“Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever.”
– Unknown
HAVE you ever enjoyed Alaskan king crabs, roasted lamb, and Musang King durians at reunion feasts with former classmates?
I have. That happened recently when I joined SUDC Primary School No. 4 Class of 1970 reunion and Sacred Heart Secondary School Class of 1975 reunion in Kuala Lumpur.
The gathering was jointly organised by a former pupil and student of the schools, Malaysian businessman and billionaire, Tan Sri Clement Hii Chii Kok, who is also SEG International Bhd Group Managing Director.
Despite his huge success in the national and international corporate world, Hii never forgets some of his former primary and secondary classmates.
So, he decided to gather them in the capital of Malaysia for a few days to “talk about old times and get to know each other better”.
“It is good to meet up with friends we have not seen for the past 50 to 55 years. It is one way of recalling what we did and what we did not do when we were young.
“It is also a good time to pause and assess how far we have come in life and where we came from,” Hii told me during a short interview.
On the first day of our gathering, Hii treated us to a sumptuous dinner at Unique Seafood PJ23 at Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
There, we feasted on Alaskan king crabs, other seafood like fish, and delicious Malaysian dishes.
“If I knew it, I would not have flown to Alaska two months ago just to eat Alaskan king crabs,” remarked a fellow diner.
That was when I discovered the crabs we were eating were no ordinary Malaysian crustaceans but had come from far away.
Eating an Alaskan king crab for the first time was a luxurious experience for me. The meat was succulent, sweet and tender while its large size was impressive. We had to use special tools to crack the tough shells.
In Malaysian culture, treating friends to food signifies generosity and hospitality, strengthening bonds, and showing respect and affection.
Now he is a billionaire, our former classmate Hii was determined to treat us to the best seafood available in Kuala Lumpur.
Our next reunion feast was in Pulau Ketam, an island located off the coast of Port Klang, Selangor. The majority ethnic groups there are Chinese.
Hii took us there in his private yacht, ‘Lady Phoebe’. It was the first time I boarded a yacht. The journey took about two to two-and-a-half hours.
At Restoran Kim Hoe in Pulau Ketam, we were treated to a wide variety of classic Malaysian seafood dishes, including butter prawns, steamed fish, and oyster omelettes. We ate fish, crabs, prawns and bamboo clams cooked in different styles.
The seafood dinner at Pulau Ketam was special because of the island’s identity as a fishing village. The seafood was extremely fresh, probably caught that day, while the restaurant was located within the village’s stilt houses.
After dinner, we returned to One World Hotel, a luxury hotel in Petaling Jaya.
Our next memorable reunion took place on the last day of our gathering at one of Hii’s bungalows with a swimming pool.
A whole roasted lamb and a big basket of Musang King durians were waiting for us when we arrived. We had been told there would be roasted lamb for dinner but nobody told us about the Musang King durians.
For me, the dinner showed us how the rich and famous, like billionaire Hii, feed their guests with highly personalised, luxury experiences that go beyond mere sustenance, involving private chefs and exclusive ingredients.
Needless to say, thanks to Hii’s generosity, it was a truly unforgettable reunion dinner and night for SUDC Primary School No. 4 Class of 1970 and Sacred Heart Secondary School Class of 1975.
After the trip and reunion dinners, one of Hii’s Class of 1975 former classmates, Alfred Wong, thanked the billionaire for hosting such a wonderful reunion and being with them for three days.
“Your selection of gourmet food is really pleasing to the eye and satisfied our appetite,” Wong added.
Another of Hii’s Class of 1975 classmates, Joseph Chuo, said, “I tasted and enjoyed the Alaskan king crabs for the first time. The cruise on board ‘Lady Phoebe’ was very relaxing. The name of the yacht reminded me of a sweet lady I once met.
“Of course, the fresh seafood at Pulau Ketam is of the highest standard.”
Jacob Wong Wu Hing, another of Hii’s Class of 1970 and Class of 1975 classmates, remarked: “The food, especially, the fresh seafood, was fantastic. The dinner at Chii Kok’s residence – whole roasted lamb followed by Musang King durian fest — was truly sumptuous. Personally, it’s the friendship that I truly treasure.”
One of Hii’s replies to the numerous comments from his grateful classmates was: “I truly don’t deserve those very kind words from you all. I think what we need to realise at our age is that life is meant for good friends, good food, and new adventures.”
Food for thought from a former classmate and now one of Malaysia’s billionaire, Tan Sri Hii Chii Kok.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com
