Report on 63RD Anniversary Dinner to Commemorate Tan Sri Prof. Chin Fung Kee’s Dedicated Service to Engineering Education and the Engineering Profession
By Ir Dr Ooi Teik Aun, Hon FIEM, FICE, FMIArb, FMSA, FAAET
The 63rd Anniversary Dinner to commemorate Tan Sri Prof Chin Fung Kee’s dedicated service to Engineering Education and the Engineering Profession was held successfully with about 90 tables (see Figure 1) on 12th September 2015 at the One World Hotel Grand Ballroom One Utama, Petaling Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan. The event was organized by The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) and managed by the IEM Academy Sdn Bhd (IEMASB) for the first time to pay tribute to Tan Sri Prof Chin Fung Kee who was the defacto project director in the planning, design, construction and completion in four months of many buildings including the parabolic arch car porch in 1958 to commence lecturing for the next intake of students. The University of Malaya started in Pantai Valley in 1958 with the Faculty of Engineering as its first faculty.
The University of Malaya (UM) was founded in Singapore in 1949 and changed its name to University of Singapore in 1962 and in 1980 became National University of Singapore (NUS) merging with Nanyang University. In 1962, the UM in Kuala Lumpur retained its original name as the University of Malaya and was offering courses in Engineering, Arts, Science and Agriculture.
The evening started with the Organizing Chairman, Ir Dr Ooi Teik Aun delivering his welcoming speech to welcome the guests and to pay tribute to Tan Sri Prof Chin Fung Kee (see Figure 2).
In 1952, Prof Chin graduated with First Class Honors in Engineering and proceeded to complete his Master’s at the same University while working as an assistant lecturer. He returned to Malaya in 1954 and served as an engineer with the Drainage and Irrigation Department before joining the University of Malaya in 1956 as lecturer and went on to be senior lecturer and finally professor. He was acting vice chancellor for seven years and for a period he was simultaneously the professor and dean of engineering, deputy and acting vice chancellor. He retired as professor emeritus in 1973 and joined Jurutera Konsultant (SEA) Sdn. Bhd. Prof Chin was an outstanding engineer in geotechnical, structural and hydraulic engineering and is remembered for his leading role in the design and construction of the first Penang Bridge and the Komtar building foundation rectification work in Penang. He developed the concept of inverse slope method for the prediction of pile ultimate bearing capacity, without testing the pile to failure, in 1970. This method is now internationally known and acknowledged as the ‘Chin Method’ in the piling industry. Arising out of his involvement as an independent consultant in the Komtar building foundation problem in 1977 Tan Sri Prof Chin developed a method of diagnosing the pile condition in the ground. This method has been widely used by practicing engineers.
Tan Sri Prof Chin devoted much of his time and efforts to carrying out research in respect of the needs and the problems faced by the country. He published more than 70 technical and research papers and a book entitled “The Penang Bridge – Planning, Design and Construction”. The book which is one and the only kind giving a first-hand account of all the important aspects of the bridge is a treasure to our national engineering heritage. He was an Honorary Fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers, U K and The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia of which he was a founder Council Member in 1959 and President from 1966 to 1968 .He was also President of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society from 1973-1975 and the Vice President for Asia of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering in 1981-1985. Prof Chin was a humble man, a role model, a teacher and a friend to many who have been fortunate to know him and worked with him. He was a man of principle and integrity who has dedicated his life to excellence and service to the engineering profession and to society at large. He is remembered as one of the great engineers who have excelled in engineering practice, research and education. Ir Dr Ooi thanked all those who have strongly supported the event by buying tables and giving donations. He also thanked all those who have helped to make the event successful including the staff of IEM and IEMASB.
Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Lim Chow Hock, The President of IEM, then delivered his Inaugural Lecture entitled “Sustainable Water Resources Management -The Malaysian Experience” (see Figure 3)
Prof Cham Tao Soon, on behalf of UM Alumni of the Engineering Faculty of the University of Malaya in Singapore also paid tribute to Prof Chin (see Figure 4). Figure 5 is a group photo with the students from University Malaya, UNITEN, UTAR and UCSI University who pledged to emulate Prof Chin.
The evening enabled many friends to meet long lost friends and renewed friendship and ended well at 11.30pm
