Lee, who served as the fourth MCA president, died this morning, China Press reported.

Born in Pekan, Pahang, Lee rose to prominence after winning the Kluang Utara parliamentary seat in the 1959 general election at the age of 24.

Later, he was appointed the Alliance Party’s executive secretary and went on to serve as the MCA Youth chief.

Many considered him a “Young Turk” after he openly called for some MCA leaders to step down in 1963.

After the May 13 riots, Lee was appointed deputy special functions minister. In 1971, he was appointed labour minister.

He would go on to hold other ministerial portfolios, including special functions, works and public utilities as well as technology, research and new village coordination.

In 1974, he was made acting MCA president, following Tan Siew Sin’s death.

A year later, he was elected MCA president, a post he held until he retired from politics in 1983.

Aside from serving as the Kluang Utara MP, Lee also served as MP for Segamat Selatan and Seremban, a seat he won by defeating then-DAP chairman Chen Man Hin.

On March 24, 1983, Lee resigned from the Cabinet and relinquished his position as MCA president.