obituary

passed away  peacefully on Sunday, 15 May 2022

Left to cherish his memory are:

Wife: Datin Lisa and their children, Ian, Denise and Keira.   

Parents: Datuk Lai Siew Wah and Datin Liw Yoke Yin.  

Sister: Monica Lai, her husband,  Leonard Yee and their children,  Nicholas and Brendan.   

Brother: Lai Voon Keat, his wife,  Ferheen and their children,  Joseph and Christopher.   

Brother Lai Voon Wai, his wife, Karen and their children, Eunice and Oliver.   

Sister Lai Voon Mei   

alongside uncles, aunts, cousins,  colleagues and many close friends who were all like family to Voon Hon.

Voon Hon was born in Selangor on 14 November 1964. He had his early education in Malaysia and Singapore before attending university at The Bartlett School of Architecture (University College London). His MBA was also achieved in England.   

After a brief stint as an architect in London, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Voon Hon joined the corporate world where he spent the next 30+ years as a gifted architect, contractor and developer. Voon Hon was responsible for bringing to Malaysia many iconic and award-winning landmark  projects such as The Westin Kuala Lumpur, The Aloft Hotel and The RuMa Hotel. He humanised urban design through the i-ZEN property portfolio and was instrumental for  regenerating Sandakan's inner city harbour area. For his contributions to Sabah, he was conferred the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) Sabah State award in 2016 which carries the title "Datuk".  As a corporate leader, Voon Hon contributed immensely to the betterment of the property, construction and hospitality industries in Malaysia.  

Ask anyone, they will unanimously describe Voon Hon as wonderful company, fun-loving, charming and engaging. Above all, he was sincere, selfless and generous.   

Voon Hon touched the lives of countless people and was a great source of positivity. Even during his battle with cancer and when forced to scale down his activities, he soldiered on without complaint, anger or self-pity. He simply would not take No for an answer! 

Voon Hon was a very special person who represented all the goodness in the world.  May he rest in peace.  

Datuk Lai Voon Hon Filial Son, Devoted Husband, Caring Father,  Loving Brother and Inspiration to the World