: : CORPORATE /ACCREDITATION / WATER FILTER MAN & ARTICLE : :

How water filter come into Chee Sze Hsien's life is rather extraordinary. After quitting the air force in 1976 as an aircraft engineer, Chee worked for commercial airlines. It was in Kuwait that he first saw a water filter.

"I also noticed every home in Kuwait had filtration equipment," he said. But the thought of a water filter didn't strike him again, until a friend from Kuwait bought him one.

"At that time, we didn't really have the problem of dirty water, unlike now, but I installed it in my house anyway,: he said.

But Chee had the last laugh. His BACFREE Multi Medium Quartz EC series and ceramic water filters are touted to be the best in the local market now.

He started selling ceramic filters 20 years ago before acquiring the rights to retail the EC series, which some call a Rocket filter because its shape looks like a s space shuttle.

Today, 100,000 people in the Klang Valley use his filters, including ministers, dignitaries and the super-rich.

Among his biggest client is the Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay family which has spend more than RM100, 000 on water filtration system.

"I have personally serviced the Yeoh family from Tiong Lay to his son Tan Sri Francis Yeoh," he said.

"I must add that my relationship with customers has become so intimate that when ever they have problems apart from filters like a broken tap, they call me. And I oblige to help them as part of customer service," he said.

He said most local manufacturers were trying to imitate but "I can't stop people from copying the idea. Besides we have our own strategy of doing business."

"All I can say is that I'm thankful to be the most respected businessman in this field, and if my friend who gave me my first water filter is alive, he would be very proud of me too," he added.

Star Metro / Mon 22 April 2002