Tan Cheng Lock
Malayan Chinese Association | |
---|---|
In office 27 February 1949 – 27 March 1958 | |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Succeeded by | Lim Chong Eu |
Personal details | |
Born | Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) | 5 April 1883
Spouse | Yeo Yeok Neo |
Children | Tun Tan Siew Sin Tan Kim Tin Wee Geok Kim Alice Tan Kim Yoke Agnes Tan Kim Lwi |
Occupation | Businessman |
Background
Born on 5 April 1883, Tan was the third son of Tan Keong Ann (
The young Tan attended Malacca High School and won the Tan Teck Guan Scholarship awarded to top performers in the school. He later continued his education at Raffles Institution in Singapore. He was unable to proceed to England to study law due to his financial situation so he decided to teach instead, and taught at Raffles Institution from 1902 to 1908.[6] He was unhappy with his lot and was too impatient to be a teacher,[7] so his mother, Lee Seck Bin, insisted he return to Malacca to work as an assistant manager of the Bukit Kajang Rubber Estates Ltd.,[8] a company which belonged to his maternal cousin, Lee Chim Tuan.[9] Being a rubber planter suited him and he was a quick learner. Soon he was appointed visiting agent to Nyalas Rubber Estates in Malacca in 1909. In 1910, Tan was involved in the founding of three rubber companies. He started United Malacca Rubber Estate Ltd. himself, and he obtained the assistance of other businessmen to jointly set up Malacca Pinda Rubber Estates Ltd. and Ayer Molek Rubber Company, Ltd.[10]
Three years later in 1912, he was nominated as Malacca Council Commissioner and a Justice of the Peace for Malacca by the
In 1926, Tan made history with his monumental speech of ideals of a territorially and politically united Malaya in a speech to the council. Like many Straits-born Chinese of his time, Tan was partial towards Britain but was deeply influenced by ideas of independence which were sweeping across many British colonies. He advocated the concept of a "united self-governing British Malaya". From 1933 to 1935, he was an
The birth of Malayan Chinese Association
Tan returned to Malacca after the Japanese surrendered. On 27 February 1949, Tan founded the
The post-war years and the Emergency was a difficult and dangerous juncture for the community. The Chinese were deeply divided and their loyalty was under scrutiny. Among the Chinese, only Tan had the stature to engage with senior Malays such as Datuk Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman at a time of imminent constitutional changes in the country. Strongly anti-communist, he was also trusted by the British colonial officials. He joined the Malay leaders – first through the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action, which he chaired, and then the Communities Liaison Committee headed by Dato' Sir E. E. C. Thuraisingham – to fight for constitutional change and work towards inter-ethnic co-operation. Tan organized a hartal (general strike) in Malacca to protest against the British colonial government.[12]
The establishment of the
The goal for the foundation of the Malayan Chinese Association was to unite the Chinese population in Malaya, including the protection of the rights and interests of the Chinese, also to work with the colonial government to stop the spread of communism and to work with other races to achieve the independence of Malaya. The MCA branches had been set up after their campaigns had attracted more than 200,000 members.
Soon later, on 26 September 1951, he had supported the idea of
In the end, Tan decided that only a Chinese party could safeguard the interests of his community and that multi-ethnic co-operation was more likely to be achieved through partnership with
In 1952, Tan Cheng Lock and the
Under Tan Cheng Lock, the MCA played a vital role in negotiating independence from the British; he was also in charge as the MCA formed the Alliance in 1954 in coalition with the United Malays National Organisation and the Malaysian Indian Congress. Tan, who was a member of the Malayan Anti-Japanese League, was MCA's first president, but did not enter the cabinet on independence because his rival, Tun H.S. Lee, from Selangor, was part of the cabinet.
Prior to the independence of
Tan died of a heart attack on 16 December 1960 at the age of 77, leaving behind a great legacy and a strong family. His son, Tan Siew Sin became the 3rd President of MCA after his death.
Legacy
Many tributes were made to Tan, for his immense contribution to Malaysia.
In April 2005, the
Honours
Honours of Malaya
- Malaya :
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (1958)[20]
- Johor :
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (DPMJ) – Dato' (1949)[21]
British Commonwealth Honours
- United Kingdom
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (1933)[22]
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)[23]
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) – Sir (1952)[24]
References
- ^ Page 127, Who's Who in Malaya 1938
- ^ Page 1, "A Son of Malacca" 1985. Private publication authored by Mrs Agnes Scott-Ross a.k.a. Agnes Tan Kim Lwi.
- ^ Nutgraph.com interview with Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, 7 January 2010.
- ^ Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000.
- ^ Speech by Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, addressed to the MCA School of Political Studies.
- ^ Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000.
- ^ Speech by Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, addressed to the MCA School of Political Studies.
- ^ Page 1, "A Son of Malacca" 1985. Private publication authored by Mrs Agnes Scott-Ross a.k.a. Agnes Tan Kim Lwi.
- ^ Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000
- ^ Pages 2 and 3, Report on THE MALAYSIAN PLANTATION INDUSTRY, 1880–1921 by Boon Weng Siew, Vice chairman, MPOA & President, MEOA.
- ^ Page 19, Leaders of Malaya and Who's Who 1956.
- OCLC 921296739.
- ^ Bayly, Harper, Forgotten wars: Freedom and Revolution in Southeast Asia, pg 502-3
- ^ "Private Paper" Archived 16 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. (22 September 2002). ISEAS.
- ^ "Private Paper" Archived 16 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. (22 September 2002). ISEAS.
- ^ "A true Malayan nationalist". The Star (Malaysia). 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010.
- ^ Debbie Chan (30 June 2007). "Tribute to a great son of Malaysia". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 6 July 2007.
- ^ Nayar, Parvathi (1 December 2006). "Cultural philanthropy; Parvathi Nayar looks at the important – but often unnoticed – role cultural philanthropy has played in creating and shaping important public collections in Singapore's growing number of museums". The Business Times Singapore.
- ^ Davie, Sandra (8 October 2005). "Daughter of late businessman wants the young to learn the legacy". Singapore: Straits Times.
- ^ "Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1958" (PDF).
- ^ "Tan Cheng Lock To Be Dato". Malaya Tribune. 15 September 1949. p. 1.
- ^ "No. 33898". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1933. p. 12.
- ^ "KING'S JUBILEE MEDAL AWARDS IN MALAYA". Straits Budget. 30 May 1935. p. 16.
- ^ "No. 39421". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1952. p. 24.