The late Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji paid a 5-day official visit to Malaysia in 1996, with a tight schedule but still managed to spare one day to visit Penang. About that day, Zhu Rongji described it as 'the most pleasant day' since starting his official visit!
“Since our visit to Malaysia, we have never had the pleasure to truly see Malaysia. This made us feel that this visit was half business, half personal.”
This truly revealed Zhu Rongji’s candid, sincere, and genuine character.
On May 26, 1996, Zhu Rongji led a delegation to Penang, meeting with people from various sectors, visiting the Motorola electronics factory, Teluk Bahang Butterfly Park and dam project, the Botanical Gardens, Penang Bridge, Fort Cornwallis, and taking a city tour.
After listening to then Penang Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, introducing the development of Penang, Zhu Rongji was deeply impressed.
It is said that at the time, Koh Tsu Koon told him about Penang's 25-year development, how it transformed from labor-intensive to high-tech industries, as well as how it worked with the private sector to set up institutions of higher learning and joint medical colleges to support industrial development.
As someone who was described by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as 'someone who understands economics', Zhu Rongji was greatly impressed after listening and gave high praise to Penang's achievements, expressing optimism about Penang’s future development.
At that time, Zhu Rongji visited as China’s Vice Premier, describing Penang as a beautiful and modern city with advanced industry and harmonious ethnic groups, leaving a wonderful impression.
He praised the beauty of Penang so much that among the Chinese delegation, some even developed an interest in 'staying', wanting to live in Penang!
He then humorously lightened the mood by saying: “But we don't want to trouble Deputy Minister Ong Ka Ting, so the best way is for us to jointly promote the friendship between Penang and Xiamen, and between Penang and China!”
This remark made Zhu Rongji’s visit to Penang win over the hearts of Penang people, strengthened the sister city relationship between Penang and Xiamen, and laid a solid foundation for the deep friendship between China and Penang in the future.
During his time as a top Chinese leader, Zhu Rongji visited Malaysia several times. In 1996, he visited as Vice Premier for a 5-day official visit, during which he met with then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir and then Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar.
Former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon recalled Zhu Rongji and described him as “a caring leader of a great nation,” and revealed Zhu Rongji had once saved the life of a Gerakan state leader, showing another side of this “economic czar.”
Former Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon said in an interview Thursday that he felt very sad and regretful about the sudden passing of Zhu Rongji.
He personally wrote an article recalling how, in 1996, Zhu Rongji visited Malaysia for the first time as Vice Premier of China, and during his subsequent visit to Penang, arranged by then Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar, Koh received him in his capacity as Penang Chief Minister.
The full text is as follows:
“We gave him a brief report at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC). He was very interested in how Penang attracted multinational companies to invest.
So I introduced him to Penang’s economy, history, and the efforts made in industrialization since the early 1970s by Dr. Lim Chong Eu. He listened very attentively and raised many sharp questions.
Not only that, he was a kind-hearted leader who cared for the underprivileged, leaving a very deep impression on me.
I sought his advice on China's rapid progress in healthcare, especially the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
I mentioned to him that a state-level leader of Gerakan in Penang was suffering from renal failure and urgently needed a kidney transplant. Upon hearing this, he immediately instructed his assistant to request detailed information about the patient.
After returning to China, his assistant quickly arranged for the patient to be treated at a specialist hospital in China, and the kidney transplant was very successful, allowing the patient to live a normal life.
For this, I am very grateful and deeply admire Premier Zhu. He was truly a very caring leader of a great nation!”