IN front of her lies a stack of legal documents awaiting her review. The work at the office of Anoop & See can often be long and demanding, yet lawyer See Swee Sie has relished her profession for the past 32 years.
When she needs a moment of respite, See makes herself a cup of hot coffee and gazes out from her office window on the 21st floor of Menara Northam along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, enjoying the view of George Town’s iconic skyline.
Her work is frequently interrupted by WhatsApp messages and phone calls – not only from clients but also from individuals connected to her other passions: chess and children’s welfare.
See handles these interruptions with the same zeal she brings to her legal practice. As the president of the Penang Chess Association (PCA) and honorary secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Penang Central (KCPC), she devotes herself wholeheartedly to these causes.
While career success is significant to her, what matters most is her family, including her two young adult children, who remain her greatest priority. One of them, Eshwant Singh, won a team silver in the recent Sukma chess tournament.
Her eyes light up when the conversation veers towards chess.
“Since becoming PCA president in 2017, it has been my dream to have chess included as an event in Sukma.
“PCA, along with all state chess associations under the Malaysian Chess Federation, and with the support of the Penang State Sports Council, and our Sports Minister, succeeded in having chess included in Sarawak Sukma 2024 in August.
“We’ve been fighting for chess to be part of Sukma for a long time. Its inclusion was the happiest, proudest moment for me in the sport. To make it even sweeter, Penang emerged as the overall champion for chess in Sukma, winning five gold, three silver and two bronze medals,” See shared in a recent interview with Buletin Mutiara.
All the six boys and six girls representing Penang in Sukma returned with at least a medal each. The star was none other than 15-year-old Poh Yu Tian, who clinched three golds in the Rapid Men’s, Rapid Team and Blitz Men’s events. Coincidentally, Yu Tian, now studying at Tenby International School, clinched the Penang contingent’s 44th gold medal – the target set by state Sports, Youth and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi. Chuah Jia Tien, who bagged two golds in Sukma for Penang, is now studying at Multimedia University in Melaka.
Another memorable moment for See occurred about a month before the Sarawak Sukma when Yu Tian excelled at the 8th East Asia Youth Chess Championships (EAYCC) 2024. Successfully hosted by See’s dedicated PCA committee in George Town, the tournament saw Yu Tian become the youngest and 10th Malaysian chess player to attain the International Master title. The event also witnessed Malaysia winning five championship titles.
“Penang’s success is the result of support from the state and association, the players’ burning desire to excel, the dedication of Penang’s coaches and the unwavering encouragement of parents,” said See, who once represented her alma mater, Methodist Girls School, in chess.
She expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for his support and allocation, as well as to Daniel Gooi and Penang State Sports Council director Harry Chai, and former state leaders like Datuk Seri Chong Eng and Datuk Soon Lip Chee for their steadfast encouragement.
She highlighted that the PCA, Malaysia’s oldest chess association founded in 1972, owes much of its growth to two prominent figures – the late Tan Chin Nam and her predecessor, Lee Ewe Ghee, who now serves as her adviser.
In recognition of his immense contributions, Chin Nam was recently honoured posthumously by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. FIDE president Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, a former Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, presented the award to Chin Nam’s granddaughter, Tan Mei Sian, during a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8.
See also thanked FIDE and Dvorkovich for providing some funds through the FIde Open Aid Project for the Inari Penang Chess Festival that will be held at UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College in Jalan Anson, George Town, from Dec 23 to 29.
The Inari Penang Chess Festival is a popular tournament that attracts players from many countries, such as Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, China, Japan, Australia, the United States and some from Europe.
Competition is expected to be keenly contested across four categories: Penang Open, Penang Challenger, Penang Blitz and Penang Chess League (team).
One player to watch out for is 14-year-old autistic player Ainul Mardhiah Afif, who was crowned Malaysian Women’s Chess Champion last year.
“The game of chess involves a wide range of cognitive skills, such as analysis, strategic thinking and planning.
“From my observation, I have seen autistic children become calmer when they have a chessboard in front of them and engage in the game,” See said.
The PCA has supported Lions International Chess for the Disabled, in collaboration with several Lions clubs. At one such event, Penang Yang diPertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak witnessed blind players competing using braille sets, a testament to the inclusivity that chess offers.
Looking ahead, PCA will focus on FIDE’s Chess in Education programme, aiming to popularise chess in schools.
“We plan to collaborate with the state Education Department to bring chess to schools and form chess clubs. The goal is not to produce chess champions but to allow the students to learn and enjoy the game. If they are good, they can move on to the next level.
“Playing in groups can boost their confidence and foster talent for the Penang schools (MSSPP),” See explained.
See’s involvement with Kiwanis Club began during her time practising law in Kuala Lumpur, where she and her husband met the late Tan Sri Mohamed Khir Johari, Malaysia’s former Minister of Education and founder of Kiwanis in Malaysia. Khir Johari was known as ‘Bapa Kiwanis’ and his wife, Puan Sri Khir Johari, as ‘Mama Kiwanis.’
Their son, Zairil, is currently the state executive councillor for Infrastructure, Transport, and Digital Committee.
Kiwanis Club of Penang Central, under the leadership of president Dr Ngoo Seong Boon and chartered president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai, actively organises initiatives such as mental health seminars, leadership and entrepreneurship programmes, and collaborative events like Robomania with Tech Dome. The club also supports two school-based Kiwanis key clubs at Methodist Boys School and Chung Ling High School.
Recalling a Penang Hill outing with Kiwanis children, See vividly remembers the joy they brought to young members of Friends of Childhood Cancer Northern Malaysia (FOCCAN) by presenting them with monkey soft toys. Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng, a Kiwanian himself, helped facilitate the trip.
“Seeing their happiness was one of the most memorable moments of my time with Kiwanis,” See said.
Running chess and Kiwanis programmes requires resources and manpower. See is deeply grateful to her friends, as well as local and foreign clients, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous, for their unwavering financial support.
With her dedication, compassion and drive, See continues to inspire, leaving a lasting impact on her community.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting and courtesy of Penang Chess Association