/// Exclusive Interview
/// EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
MAK THUR PEI
Sabah’s Aspiring Young Architect
Q
uiet and unassuming, Mak
Thur Pei allowed fleeting
displays of light-heartedness
cross her determined features as we
talked about her impressive debut
into the world of architectural design,
her inspirations and hope for the
future.
She was born in Penang and moved
with her family to Kota Kinabalu when
she was one year old. School life was
remarkably normal with a steady
progression from KK Chung Hwa
Primary School to Kian Kok Middle
School, Institute Sinaran for her ‘A’
levels and finally to the University of
Western Australia in Perth.
Her father, Ar. Mak Chee Chong
started his own architecture company
more than 20 years ago and was
determined that she followed in
his footsteps. Despite some early
resistance, Thur Pei finally connected
with her father’s passion for
architecture in her second year and
things began to fall into place.
Right off the bat, Thur Pei started
helping out with architectural designs
at her father’s company during school
holidays to get a feel of the work.
There was no shortage of creative
ideas either from her father or other
well-known \