RIP: TAN SRI ERIC CHIA

Many of you would remember this gentleman, Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock, the former Managing Director of Perwaja Steel Sdn. Bhd. who was charged for Criminal Breech Trial (CBT).

The late Chia was acquitted and discharged last June by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court of committing criminal breach of trust involving some RM76.4 million without his defence being called.

He had been accused of misappropriating the RM76.4 million from Perwaja Rolling Mill and Development Sdn Bhd in his capacity as its managing director on Feb 19, 1994.

Chia faced an alternative charge of dishonestly disposing of Perwaja’s fund by entering into an agreement with NKK Corporation of Japan and authorising the RM76.4 million to be paid into the account of Frilsham Enterprise Inc in Hong Kong without the approval of its board of directors.

The court decided that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Chia. The prosecution had since filed an appeal.

Former Perwaja Steel Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Sri Eric Chia Eng Hock died at his private room at the Park Avenue Hotel in Sungai Petani in Penang.

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In a seperate conversation while working overnight with my colleague, he shared with me the generosity of the late Tan Sri Eric Chia. His wealth didn't stopped him from giving especially my colleague was a waiter back then in a 5-star hotel where the late Tan Sri used to dine.

Whenever he asked for the bill, he will ask "Berapa orang?" means "How many?" and my colleague or any of his colleagues in the restaurant will say "7 orang" or 7 people. With his generosity, he will pay the bill and each of them will gain RM 100 each as a tip from this gentleman.

One could hardly thought how generous he was when it comes to tipping and it is not a usual norm being practised in Malaysia. However, it still happens but not all over the place in Malaysia.

This sharing is a true story and it is not being made up.