Lim Ah Siang
Encyclopedia
Lim Ah Siang (1853-1917) was the third leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
, a legitimized secret society based in Johor Bahru
. Ironic as it may seem, he was appointed to the position not because he was the most prominent Chinese in Johor at the time, but because he was not.
stepped down and retire to Singapore
. Even so, Lim was referred to only as Second Brother, the second most senior-ranking member in the secret society hierarchy, as Tan continued to be a towering presence in nearby Singapore. Lim Ah Siang was by no means the most prominent Teochew in Johor at the time and unlike Tan Kee Soon and Tan Hiok Nee who had a personal relationship with the Sultan of Johor
, he was described as only being a friend of the Menteri Besar. With no new Kapitan appointed after Kapitan
Tan Cheng Hung dropped out of sight after selling off his concessions, and Kapitan Seah Tee Heng
having died in 1884, the latter's son, Seah Ling Chai
, had taken over his father's kangchu concessions, pepper and gambier business, and revenue farms. In addition, he held shares to eight rivers in his own right and was the manager of the Kongkek (Pepper and Gambier Society of Singapore). Seah was therefore the most prominent towkay in Johor, but the Ngee Heng passed him over for an unknown young man, mostly probably because Tan Hiok Nee was still running the Kongsi from Singapore and only required an assistant, not a business rival, to be in charge.
. The grant permitted him to set up a revenue farm on the eastern outskirts of the city, stretching from the beach to where the former Cathay cinema was located. Although the concession was granted in 1892, it came into effect only in 1902 for some unknown reason. Lim built a road right across the centre of his concession and named it Jalan Ah Siang, with his gambling farm built on stilts in the seafront facing what is now the New Hong Kong Restaurant. His concession was named Kampung Ah Siang. In 1896, Lim obtained timber concessions for east Johor and Endau
. By then, he was also a revenue farmer, holding kangchu concessions for four rivers and also invested in a number of businesses in Johor Baru, including a pawnshop. A road in Kota Tinggi
is named after him.
(Timbalan Setia Negeri) received him and the Johor flag was flown half-mast that day with a half-day holiday. Lim Ah Siang's tomb still stands on a hill near Jalan Ah Siang facing Singapore up to this day.
Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor
Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor was a Teochew secret society that founded the earliest Chinese settlement in Johor. However, it did not have a clandestine image and has instead been accorded a respectable place in the history of the Johor Chinese...
, a legitimized secret society based in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
. Ironic as it may seem, he was appointed to the position not because he was the most prominent Chinese in Johor at the time, but because he was not.
Early life
An immigrant Teochew, he assumed the leadership of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor around 1885, after Tan Hiok NeeTan Hiok Nee
Tan Hiok Nee , also known as Tan Yeok Nee, was the leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor, succeeding Tan Kee Soon in circa 1864, he transformed the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor from a quasi-military revolutionary brotherhood, based in the rural settlement of Kangkar Tebrau, into an organisation of...
stepped down and retire to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Even so, Lim was referred to only as Second Brother, the second most senior-ranking member in the secret society hierarchy, as Tan continued to be a towering presence in nearby Singapore. Lim Ah Siang was by no means the most prominent Teochew in Johor at the time and unlike Tan Kee Soon and Tan Hiok Nee who had a personal relationship with the Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor is a hereditary seat and the nominal ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara...
, he was described as only being a friend of the Menteri Besar. With no new Kapitan appointed after Kapitan
Kapitan China
Kapitan Cina or Capitan China was originally a Portuguese title for the representative of a Chinese enclave. The 15th century rulers of Southeast Asia, such as Melaka and Banten , chose to deal with a single individual from each ethnic group under their rule...
Tan Cheng Hung dropped out of sight after selling off his concessions, and Kapitan Seah Tee Heng
Seah Tee Heng
Seah Tee Heng, also known as Seah Tai Heng, father of Seah Leng Chye, he was one of two Chinese members to the Council of State with Tan Hiok Nee. In about 1869, he appointed as third Kapitan China of Johor after Kapitan Tan Kee Soon and Kapitan Tan Cheng Hung. He held the kangchu concession for...
having died in 1884, the latter's son, Seah Ling Chai
Seah Leng Chye
Seah Leng Chye , son of Kapitan Seah Tae Heng. One of member to the Johor Education Department since 1887. He had taken over his father's kangchu concessions, pepper and gambier business, and revenue farms. In addition, he held shares to eight rivers in his own right and was the manager of the...
, had taken over his father's kangchu concessions, pepper and gambier business, and revenue farms. In addition, he held shares to eight rivers in his own right and was the manager of the Kongkek (Pepper and Gambier Society of Singapore). Seah was therefore the most prominent towkay in Johor, but the Ngee Heng passed him over for an unknown young man, mostly probably because Tan Hiok Nee was still running the Kongsi from Singapore and only required an assistant, not a business rival, to be in charge.
Kampung Ah Siang
In 1892, Lim Ah Siang was granted a 99-year lease from Sultan Abu Bakar for land in StulangStulang
Stulang is suburb in Johor Bahru city area, Johor, Malaysia.It is located about 5 km from Johor Bahru Town Centre. It is divided by two main roads: Jalan Stulang Darat and Jalan Stulang Laut. Previously it was a small fishing village facing toward Johor Straits...
. The grant permitted him to set up a revenue farm on the eastern outskirts of the city, stretching from the beach to where the former Cathay cinema was located. Although the concession was granted in 1892, it came into effect only in 1902 for some unknown reason. Lim built a road right across the centre of his concession and named it Jalan Ah Siang, with his gambling farm built on stilts in the seafront facing what is now the New Hong Kong Restaurant. His concession was named Kampung Ah Siang. In 1896, Lim obtained timber concessions for east Johor and Endau
Endau
Endau is a small town in Malaysia. It lies on the northern tip of east Johor and the southern tip of Pahang. It is famous as one of the largest fishing ports on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.Located north of Mersing...
. By then, he was also a revenue farmer, holding kangchu concessions for four rivers and also invested in a number of businesses in Johor Baru, including a pawnshop. A road in Kota Tinggi
Kota Tinggi
Kota Tinggi is a town in the state of Johor of Malaysia, located around 42 kilometers north-east of Johor Bahru, on the road to Mersing. Hometown of Azizul Hanipah. Kota Tinggi can also be reached by ferry from Changi terminal in Singapore where tourists need to pass through the immigration check...
is named after him.
Death
In 1916, the Ngee Heng Kongsi was wound up with the enactment of the Societies Ordinance. Lim Ah Siang's final duty for the Ngee Heng was to sign a $30,000 bond for the settlement of Ngee Heng's liabilities and the disposal of its properties in the legalities of winding up. He died soon after executing the bond and his successor, Lin Jin He, was assigned the task of disposing of Ngee Heng's assets. Lim is believed to have died in Singapore and his body was sent back to Johor Bahru. The Royal Johor Military ForceRoyal Johor Military Force
The Royal Johor Military Force is an independent military formation raised in 1885 under the control of the Sultan of Johor. Today the force performs mainly ceremonial functions....
(Timbalan Setia Negeri) received him and the Johor flag was flown half-mast that day with a half-day holiday. Lim Ah Siang's tomb still stands on a hill near Jalan Ah Siang facing Singapore up to this day.
Reference
- http://jbdirectory.com/Lim_Ah_Siang
- http://cforum3.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?action=printable&tid=1981454