Dr. Iain Corness
Malai Sakolviphak was a man who consistently represented
Thailand in the international tourism arena. He was also involved with the
local airline industry for almost all of his life.
He was born in Chiang Mai, but his family had left there
by the time he was one year old and he spent the rest of his years in
Bangkok. His father worked for the French Embassy and as a young boy Malai
spoke French; however, when war broke out in Indo-China his very astute
father quickly said, “Switch to English!”
Malai Sakolviphak
1932 - 2012
He was one of the most fluent of English speaking Thais,
which he would joke came from playing truant as a schoolboy and watching
English movies.
When he finished school he wanted to be a pilot, but
found that his eyesight was not good enough. With his heart set on aviation,
he did the next best thing by starting work for the Pan Am airline as a
messenger, but was then called up for national service. However, this was
delayed as he had enrolled at Thamassat University to study law on a
part-time basis. To support himself he continued to work for Pan Am during
the six years it took him to graduate as a lawyer.
After graduation he did not practice law, but joined the
army for the 2-year stint required of him. However, he did not give up Pan
Am, getting special dispensation to work at night with Pan Am.
After national service he worked full time and found that
it was possible for him to continue with self education through the Pan Am
manuals and files. “When a situation occurred that I was unsure of, I would
look through the files to see how these events had been handled previously.”
They say that experience is the greatest teacher and Malai was able to
capitalize on the experiences of those who had gone before him.
He stayed with Pan Am for 30 years, rising through the
ranks until he gained the top post as country director for Thailand, Burma
and Laos. But like all aspects of life, there were constant changes and one
was Pan Am selling off its Pacific routes to United Airlines. Planes arrived
in Thailand badged Pan Am, to leave the next day with UA stickers. However,
Malai stayed, becoming director of Thailand for United.
During this extended period with the airlines he found he
was adept at understanding the different nationalities and their differing
cultures and different ways of thinking. “You learn negotiating skills. It
is very different between the Americans, the Europeans and the Asians. We
Asians understand compromise.”
Malai also realized that when you visit somewhere
overseas it is much better when you have friends there, and one association
which supplied “instant” friends was the international Skๅl Club, the
world-wide tourism and hospitality group which he joined in 1974. With his
ability to travel in his airline position he became Thailand’s international
councillor for Skๅl in 1986. This was for a 2-year term, but there never was
a replacement!
He finally retired from UA and did some part-time
lecturing to fill in his days and then a friend asked him to assist him in
the Pacific Leisure Group. “I came back part-time till I got bored, so I
became full-time!”
His capacity for work was almost endless and he was one
of the prime movers behind the World Skๅl Congress which was held in Bangkok
in 1996, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Skๅl Club in Thailand.
This was a great success.
He was deeply involved with the bid to hold the World
Skๅl Congress in Pattaya in 2006, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of
Skๅl in Thailand. Again this was successful, and much of that success was
due to the endless enthusiasm of Malai.
For Malai, success was merely to achieve what you want to
be able to do. During his life, he was very successful, with his list of
achievements being very long and comprehensive. His advice to the young
people was, “Work to the best of your ability. Read manuals, get involved in
self education and make reasoned decisions.”
Malai Sakolviphak was an ambassador for Thailand, of whom
this country can be very proud. He believed in the great potential that
Thailand has, being an attractive destination for the international tourist.
That the great potential grew to be reality under Malai’s stewardship. He
cannot be replaced, nor will he be forgotten.
Andrew Wood, Bangkok
It was with profound shock that we learnt of the passing
of Malai Sakolviphak - a Membre d’Honneur and former Skๅl International (SI)
Thailand President, SI Bangkok President and SI Thailand Councillor.
Often referred to as ‘Mr. Skๅl’, Malai frequently
travelled around the world to, almost single handed, promote Thailand to
20,000-plus Skๅlleagues and senior tourism executives. Messages have been
pouring in from around the world - a true measure of the greatness and
respect Malai, our wise Thailand Skๅl father, generated from those he met.
Skๅl International President Enrique Quesada said, “Malai
was an outstanding Skๅlleague and represented his country, Thailand, with
impeccable dedication and wisdom.”
Comments from past presidents include:
Hulya Aslantas (2009-10): “I am very sorry to hear the
most unfortunate news about passing away of Khun Malai. I have known him
since many years and worked closely with him also in the council. He was a
great ambassador of Skๅl Thailand and will always be remembered as the
person and power behind all the congresses you have hosted. His personality,
sense of humour and great wisdom will be remembered for many years by all
those who knew him well. We all have lost a great friend.”
Litsa Papathanasi (2006-7): “I was shocked when I heard
about the loss of my good friend Malai. We first met in 1995 and, from 1996;
we served on the board of the ISC for four years, with Peter Huppert, Jan
Sunde and later with Lone Ricks. We remained friends in the years to follow.
All that you and the other Skๅlleagues said about him is true. He was a
good, strong guy with a calm face that only wise people have. Always kind
and always there for his friends. Although very introverted as a person,
with us on the board he became more open as we trusted each other. The work
achieved was always done with humour and very good co-operation between us.”
Jan H. Sunde (2005-6): “This was sad news. A great
Skๅlleague has left us. Khun Malai was a great friend. I served not only as
councillor together with him but we also were vice presidents of the council
for several years together and we met in board meetings. He was a great
representative not only for Skๅl Thailand but also for his country. Khun
Malai will be missed. RIP Malai.”
Hon. President Uzi Yalon: “I have known Khun Malai at
least 35 years. He was a great and humble person and very knowledgeable in
all Skๅl matters. More than once we discussed Skๅl issues and always found
solutions to matters being discussed. I used to see him a few times each
year at different Skๅl events and always he was radiating a good heart. I
was shocked to learn of his passing away. He will be missed by his family,
Skๅl Asia and Skๅl all over the world.”
Hon. President Max Kingston: “It was with great sorrow I
learnt of the passing of my dear friend and dedicated Skๅlleague, Khun Malai
Sakolviphak. I share with you and all fellow Skๅlleagues, particularly in
Thailand, the loss of such a fine Skๅlleague and dear friend, recognising
his dedication and commitment to Skๅl in Thailand. May he rest in peace with
the knowledge of ‘well done faithful servant’.”
Richard Hawkins (1999-2000): “Malai’s contributions to
Skๅl are very considerable. He worked within the international forum to help
keep the good ship Skๅl on a steady course. He did much to help develop and
maintain Skๅl in Asia and indeed he was an Honorary President of Skๅl Asia.
He also did much in the area of Skๅl Thailand. He never sought the limelight
and he was modest about his achievements. His friends will miss him and Skๅl
will miss him. As a trustee of the Florimond Volckaert Fund I note the
proposal that donations be made in his name and I think that would be a
wonderful thing.”
Trygve Soedring (1992-3): “It was a shock for us all to
hear that Khun Malai has passed away. Khun Malai was a true gentleman, a
fantastic Skๅl man and a very good friend. I knew him for more than 30 years
and worked very closely with him during the World Skๅl Congress in Bangkok
in 1996 when he was in charge and I had stepped in as congress director only
five months before. Khun Malai was very pleasant and co-operative to work
with. We will all miss Mr. Skๅl in Asia. May he rest in peace. On behalf of
the Florimond Volckaert Fund and the Trustees I would like to thank you all
good Skๅlleagues in Thailand for contributing to the Fund in Khun Malai’s
name. It is highly appreciated.”
From Gerry Perez, President Skๅl Asia: “I was honoured to
have spent time with him in my days as councillor and in the Asia Area
Committee. When the Asia Area Committee under President Earl recommended
Khun Malai Sakolviphak to be awarded Hon. President of the Area in 2007 in
Macau, it was the easiest decision we ever made. A truly great Skๅlleague
and we are going to miss his wise council.”
Earl Wieman IPP Asia Area: “I proposed the honorary
presidency for Malai because of his dedication to Skๅl, his (always quiet)
efforts on behalf of the organisation, his ready willingness to help other
Skๅlleagues, his warm friendship, his firm belief in the organisation and
the contributions he made to it over so many years in Bangkok, Thailand,
Asia, and internationally.”
Robert ‘Bob’ Lee, outgoing President of SI Bangkok,
shared the news with Skๅl members at the recent AGM. He said, “It is with a
very heavy heart that I have to inform Skๅlleagues around the world of the
passing of our ‘Skๅl Thailand Father’ Khun Malai. This really came as a
shock to us all. He was my teacher and Skๅl mentor and he was a friend to so
many.”
Brian Sinclair-Thompson, SI Thailand President,
commented, “Khun Malai’s knowledge and experiences within the Skๅl movement
were unmatched. Thailand and Skๅl are poorer places as a result of his
passing.”
Ingo Raueber, Past President of Skๅl International
Pattaya & East Thailand said, “I came to know Khun Malai 11 years ago, and
he was my mentor in all aspects concerning Skๅl. During my 3 years of
presidency of the Skๅl International Club of Pattaya & East Thailand, he
never hesitated to render any assistance and advice requested. He will be
truly missed by all of us.”
Peter Malhotra, a charter member of the Skๅl Club of
Pattaya and former Vice President said, “I respected him more than you can
imagine, for his lifetime of dedication to the Skๅl movement. He worked
harder than anyone I know to promote and boost the travel and tourism
industry not only in Thailand, but all over the world. He relentlessly
campaigned against all competition in our successful bid to host the Skๅl
World Congress in Pattaya in 2006. I am really sorry to hear of Khun Malai’s
passing. Skๅl and all his friends and family will dearly miss him.”
About Khun Malai Sakolviphak: Born in 1932, Malai
started his career by joining Pan American World Airways in 1949 and was
later appointed director for Thailand, Laos and Myanmar from 1982-1985. When
Pan Am sold its transpacific route he joined United Airlines and served as
general manager from 1986-1992.
He then joined the Pacific Leisure Group head office in
Bangkok as senior executive director from 1993-2009. Malai was also a former
chairman of PATA Thailand chapter and past president of the Airlines Club of
Thailand and World Airlines Club Association as well as executive director
of the Association of Thai Travel Agents.
