The Madam Kwan's Legacy

Datin Maureen Ooi, CEO of the beloved chain of restaurants, chats about building and honouring her mother-in-law's legacy

- Amanda Fung

Known for its vibrant Malaysian fare that includes its famous renditions of nasi bojari and nasi lemak, Madam Kwan’s is a household name in Malaysia. The family-run restaurant boasts 16 outlets across the country, 12 of which are in the Klang Valley alone.

The woman responsible for the delicious flavours at Madam Kwan’s is Kwan Swee Lian, who is often seen with her trademark hat, glasses, and sweet smile. She started her career in the food industry in 1977 and now runs Madam Kwan’s alongside her son, Datuk Rudy Foo, and daughter-in-law, Datin Maureen Ooi.

Kwan was a beautician in the 1950s with her own beauty salon, Sakura Salon. Two decades later, the salon was transformed into Sakura Restaurant, which marked her debut in the F&B industry. Sakura was well-known for its nasi lemak but it folded in 1997.

In 1999, her youngest son, Rudy, and his wife established Madam Kwan’s in honour of her. “We started Madam Kwan’s to give her back the kitchen that she loves so much and dedicated so much of her life to,” explains Ooi.