KUALA LUMPUR: For Malacca MCA deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo, being selected as the state’s official liaison to China’s president Hu Jintao during his brief visit to the historic state today, is a double honour.
Back in 1994, Gan’s father Datuk Wira Gan Boon Leong was also selected for the task for the then Chinese president Jiang Zemin when the latter toured the historical city.
Gan was only 23 years old and studying in the United States at the time. Senior Gan has a huge portrait of Jiang with him at his office.
Tian Loo showing the photograph of his father with Jiang in 1994. “I am excited, nervous and looking forward to Hu’s visit. I will be carrying out the similar responsibility entrusted to my father 15 years ago while also getting the chance of meeting the president in person,” he said yesterday.
“I was told that he wanted to see the Straits of Malacca owing to its significance and links to China’s maritime history, in particular Admiral Zheng He’s famous voyages,” he said.
Gan added that the president would visit Pulau Melaka and the Baba-Nyonya Museum along Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock or Heeren Street and Jonker Street.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam described Hu’s visit as being a very good “feng-shui” for the state.
The state, declared a Unesco World Heritage site last year, is considered the most sustainable city in the country, he said.
He added that most Chinese came to know of Malacca through close links between the 15th century Malacca Sultanate and the Ming Court.
Memorable visit: (Top) Hu will be visiting several of Malacca’s tourist spots such as the Straits of Malacca today. The Masjid Selat Melaka stands next to the plaque 
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