Sunday 17 April 2016

Khoo Yang Tin 邱扬阵

KHOO YANG TIN

Khoo Yang Tin was born in 1857 in China, with ancestry in Sinkang Village, Hai Teng District, Fujian Province. He came to Singapore in the late 19th century and in 1892, he founded a rice trading business under the style chop Aik Chiang. 

Khoo Yang Tin’s business was affluent and diversed. He also invested in real estates and plantations with substantial investments in Saigon and other Southeast Asian countries. Khoo Yang Tin was best known for his role as a financier, where he held the directorship in the Oversea-Chinese Banking Cooperation (OCBC). The Oversea-Chinese Banking Cooperation Ltd. was formed in 1932 with the merger of three banks, Chinese Commercial Bank (est. 1912), Ho Hong Bank (est. 1917) and Oversea Chinese Bank (est. 1919). Khoo Yang Tin was known as its founding shareholder. In which the his family had a major role in behind. 

Khoo Yang Tin and his family lived in a humble live and shy from publicity. It is little known to public that he was a generous philanthropist, who had provided various financial aids to educational institutions and welfare organizations in both China and Singapore. The Khoo Yang Tin Scholarship was created by his descendant, Khoo Choon Tin in his honour for the Anglo-Chinese Junior College in Singapore. One of his sons, Khoo Teck Puat (1917 - 2007) had donated SG$50,000.00 to the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, Penang in 2002 for the establishment of the Khoo clan museum. 

Khoo Yang Tin died in 1943. He has 13 sons and nine daughters through his various wives. 

Yeo Kim Chiam
Wive:
Yeo Kim Chiam (1881 – 1983)

Sons:
Khoo Teck Soon
Khoo Teck Chuan
Khoo Teck Puat
Khoo Teck Imm 
Khoo Teck Quee

Daughters:
Khoo Tiam Tee
Khoo Ai Tee
Khoo Suat Ngoh
Khoo Suat Khim 

References:
The Straits Times, 31 March 1983, p. 39
The Straits Times, 6 October 1985, p. 10
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 14 November 1914, p. 12
Lee, K.H. (2003). Dahles, H., et al. (Eds.). Capital and Knowledge in Asia: Changing Power Relations. (p. 167) 
Gomez, E.T. (1999). Chinese Business in Malaysia: Accumulation, Ascendance, Accommodation. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press (pp. 75-77)
Tan, Y.W. (2003). Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi: The History and Architecture. Penang: Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi (p. 48)

Sunday 13 March 2016

Straits Chinese British Association (SCBA)

Tchan Chun Fook posting with the SCBA regalia
Source: Song, Ong Siang. (1923). One Hundred Years’ History of the Chinese in Singapore. London: John Murray

Singapore Branch
Founded on 17 August 1900 now known as Peranakan Association Singapore

List of Presidents
1900 - 1904 Tan Jiak Kim
1905 - 1907 Dr Lim Boon Keng
1913 - 1916 Koh San Hin
1917 - 1919 Lee Choon Guan
1920 - 1921 Dr Lim Boon Keng
1921 - Song Ong Siang
1924 - 1925 Wong Siew Qui (SQ Wong)
1926 - 1930 Wee Swee Teow
1930 - 1932 Dr Lim Han Hoe
1933 - 1939 Tay Lian Teck
Dr Yap Pheng Geck
1948 - 1992 Ong Tiang Wee (TW Ong)
1992 - 1996 Dr George Tay
1996 - 2009 Lee Kip Lee
2010 - present Peter Wee

**The "Singapore Branch" is still under research. Information will be updated from time to time.

The early members of SCBA in 1900
Source: Song, Ong Siang. (1923). One Hundred Years’ History of the Chinese in Singapore. London: John Murray

Malacca Branch
Founded on 25 September 1900 now known as Persatuan Peranakan Cina Melaka

List of Presidents
1900 - 1903 Lee Keng Liat
1904 - 1928 Chan Kang Swi
1929 - 1934 Tan Cheng Lock
1935 - 1938 Loh Kim Swi
1939 - 1941 Ong Bak Hin
1946 - 1950 Ee Yew Kim
1951 - 1954 Khoo Kim Lian
1955 - 1977 Ee Yew Lin
1978 - 1988 Khoo Peck Wan
1988 - 1993 Chin Thian Soo
1994 - 2007 Jimmy Khoo Seng Kiong
2008 - 2017 Phua Jin Hock
2017 - present David Tan

Penang Branch
Founded in 1920 now known as Persatuan Peranakan Cina Pulau Pinang

List of Presidents
1920 - 1924 Lim Eu Toh
1925 - 1927 Quah Beng Kee
1928 - 1929 Lim Keong Lay
1930           Lim Eow Thoon
1931 - 1932 Heah Joo Seang
1933           Lim Keong Lay
1934           Lim Cheng Ean
1935           Koh Sin Hock
1936 - 1937 Lim Cheng Ean
1938           Cheah Inn Kiong
1939 - 1945 Dr Lim Chwee Leong
1946 - 1948 Lee Tiang Keng
1949           Lim Huck Aik
1950           Chew Boon Ee
1951 - 1952 Ong Joo Sun
1953 - 1960 Heah Joo Seang
1961 - 1982 Koh Sin Hock
1983 - 1986 Ang Cheow Kooi
1987           Law Joo Keun
1988 - 2009 Dato' Seri Khoo Keat Siew
2010 - present Dato' Tan Gin Soon