Atlas Ice Celebrates a Century of Achievements

The Atlas Ice Company Berhad celebrated their 100th Anniversary last Monday 27th February 2012

At a grand gala dinner for staff and guests at the Straits Ballroom, Holiday Inn Melaka, the company announced a Centenary Charity Giveaway of One Million Ringgit! The first installment of RM300,000.00 was presented to the recipients that evening itself.

The first recipient of RM100,000.00 is the Sekolah Menengah Methodist (ACS) Melaka (Malacca Anglo-Chinese School). Five of the present directors of the company had their early education in Malacca ACS. Chairman and CEO Chee Kim Hoon is a MACSian, Class of 1966.

L-R: MACS Board members Koh Tiam Guan, Kua Chong Beng
and Principal See Haw Yeow receiving the mock cheque from
Atlas Ice Chairman Chee Kim Hoon (MACSian Class of 1966)

The other recipients are the Haemodialysis Centre (SJAM), Bacang, Malacca (RM100,000.00),  SKE Mudita Home (RM50,000.00) and the Seck Kia Eenh Cancer Fund, Malacca (RM50,000.00).

The Atlas Ice Company has been a long time supporter of the Malacca ACS through their advertisements in The Macsian yearbooks.

The founder and first chairman of the company, Chee Swee Cheng was a prominent Straits born Chinese businessman.

The Straits Times, 5 June 1938, Page 29

Chee Swee Cheng was well-known to be a careful and thrifty businessman with a nose for spotting new business opportunities that came his way. Another trait that Chee Swee Cheng was fondly remembered for was his philanthropy with various hospitals having enjoyed his generosity, to the extent that an x-ray department was named in his honour at the Bukit Pala Hospital in Melaka.

At Malacca Anglo-Chinese School during the pre-war years, the blue house was named the Chee Swee Cheng House in his honour. The red house was named after Loh Kim Swi, also a director of The Atlas Ice Company. The yellow house was named after Rev Dodsworth and the green house after Rev Shellabear.

The houses were renamed when the MACS School Badge which highlighted the ideals and virtues espoused by Tagore, Lord Baden Powell, Sun Yat-Sen and Abraham Lincoln was introduced after the war.

To commemorate the centenary, the company has published a coffee table book  A Century of Achievements which traces the major events throughout the company's 100 years of existence. This book was presented to all staff and guests during the gala dinner.

Photographs from the Grand Gala 100th Anniversary Dinner below:-

Directors blowing off the candles on the Centenary Cake

"Pop!" goes the champagne bottle cork

Fireworks (above) and a confetti shower (below) after the toast

A One Million Ringgit Charity Giveaway to mark the Centenary.
The recipients pose with the mock cheques after the presentation

Guests and staff were treated to a gymnastics performance by a troupe
from Shanghai, apart from oldies from the 60s and 70s by local entertainers.