ABSTRACT
Introduction Few other people have attained such recognition and acclaim among Chinese Penangites, as the late and famous business tycoon Lok Boon Siew. Known and respected as a man of enormous wealth and simple way of life, he enjoyed much fame and acquired an almost mythical status throughout Malaysia. Lok Boon Siew came to personify the attributes required for success in the Chinese communities because in many respects his life story mirrors collectively held aspirations and dreams of many of the Chinese in Penang and beyond. His life and deeds are interesting in a number of other ways, not least because they crystallise strong local discourses concerning wealth, fame, masculinity, work ethos and success. If one asks Chinese Penangites about a man that symbolises a classic 'rags to riches' story, they would almost certainly answer Lok Boon Siew. Moreover, and what is interesting in this context, is that his original occupation was that of a mechanic. By first introducing the fate of Lok Boon Siew and then the contemporary parallel of Chen Lee Sean this chapter will progressively deal with local discourses of fame and fortune in relation to gender.
