The Philanthrophist and Promonent Personnel of China Town

There were 2 philanthropists in my midst, they were Mr. Tay Wee Jin and Mr. Chew Sau Fong.

 Mr. Tay Wee Jin, (a Hokkien), the proprietor of HONG BEE TOBACCO COMPANY, housed at No. 79, Jalan Kampong Cina, a few doors away from my house. He was a very low profile philanthropist. Before the Chinese schools were turned into `national type` and aided financially by the Government, Mr. Tay Wee Jin made financial contributions in the building of wooden classrooms and running of the only Chinese school in Kuala Terengganu, Chung Hwa Wei Sin School, which was located on a piece of land stretching from Jalan Masjid Abidin right up to Jalan Tok Lam. This piece of land was later acquired by the Government and the construction of PAYA BUNGA SQUARE is still going on at this moment, May 2012. He also started the night class for over aged or children who attended English school during the day to learn Chinese at night. He was the Trustee for Chung Hwa Wei Sin School from 1946 until his demise in 1957. EDUCATION was primed in his mind. When he was approached for help to set up Oriental English School, he willingly complied. That School was situated at the junction of Jalan Tok Lam and Jalan Paya Bunga (Jalan Sultan Ismail) the spot where Koperasi Building now stands. (One of the teaching staffs was Mr. Andrew Lim Beng Eng, the husband of Ai Hong of Paris Hair Saloon near the market. Mr. Andrew Lim, from Singapore, was the person who introduced and popularised Ball Room dancing in Kuala Terengganu Town).

Being involved in business with British Companies, (in those days, cigarette were imported from England) Mr Tay Wee Jin, used to have parties for the English men in his cosy residents, at the far end of the main building surrounded by river water. A few English speaking locals were invited to the functions too. The local whom I recognised were Mercantile Bank officer, Chong Kee Pek (grandfather of Mr. Tay Cheng Sim of Maybank) and Dato` Koh Teck Beng of Meng Huat Company. Mr. Tay Wee Jin and a few Hokkien lan advocated in the setting up of Hokkien Huay Kuan in 1940 and was its Chairman for 6 terms from 1940 to 1954. I was told that in 1946, he intended to set up Chinese Chamber Of Commerce in Kuala Terengganu, but I could not obtain its outcome. Mr. Tay was a very nice elderly man. Whenever I encountered him I would politely called him `Ah Kong`. But when he was not in the right mood due to whatever reasons which I did not know, all the `nice` words would shoot out from his mouth, like any typical China man. I would bolt out from his residence.

In 1950`s, Hong Bee was also appointed as the agent for Dutch Lady condensed milk and 2 sale girls were sent to promote the product from door to door. That was the first time the people of the town (sua tean huan) had a sight of sale girls. Hong Bee also owned a cargo steamer named HONG LIAN which sailed between Kuala Terengganu and Singapore. When it sank in Kuantan in 1953 during the storm, it took a great toll on the health of the old man. His health deteriorated and passed away in 1958, one year after the birth of our Nation. Oriental English School, which heavily depended on him financially, sank with him. The whole town mourned his death. His funeral procession was lined with students from Chinese school as well as Oriental English School. I was there too. The Chung Hwa Wei Sin School`s scout troops in full uniforms pulled the heavy wooden hearse with some on each side of the hearse with their 5 feet long scouting poles pointing downward. As I was told that he always turned down the State Awards.

Mr. Chew Sau Fong, (a Kheh lan) of No. 93, Jalan Bandar, was another low profile philanthropist. He also contributed to the well being of Chinese schools during his life time until he passed away in 1982. Even though the Kheh community was very small in Kuala Terengganu, he would willingly contribute to the running of Chinese schools. I was told that he too shy away from the State Awards. He was s cloth importer, whole seller and retailer. His shop was next door to my father`s shop. One day, a group of trishaw peddlers and a few well dressed Malay men came to his shop to have a group photograph taken with him. I was told that he used to donate to the Trishaw Association for the welfares of members` children educations. Save for the show of gratitude by Trishaw Association, his many good deeds were known to himself and his family only. There is nothing much I can write about Mr. Chew`s profile, as his only son do not know or unwilling to talk about it.

 These are the men we should appreciate and honour. Their contribution benefitted all section of Chinese community regardless of their dialects and clans. I am proud to be in their neighbourhood.

There were 2 more prominent persons in Jalan Kampong Cina, though not in my neighbourhood. They stayed at the `phor` area not very far from the bridge – they were the late Y. BHG. DATO` SERI DEWA BAKTI DATO` SERI  TOH CHWEE BIOW and the late  Y. BHG. DATO TAN ENG ANN .

Y. BHG. DATO` SERI DEWA BAKTI DATO` SERI TOH CHWEE BIOW SSMT, SPMT, KMN, JP, PJK. He was a great philanthropist and social worker who reserved a mention here.. He was an entrepreneur with 11 companies under his management. His company`s trade name is CHIN GUAN INDUSTRIES (M) SDN. BHD, which dealt in rice and Nestle products. He also had interest in rubber plantations and petrol (CALTEX) service station.

Dato` Seri was born in China in 1915. The youngest of 3 boys and 3 girls, and were brought up single handedly by his widowed mother. Lives were tough for them, and Sino-Japanese War in 1932 made the conditions worst. Together with his mother, married brother, they decided to migrate to Terengganu, as one of his sister and her family were here earlier. He was then 17 years old and works were hard to come by. He did odd jobs works and later landed himself as an account clerk, and worked with low pay and also at the mercy of his employer.  With his savings, he started a business, Chop Keng Lee, with his brother, selling cigarette imported from a Singapore company. Immediately after the War his brother died. Dato` Seri, being a dutiful and responsible brother,  took care of his widowed sister-in-law and her children.

After experiencing and tasting the bitterness of hardship when he was small, he developed compassions towards the unfortunates. Though successful, he was humble and approachable by everybody who needs his help. He held the posts of patron, president, chairman, treasurer and committee member of 21 social and welfare organisations. In recognition of his unselfish and caring service to the leprosy patients, Dato` Seri was presented with the Certificate of Distinguished Service Award by Malaysian Leprosy Relief Association. In his younger days, he was the chairman of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and treasurer of Parti Perikatan (forerunner of Barisan Nasional). In 1955, when he was the Chairman of Hokkien Association, he was instrumental in getting the Associations from other States to come together and form the Federation Of Hokkien Association of Malaysia. He also had interest in Chinese schools and contributed financially in the running of the Chung Hwa Wei Sin Primary School. With his influence and connection with VVIP, he was able to acquired land from the Government for the expansion of the Chung Hwa Wei Sin Primary School compound. His other social activities included seeing the well being of Old Folks Home in Bukit Payong.  His contributions to societies were not without notice. From the age of 40 to 80, Dato` Seri was bestowed with 8 awards by His Royal Highness The Sultan of Terengganu and one by Yang Dipertuan Agong of Malaysia. He came to rest permanently at the age of 81 in 1996. His business is taken over by his eldest son,  Mr. Toh Hock Chin,  ASM, SMT, JP, PJK.

DATUK TAN ENG ANN DPMT, AMN, JP, PJK. He was born in 1918 to a family of status which owned rubber plantation and fruit orchards in Padang Midin area. He was the third child among the 6 children (4 boys and 2 girls) of Mr. Tan Soon Hock and Mdm. Teo Sin Tor. After his early education in Chung Hwa Wei Sin Chinese School, he went to Chung Ling High School in Penang and later to Anglo Chinese School in Singapore. He became the local Chinese School teacher for 3 years before he resigned to start his own business. Being green, he went through varieties of business ventures; became a dealer/agent to host of products ranging from toiletries (Colgate Palmolive), soft drink (Green Spot) outboard motor and diesel marine engines for fishing boats, Japanese sewing machine (Chiyoda & Linda) to motor vehicle (Mercedes Benz)

In 1960, the company which was set up by him, SYARIKAT TAN ENG ANN SDN. BHD, was appointed agent  for HONDA motor cycle. Unlike Western motor bikes, such as Norton or BSA, which had high engine capacities suitable for well-built European physics, those Honda motor bikes had low engine capacities and also cheap making them affordable to everybody and convenience for town use. That spells the end of bicycles for daily use. Having confidence in him, in 1975 the HONDA Motor appointed his Company as a dealer for HONDA cars. His shop was about 50 metres from the bridge. In 1983, when a row of wooden shop houses was razed, his shop was affected too. To start anew, he moved his business to the present premise in Jalan Sultan Mohamad. He moulded his eldest son Teng Chiow and third son, Teng Hoon to take care of his business. His second son has a business of his own in Kuantan and the youngest son, Teng Kiat, when retired from civil servant, took charge of the Company`s car service centre. Dato` Tan Eng Ann married to Toh Puan Lim Geok Kwee in about 1942 and the couple was rewarded with 4 sons and a girl. He passed away in 1990, and his closely knitted and filial sons took over his legacy.

During his time, he was active in politics and social works. He was the president of MCA and was the 2 terms elected State Assemblyman for DUN Bandar from 1959 to 1969 and also an EXCO member for the same period. He was the 4 terms president of Terengganu Hokkien Association from 1979 to 1987. He was the chairman of the board of governors for Chung Hwa Wei Sin Secondary School and the one of the trustees for the Primary School.  He was once the president of Terengganu Buddhist Association. He was a very keen sportsman and served  as one of the committee members of Terengganu Football Association. In his hail day, he was the state singles tennis champion and together with his younger brother, Tan Eng Chuan, captured the state doubles tennis championship. In 1969, he was awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Dato` Paduka Mahkota Terengganu (D.P.M.T) which carries the title DATO`, by His Royal Highness Sultan of Terengganu.

THE PROFESSIONAL OF JALAN KAMPONG CINA

I think my memoirs will not be completed without including a successful China Town boy, who is still with us, whom we can be proud of. He was born, raised, having his educations up to professional levels while residing in Jalan Kampong China. I am referring to Y. Bhg. Dato` Wee Cheng Huat.

Y, BHG. DATO` WEE CHENG HUAT DPMT, JP, AMN, PJK

Dato` Wee was born in late 1937. His loving mother passed away when he was in his infancy and became an orphan at the age of 6 when his caring father passed away, in 1943, during the Japanese Occupation. He was brought up by his maternal grandmother, Mdm. Chew Bee Pang, fondly known as Mar Ling (grandmother Ling in Hokkien), at the majestic building which is now occupied by Capitol Electric. Fate had not been good to him, but he grew up to be a very obedient, hard working and determined (chai see) boy – those driving qualities in him had made him a successful man. The grandmother passed away after seeing her loving grandson through his education and became a successful man.

He was educated at Sultan Sulaiman English School (the present site of SSPS in Jalan Sultan Omar). It was then a wooden building with 3 ft. High wall and atap (palm leaves) roof. The School was later razed to the ground. He completed his Senior Cambridge in 1955. In those days, at the age of 7 or 8, children started Primary standard for 2 years and proceed to Standard 1 and got promoted every year to Standard 9 (if one was successful in the class examinations every year) before sitting for Senior Cambridge Examination. The country, then under British rule, was lack of teaching staffs; the bright and outstanding Senior Cambridge Certificate holders were selected to be trained as teachers in England. Being a bright boy, he could have gained entry into University Malaya in Singapore for professional course. But the lure of going to England was too great to resist. He opted for the teaching  post and was sent to Brindsford Lodge from 1956 to 1958. In 1959, he was posted to Sultan Sulaiman Secondary School in Batu Buruk (now Jalan Sultan Mahmud).

Among the few Kampong Cina boys (Lim Peng Hwee, Lee Mar Chow, Chua Boon Hock, Lau Kong Bin) who did their teaching course in England, Dato` Wee is the only one, who, after completing his 5 years teaching contract, went back to England in 1964 to take up legal studies at Middle Temple, London, and was called to English Bar in 1967. He started his own practice on 1^st. June, 1968 at No. 152, Jalan  Kampong Cina (now the new building of Perniagaan Chong Wong) and moved to present office in Jalan Sultan Ismail in 1978.

During his school days, Dato` Wee was active in sports. He was the School rugby player. In 1955, he was the State singles badminton champ and partnered his cousin, the late Dr. Wee Lian Hong to capture the doubles championship. He was one of the founding members of Trengganu Buddhist Youth Circle under the guardianship of Sultan Sulaiman Secondary School teacher, Mr. Piyasena. Religious talks used to be held in one of the Primary School class rooms during the week-ends until one nice and jovial `Lau Chan` donated an old palace in Kolam area for Buddhist Youth Circle`s activities. Dato` Wee is the legal adviser to many organisations, some of which are Kuala Terengganu Kuan Tung Association, Kin Cho Hong (Contractors` Ass.), Chinese Assembly Hall Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Buddhist Association, Sam Poh Kong Temple, Young Malaysian Movement (YMM) and Pertubohan Perkuburan Cina Terengganu. Dato` is the current President of Terengganu Hokkien Association. He also held the post from 1987 to 1993, and again from 1995 to 2001. Since its formation in 1940, so far among the past 9 presidents, he is the only non-Chinese educated president of the Association. Dato` Wee is a man of principle and whatever he does are for the benefits of the mass. Sometimes that does not go down well with certain individuals who had agendas of their own.

Dato` Wee married to his childhood sweet heart, Toh Puan Tan Wah Choo in 1959 and has 2 daughters and a son. The eldest daughter followed Dato` Wee`s footstep and also graduated from Middle Temple, London. She was practising with a legal firm for a few years before taking up a post as one of the legal personnel in a German multi-national conglomerate company – SIEMENS. The second daughter has a degree in Industrial Management and a MBA. She is now working in America. The son is working with a company in Kuala Lumpur.

For his services to societies, he was awarded Darjah Dato` Paduka Mahkota Terengganu which carries the title `Dato`, Ahli Mangku Negera (AMN), Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) and also made a Justice of Peace (JP) in 1970`s and 1980`s.

MR GAN YEOW CHEW AMN, PJK

Another person whom I think I should include in my memoirs is Mr. Gan Yeow Chew.

Nr. Gan Yeow Chew was born in 1928 to Mr. Gan Lian Chong and Mdm Lim Kuan Cheng. He is the youngest and only son among their 5 children. His early education was at Chung Hwa Wei Sin School, but was interrupted during the Japanese Occupation. After the War, he continued his study in The Grammar School and is the private English School ran by MR. Isaac (later Dato`). The School then was at the present site of Politeknik Kuala Terengganu, (opposite Emporium Hock Kee Seng) in Jalan Sultan Ismail. It had a big compound and 2 or 3 wooden buildings to house the classrooms. After about 2 years there, he gained entry into the Government`s Sultan Sulaiman English School, which was located at the present site of Sultan Sulaiman Primary School (SSPS), in Jalan Sultan Omar. He completed his Senior Cambridge and was a temporary teacher at SSPS for 2 years before decided to participate in the family business, CHOP LEE HONG, No. 73, Jalan Kampong Cina. Business then dealt in varieties of unrelated merchandise, such as fishing materials, colouring dye, `tegenak(?)` -  a palm leaves cone-shaped hat worn by farmers and fishermen, 4 ft. square brown/white paper and pieces of yeast, and few other things.

In 1955, Mr. Gan Yeow Chew started a family life with Mdm Chan Peck Ngor who stayed a few doors down the road. Mrs. Gan began her teaching career in 1954 in Chung Hwa Wei Sin Primary School as music teacher and retired in 1985. She has a jovial and positive smiles, well like by her pupils and all those who ever crossed her path. Mrs. Gan is a very sporting person and is very popular too. Whenever she attended any dinner functions which have karaoke music, you can hear shouting from the crowd, `Lau ser, Lau ser`. With her sweet voice, she would obligingly sing a couple of songs to the thunderous applause from the floor.

The couple has 2 daughters and a son. The eldest daughter is a piano teacher and followed her engineer husband to Malacca. The second daughter graduated from a university in New Zealand, majoring in Business Administration and Human Resource. She is working with a Japanese company in Singapore. His youngest, a son, took over his business and is concentrating on fishing materials and game fishing equipments.

Mr. & Mrs. Gan, like his parents and sisters tolerate no non-sense and do not indulge in gossiping. They are sincere and trust-worthy couple, whom you can rely upon. Mr. Gan is a man of few words and low profile. His abilities and dedication in societies did not go un-noticed. In Hokkien Huay Kuan, he is appointed as Honorary Adviser and one of the Members of Trustees for properties. In Terengganu Buddhist Association, he also holds these 2 posts.

For his services to societies, he was awarded `Ahli Mangku Negera (AMN)` and also `Pingat Jasa Kebaktian` (PJK).