Arthur Lim and Chris Tay Visit from Malaysia

                                      Malaysian Developers Visit Smokey Mountains Area

                                                            by Martha Rose Woodward

  Malaysian developers, Arthur Lim and Chris Tay were recently awarded a contract by the Chinese government to build a Dollywood-Disney-like theme park in Melaka, Malaysia. They arrived in Knoxville on Monday, November 2 after a 20 hour flight. They were here on a fact-finding tour and to hear a presentation from iCAD on conceptual layouts and specs, animation, 2-D and 3-D designs and sculptures given by Dr. Brad Coriell and Phillip Lim, partners in iCAD or International Concepts and Design.

   They visited Dollywood and Dixie Stampede as a part of their tour as well as numerous other sites of interest in this area. “We will be developing 140 acres,” said Tay. “We need many good ideas for entertainment, housing, parking and restaurants.”

   Although Pinnacle Bank is not involved in the project Senior Vice president, Jeremy R. Cook,

graciously provided assistance with use of their roomy conference room.

   Dr. Brad Coriell presented his design ideas for a family oriented complex to be included in the park. He is one of the team of five who worked with Lake City to successfully change the name to Rocky Top. Coriell's art work can be found in the Kennedy, Lincoln, Taft and Reagan Presidential Libraries, in the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. as well as museums and buildings around the world. Coriell, who has worked for Universal Studios and Warner Brothers, was a long-time employee of Disney. He is one of sixty Disney Imagineers in the world.

   Malaysian developer Arthur Lim, who is Managing Director for Infinity International, says he plans to remain in Knoxville to visit with his brothers Phillip, Jimmy and David for a month. Chris Tay will return to Malaysia where he is Chief Operating Officer for Alstro, an industrial design company. Entrepreneur Phillip Lim is owner of two local restaurants Asia Cafe North at 6714-B North Central Pike and Asia Cafe West at 8111 Gleason Road in Knoxville. Lim says he has numerous customers from both Seymour and South Knoxville who drive across town for the flavors of authentic Asian food

   Tay says Melaka, Malaysia has become the “New Silk Road” known as “One Belt: One Road,” meaning it is a coastal city that provides a gateway for Chinese trade around the world.