Lee Yoon Thim

Dato' Y. T. Lee, also Lee Yoon Thim (Chinese: 李潤添; pinyin: Li Rùntiān; 1905–1977) was a Malaysian Chinese architect active in Kuala Lumpur in the 1950s and 1960s. He helped "Build Merdeka" after Malaysian Independence, 1963. He moved in elite circles, and held several positions in the national government and in the Chinese community. He was a close friend to Prime Minister Tuanku Abdul Rahman and other political figures. He designed several of Kuala Lumpur's landmark buildings, such as: Chin Woo Stadium, UMNO building, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Federal Hotel, Kampung Baru Mosque, Ar-Rahman Mosque and the Masjid Al-Ubudiyah. In addition to his famous mosques in Kuala Lumpur, he also worked on middle eastern and Islamic architecture project, for example, Masjid Al- Ubudiyah in Kerling ( a modest mosque), Hulu Selangor which is opened in 1960. When this masjid is built, there was no electricity supply yet. Somehow now it has been used as a teaching place by the locals. His less well known works include the Too House, an addition for the Methodist Boys School, and healthcare-related and commercial work. In the early 1960s, a series of honours came his way: in 1960, he was granted the appellation of P.J.K.; in 1961, he was honoured as Justice of Peace and J.M.N in 1962; he was honoured as Dato' in 1964, an honorific similar to the British "Sir".

In his early years, Lee travelled to England, Germany and Italy respectively for studies and earned a master's degree in Engineering. He returned to Malaysia and founded his own company, Y. T. Lee & Co. His ancestors came from Nanhai County, Guangzhou province.

Lee married, and had at least three children, including two daughters. His children became professionals, one a doctor, one an architect, and one a bank executive. His son, Mr. Lee Hong Fatt was the bank executive, and one daughter, Ms. Lee Chee Peng was an arts graduate of the University of Sydney.

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