Penang loses its local governance specialist

Penang lost a pioneering specialist on local governance when Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee passed away on Thursday at the age of 85.

A MCA lifetime member, Dr Goh was brought back to counsel the DAP – led state government in 2008 on the third vote of local government.

DAP attempted to conduct local government elections as part of its electoral manifesto in 2008 but headed into many legal wrangles and till today, the matter remains pretty much in the air.

But Goh was often there, providing insightful accounts through a column he had penned through The Sun newspaper before he stopped writing prior to the Covid – 19 pandemic in 2020.

He was also appointed as a fellow at the state public think tank of Penang Institute in 2008 before fully retiring a few years earlier due to old age ailments.

Among those who posted public tributes were Aliran founder Dr Francis Loh and Deputy International Trade and Investment Minister Liew Chin Tong.

It was Liew who transcend partisan politics and appointed Goh to the think tank to aid in the third vote dimension of the democratic process.

Former long – serving Universiti Sains Malaysia’s public relations officer Mohamed Abdullah also posted a glowing tribute to Goh, who was a dedicated alumni to USM.

Mohamed wrote that Goh started his career as a teacher before he found his calling in USM.

Goh earned his PhD in Urban Planning at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in US and returned as one of the few experts in local government outreach.

Goh then lectured at his alumni through the Centre of Policy Research, which had also hosted a memorial tribute to the late S.M. Mohd Idris, the founder of the Consumers Association of Penang .

Loh penned that Goh had dedicated much of his life towards advancing the cause of local government and urban planning in Malaysia.

“He was one of the few voices which was consistent for democratic local governance,” said Loh.

Liew echoed that for years he had read Goh’s insights on governance and on how Goh and the current institute’s executive director Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng had co – edited the book on pilot studies for a new Penang.

Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng broke the political norm and nominated Goh for a Datukship despite that he was a MCA member.

“Farewell my friend and condolences to his family,” said Liew.

The academic would be cremated today at the Batu Gantong Crematorium and the ashes will proceed to the Nirvana Penang West Lake Garden for the final resting.