah boasts the largest number of Hakkas in Malaysia. 

He said his daughter who had studied in Tshung Tsin also viewed Susan as her role model. 

Philip announced the appointment of Susan as Cultural Ambassador of Sabah Economic Development Alliance, which would be holding an economic and trade exposition in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, in China, in October. 

Susan said Papar, about half hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, is a township with many beautiful tales.  “In the past, the Chinese community in Papar were predominantly Hakka.  

“Despite the small Chinese population here, Papar has its own Chinese primary school and secondary school, as well as Chinese temples. 

“The Chinese community live in harmony with other ethnic groups,” she said, adding that these days they are mainly Hokkien and Hakka. “My mother is a Hakka, which makes me a half Hakka.” Benoni is the hometown of her mother. 

When Susan and her siblings were young, they would often return to Papar for short stays during school holidays to visit their maternal grandmother, plant paddy and experience village life. 

“This is why Papar is always close to my heart,” she said.

In 2011, Susan acquired 100 acres in Benoni and later discovered that the land actually belonged to her mother’s saviour, Kapitan Chen Chee On and his family. 

She said her maternal grandfather had worked for Kapitan Chen when he first came to Papar. 

“During the Japanese invasion, my grandfather was tortured to death. 

“Following my grandfather’s death, my grandmother had no choice but to sell my mother to another household as a child bride in order to feed her younger children,” she said.

Susan said her mother was treated inhumanly, forced to work long hours without enough food to eat or warmth at the new household. Her mother nearly succumbed to illness once. 

One night, Chen decided to escape and made her way to Kapitan Chen’s home by memory, who took her in and even paid for her freedom, allowing the young child to have a second chance at life. 

“As fate would have it, the land my company acquired coincidentally belonged to Kapitan Chen and his families. 

“Now we have the opportunity to develop this land into a modern, comfortable community. 

“We have built affordable terrace homes and condominiums so that everyone can own a place where they call home in Benoni, Papar,” she said.

Susan said the WSG Group had developed more than 300 shoplots, 180 terrace homes, over 1,000 condominium units and a modern cinema in Benoni Commercial Centre and Parklane City. 

The cinema had been her mother’s dream as she had a lot of good memories from her young days spent at the old cinema that was demolished 50 years ago. 

“When the new cinema was completed, I promised my mum that I would take her to the movies in Papar every month,” she said.

Susan, who is passionate about exercise, also plans to build a sports arena in Parklane City. It would consist of indoor badminton courts, basketball courts, futsal courts and a gymnasium. 

She hoped the sports arena would transform Benoni into a sports city and provide a training ground for athletes who aspire to make it into the national teams. 

At the same time, the WSG Group recently launched its latest project, Parklane Residences, available at an affordable RM246,000 onwards. 

First home buyers are eligible for 100 per cent loan for the condominium units.