Cheong Yoke Choy
Encyclopedia
Cheong Yoke Choy, JP
, OBE ' onMouseout='HidePop("5139")' href="/topics/Xinhui">Xinhui
, China
, on the 22nd of the sixth lunar month in 1873 and died 26 May 1958. He was a famous philanthropist during the British Malaya
era. He was well respected, much loved, and affectionately known as 'The Elderly Philanthropist' for all the charitable work he drove and supported even at an advanced age.
. He arrived in Rawang and first worked for a local council as an office boy. He led a tough life back then, and was once - whilst running errands for the local council - purportedly forced, for the sake of survival, to drink his own urine after finding himself lost and dehydrated in one of many the rubber estates in Rawang.
Six months after first arriving in Malaya, he moved to Kuala Lumpur
where he worked at the 'Tong Hing Long Company', a provision store owned and started by Loke Yew
, who took an immediate liking to him. Even though he started off performing menial tasks, his hard-working and humble nature earned him Yew's trust, who gradually handed him more important responsibilities. When Loke Yew traveled up north to Perak to explore the possibilities of starting up a tin mining business, he left the young Yoke Choy in charge of his provision store. Cheong Yoke Choy saw Loke Yew not only as a benefactor but also a mentor. After saving sufficient money, he followed in Loke Yew's footsteps and started Hoong Fatt Tin Mining company with Chan Zhen Wing, but not before sending for his parents who were still back in China.
With the support of Loke Yew
, he and some other partners including Chan Wing co-founded Kwong Yik Bank in July 1915.
and also act as trustees for Wah Kiew Primary School.
His long held belief that women should be treated fairly led him along with Liao Rong Zhi to found the Selangor King George V Silver Jubilee Home in Kuala Lumpur, which was originally intended as a shelter for poor and aged Chinese women - found sleeping along five-footways in the late 1930s - from raiding Japanese armies during the Second World War.
He also played an equally active role in helping establish, run and fund Chinese associations around Kuala Lumpur. Between 1916 and 1933 he acted as the Treasurer for the Kwong Tong Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur. During this period he funded the construction of “Qing Jia Ting" (清佳亭), one of the ten pavilions in the Kwong Tong Cemetery. He was the 1st President of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall between 1935 and 1942; the Treasurer of the Kwong Tong Association Kuala Lumpur between 1939 and 1953; and in 1952 the President of the Selangor Kwong Chow Association, which he helped finance.
Among the many other posts he held include Treasurer of the Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce; President of the Chinese Maternity Hospital Kuala Lumpur; Treasurer of Tung Shin Hospital Kuala Lumpur and also property trustees for many organizations namely Kwong Siew Association Selangor & Kuala Lumpur, Sin Sei See Yeh Temple, Chik Sin Tong Funeral Parlour and Selangor Chin Woo Athletic Association
.
It is not an exaggeration to categorically state that Cheong Yoke Choy contributed immensely to Chinese schools and associations in Kuala Lumpur. In recognition of the important role he played amongst the Chinese community in Kuala Lumpur, the local British government appointed him as a Chinese counselor, a Justice of the Peace
(JP) and an Officer in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
This much-loved and well-respected philanthropist also has a street (Lorong Cheong Yoke Choy) in Kuala Lumpur posthumously named after him.
currently sits on used to belong to Cheong Yoke Choy and his descendants before it was sold to Berjaya Group
's Tan Sri Vincent Tan just before the Asian Financial Crisis hit Malaysia. The grand colonial mansion that once stood proudly on the land before it was demolished to make way for Berjaya Times Square
, housed officers from the Japanese Army when Japan controlled Malaya during the Second World War. Despite the many rumours flying around, the Japanese did not torture or execute any of their prisoners in the compound. The large backyard behind the mansion did however house a well-equipped bomb shelter.
. Rex which commenced business in 1976, was in its heyday a front-runner amongst Malaysian cinemas. It boasted a seating capacity in excess of a thousand and had the distinction of being the first cinema in Malaysia to install Digital Sound Processors. As a result of this, when Jurassic Park
was first shown in Malaysian cinemas, movie-goers queued for hours for the tickets, and the box-office was sold-out for weeks on end. Sadly, multi-screen cineplexes have since all but driven stand-alone cinemas - showing a single movie at a seating - out of business; and after more than 25 years in operation Rex closed its doors for the final time on November 15, 2002, leaving behind many fond memories.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, OBE ' onMouseout='HidePop("5139")' href="/topics/Xinhui">Xinhui
Xinhui
Xinhui also known as 'Kuixiang'. Famous people born in what is now known as Xinhui include Liang Qichao, Chen Baisha, Chan Heung, and Michael Li from Westmead Hospital.-Geography:...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, on the 22nd of the sixth lunar month in 1873 and died 26 May 1958. He was a famous philanthropist during the British Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
era. He was well respected, much loved, and affectionately known as 'The Elderly Philanthropist' for all the charitable work he drove and supported even at an advanced age.
History & Businesses
Cheong Yoke Choy came from humble beginnings. To support his family's livelihood, he moved to Guang Zhou at the age of 14 years and 2 years later traveled to MalayaBritish Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
. He arrived in Rawang and first worked for a local council as an office boy. He led a tough life back then, and was once - whilst running errands for the local council - purportedly forced, for the sake of survival, to drink his own urine after finding himself lost and dehydrated in one of many the rubber estates in Rawang.
Six months after first arriving in Malaya, he moved to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
where he worked at the 'Tong Hing Long Company', a provision store owned and started by Loke Yew
Loke Yew
Loke Yew , CMG, LL.D. was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He was regarded as the richest man in Malaysia during his time and played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala...
, who took an immediate liking to him. Even though he started off performing menial tasks, his hard-working and humble nature earned him Yew's trust, who gradually handed him more important responsibilities. When Loke Yew traveled up north to Perak to explore the possibilities of starting up a tin mining business, he left the young Yoke Choy in charge of his provision store. Cheong Yoke Choy saw Loke Yew not only as a benefactor but also a mentor. After saving sufficient money, he followed in Loke Yew's footsteps and started Hoong Fatt Tin Mining company with Chan Zhen Wing, but not before sending for his parents who were still back in China.
With the support of Loke Yew
Loke Yew
Loke Yew , CMG, LL.D. was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He was regarded as the richest man in Malaysia during his time and played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala...
, he and some other partners including Chan Wing co-founded Kwong Yik Bank in July 1915.
Education, Associations and Welfare
Cheong Yoke Choy understood the importance of a formal education even though he himself lacked it. In 1918 he single-handedly founded 'Pak Peng Free School', an all-boys school aimed at providing free education to students from very poor families. He was considered by many to be very progressive for his time because - unlike a lot of the other Chinese patriarchs at the time - he believed that girls should also receive a proper education. This prompted him to form a partnership with Mr. Liao Rong Zhi to set up and run the 'Pak Weng All Girls School' at Sultan Lane - one of the few non-missionary girls school at the time. In 1926 he and three others - namely Xin Bai Hui, Liao Rong Zhi and Au Yang Xue Feng - went on to help establish Kwong Siew Free School; Confucian Private Secondary School; Kuen Cheng Girls SchoolKuen Cheng Girls School
Kuen Cheng Girls' High School ' or SM P Kuen Cheng is a secondary girls' school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia which was established in 1908...
and also act as trustees for Wah Kiew Primary School.
His long held belief that women should be treated fairly led him along with Liao Rong Zhi to found the Selangor King George V Silver Jubilee Home in Kuala Lumpur, which was originally intended as a shelter for poor and aged Chinese women - found sleeping along five-footways in the late 1930s - from raiding Japanese armies during the Second World War.
He also played an equally active role in helping establish, run and fund Chinese associations around Kuala Lumpur. Between 1916 and 1933 he acted as the Treasurer for the Kwong Tong Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur. During this period he funded the construction of “Qing Jia Ting" (清佳亭), one of the ten pavilions in the Kwong Tong Cemetery. He was the 1st President of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall between 1935 and 1942; the Treasurer of the Kwong Tong Association Kuala Lumpur between 1939 and 1953; and in 1952 the President of the Selangor Kwong Chow Association, which he helped finance.
Among the many other posts he held include Treasurer of the Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce; President of the Chinese Maternity Hospital Kuala Lumpur; Treasurer of Tung Shin Hospital Kuala Lumpur and also property trustees for many organizations namely Kwong Siew Association Selangor & Kuala Lumpur, Sin Sei See Yeh Temple, Chik Sin Tong Funeral Parlour and Selangor Chin Woo Athletic Association
Chin Woo Athletic Association
Chin Woo Athletic Association is a Chinese martial arts association founded in Shanghai on July 7, 1910, but other sources also cite dates in 1909. It can be found spelled in many ways - Jing Mo, Ching Wu, Jing Wo, Jing Wu etc....
.
It is not an exaggeration to categorically state that Cheong Yoke Choy contributed immensely to Chinese schools and associations in Kuala Lumpur. In recognition of the important role he played amongst the Chinese community in Kuala Lumpur, the local British government appointed him as a Chinese counselor, a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(JP) and an Officer in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
This much-loved and well-respected philanthropist also has a street (Lorong Cheong Yoke Choy) in Kuala Lumpur posthumously named after him.
Death
He died at the ripe old age of 85 years on 26 May 1958, and like his father, Cheong Keng Yu, was buried in the Kwong Tong Cemetery Kuala Lumpur. His funeral procession was said to have been one of the grandest at the time; attended by all who he touched with his generosity and benevolence.216 Jalan Pudu
The land that Berjaya Times SquareBerjaya Times Square
Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is a twin tower complex containing a shopping centre and five star hotel located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was opened in October 2003 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad...
currently sits on used to belong to Cheong Yoke Choy and his descendants before it was sold to Berjaya Group
Berjaya Group
-Corporate Profile:The Berjaya Corporation group of companies’ history dates back to 1984 when the Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun acquired a major controlling stake in Berjaya Industrial Berhad from the founders, Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd, Australia and National Iron & Steel...
's Tan Sri Vincent Tan just before the Asian Financial Crisis hit Malaysia. The grand colonial mansion that once stood proudly on the land before it was demolished to make way for Berjaya Times Square
Berjaya Times Square
Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is a twin tower complex containing a shopping centre and five star hotel located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was opened in October 2003 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad...
, housed officers from the Japanese Army when Japan controlled Malaya during the Second World War. Despite the many rumours flying around, the Japanese did not torture or execute any of their prisoners in the compound. The large backyard behind the mansion did however house a well-equipped bomb shelter.
Standalone Cinemas
Cheong Yoke Choy's descendants built and owned a stable of large-screen cinemas in Kuala Lumpur, namely Rex, Federal and Capitol, which were all operated by Golden Screen CinemasGolden Screen Cinemas
Golden Screen Cinemas is the largest chain of cinemas in Malaysia. The biggest cinema is located at Mid Valley Megamall. It houses 18 screen cinemas and has 2899 seats which is the largest in Malaysia.- History :...
. Rex which commenced business in 1976, was in its heyday a front-runner amongst Malaysian cinemas. It boasted a seating capacity in excess of a thousand and had the distinction of being the first cinema in Malaysia to install Digital Sound Processors. As a result of this, when Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
was first shown in Malaysian cinemas, movie-goers queued for hours for the tickets, and the box-office was sold-out for weeks on end. Sadly, multi-screen cineplexes have since all but driven stand-alone cinemas - showing a single movie at a seating - out of business; and after more than 25 years in operation Rex closed its doors for the final time on November 15, 2002, leaving behind many fond memories.