The first opportunity came after he scored straight As for his A-Levels at the National Junior College in Singapore and was offered a place to study engineering at the National University of Singapore. However, he also received an offer to study the same at University Malaya.
His heart leaned towards Malaysia. “I knew that after I graduated from Singapore, I would most likely continue to stay and work there, and eventually get absorbed into Singapore,” the 70-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
The next door opened after he completed his Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, US. His professor, recognising his capabilities, invited him to stay on. Once again, Lee chose Malaysia.
“I cannot explain why I had this desire of wanting to serve my country. Maybe it’s because I was born and educated here. This country nurtured me, so I should serve my country.”
Over a decade later, Lee and another engineer, Eugene Oh, invented the Nehemiah Wall, a retaining wall system. A familiar sight along Malaysian expressways today, the structure prevents earth on a slope from collapsing to the ground below.
Malaysia was rapidly developing then and required better infrastructure. The duo believed the conventional retaining wall system could be greatly improved.
The Nehemiah Wall, Lee explained, can be constructed faster and doesn’t require imported materials, making it more cost-efficient. Its diamond-shaped motif is also more aesthetically-pleasing.
The duo filed a patent for the Nehemiah Wall in 1994. “Although a patent’s lifespan is 20 years, I have filed subsequent patents over the years which are still valid.”
Earlier in 1993, Lee had left his job as a general manager of a multinational company to set up Nehemiah Reinforced Soil with Oh, to supply, design and build the walls.
He was 40 years old then and had three daughters, his youngest only two years old. It was a nerve-wracking time as he’d invested his savings of RM200,000 meant for his daughters’ education.
Lee made a promise to his children then. “I said, ‘Daddy will work hard to ensure that you have at least a tertiary education. God willing, if I can afford it, I will send you overseas.’”
But in building the walls, the duo hit their own walls – naysayers were one of them. “They ridiculed us saying that even a three-metre-high Nehemiah Wall will collapse.” There was also the prevailing mindset that anything locally-made was inferior to those that were Western-made.
Tragically, Oh succumbed to liver cancer on Sept 15, 1999, leaving Lee devastated.
Despite the heartache, Lee relied on his faith to see him through. “Most people say it’s luck. For me, it’s not luck. There’s an invisible hand of God guiding me and helping me to sail through tremendous challenges,” he shared, adding that his wife was a pillar of support.
Over time, more people realised the actual strength of the Nehemiah wall. It didn’t collapse, as the naysayers predicted, and in 2013, a 42-metre Nehemiah Wall, the tallest so far, was constructed in Cheras.
Today, the Nehemiah Wall can be found in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India. Lee’s business, too, has grown by leaps and bounds and is today known as the Nehemiah Group, with Lee as its chairman.
Lee has received many awards for his work, including from the Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom for integrity in business. Last year, the grandfather of five also published his autobiography titled, “The Wall Stories of a Jar of Clay.”
As for his promise to his children? Lee kept it and sent them overseas to study. “God has blessed me with more than I asked.”
Indeed, Lee has fulfilled his desire to serve his beloved country. So, the next time you pass a Nehemiah Wall, know that it is proudly a Malaysian invention that reflects the “Malaysia Boleh” spirit.
‘The Wall Stories of a Jar of Clay’ is priced at RM30 and can be purchased at Canaanland.