Mamee founder Pang Chin Hin passes away aged 96

Datuk Pang Chin Hin, the founder of the company behind Mamee Monster, one of the most iconic snacks in the region, has died at the age of 96.

Sin Chew Daily reported that Pang, executive chairman of Mamee-Double Decker (M) Sdn Bhd, died on Saturday at 6.03 am.

Pang began his journey in the food manufacturing business in 1971 when he started Pacific Food Products with his partner, based in Melaka.

Pang started as a used car dealer before opening a small Melaka factory to produce instant noodles in 1971.

A year later, the company launched its first product, Lucky Instant Noodle, which did not succeed commercially.

In 1974, his son Pang Tee Chew saw rubber tappers eating uncooked instant noodles straight from the package.

This gave Pang the idea to make instant noodles with additional flavouring.

The snack, later known as Mamee Monster, proved to be the key to unlocking the company’s success.

In a 2011 interview with Terence Lee of Tech-In Asia, Pang revealed that in his struggling days of the 1970s, his cheapest meal was wonton noodles which cost 30 sen at that time.

And he needed to eat a double portion, so he would order “ma-meen” in Cantonese. From that, the “Mamee” brand was born.

The Mamee noodle snacks and its blue Mamee Monster mascot that has become a hit among Malaysian children. The chicken and curry-flavoured noodle snacks can be eaten straight from the pack.

The company was later rebranded as Mamee-Double Decker in 1992 and now produces more than 50 popular snacks.

The company was renamed Mamee-Double Decker and was listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange’s main board on March 18, 1992. 

It was then taken private by the family in 2012. 

Under Pang’s helm as the founder, the company included more items in its offerings, including cultured milk and yoghurt drink, Nutrigen and instant noodles known as Mamee Chef. 

Mamee Chef has also been rated in the Top Ten Instant Noodle category consistently by the Ramen Rater.

Mamee-Double Decker has received various awards, including the Frost & Sullivan for Best-Home Grown Packages Food Company and the Putra Brand Award under the Foodstuff Category.

His son, Tee Chew, is the chief executive officer and managing director of the homegrown snack empire.

At the same time, Datuk Seri Pang Tee Nam currently sits on the board as chief operating officer. 

His grandson Pierre Pang serves as the group executive director.