Tan Lark Sye
Encyclopedia
Tan Lark Sye (1897, Fujian
, China
- September 11, 1975) was a prominent Singaporese Hoklo (Hokkien) businessman and philanthropist
.
Born to a poor family, at the age of 18 Tan migrated to Singapore.
In Singapore he worked in one of Tan Kah Kee’s factories, and within half a year he was promoted to a responsible position in the elder Tan’s Khiam Aik (Qianyi) company. Not long after, he left the company to set up with his brothers a rubber enterprise which, however, lost half its capital in a year. Tan Lark Sye then went it alone and after several years’ struggle he built up his Aik Hoe (Yihe) rubber company and became one of the leading rubber industrialists of the region. He expanded his business to all parts of Malaya, Thailand and India, and diversified into insurance, paper and cement industries. His career as industrialist peaked in the 1950s when his company reaped huge profits from the rising rubber price.
He was an activist, and like other entrepreneurs of his time, believed in the value of education. As chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s he fought for citizenship for the Chinese of Singapore and for the Chinese language to be counted as one of the official languages. As chairman of Hokkien Huay Kuan
(Hokkien clan association) he developed many schools under the auspices of the association: Kong Hwa School
in Guillemard, Tao Nan School in Marine Parade, Nan Chiau School in River Valley and Chongfu Primary School in Yishun. He also contributed to financing the Jimei schools founded by Tan Kah Kee. In 1957 he donated considerable sums to Thailand’s Hokkien clan association to build overseas Chinese schools. His contributions to education, however, were not confined to Chinese schools. In 1949 when the University of Malaya was set up he gave it $300, 000, and between 1950 and 1960 he contributed towards the building fund of schools of different language media.
His most outstanding contribution, however, was the initiating of the founding of Nanyang University
in 1953. He donated personally $5 million to its building fund, as well as 523 acres (2.1 km²) of land for its campus on behalf of the Hokkien Huay Kuan. In the period 1953–1963 he was Chairman of Nanyang University’s Executive Committee, and gave of both effort and money to look after various aspects of the university – building, teaching staff, research facilities, library, student welfare and others. The campus of Nanyang University is now occupied by Nanyang Technological University
.
The founding of Nanyang University was a highly significant act for the Singapore Chinese community. Chinese from all walks of life donated towards its building fund. It had an effect on Chinese education in the region and beyond. One may say the setting up of a Chinese Studies department in Ngee Ann College, the University of Singapore and the University of Malaya stemmed from it. The establishment of the Chinese University in Hong Kong, the Overseas Chinese Chongsheng University in Thailand and the Southern College in Johore, Malaysia, may also have been inspired by the ideals underlying the founding of Nanyang University.
Tan Lark Sye died in 1972 at age 76. In 1974 a Tan Lark Sye scholarship was set up, and in 1998 the Tan Lark Sye professorship in Chinese language and culture was established to honour this peasant boy from China made good.
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, 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...
- September 11, 1975) was a prominent Singaporese Hoklo (Hokkien) businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Born to a poor family, at the age of 18 Tan migrated to Singapore.
In Singapore he worked in one of Tan Kah Kee’s factories, and within half a year he was promoted to a responsible position in the elder Tan’s Khiam Aik (Qianyi) company. Not long after, he left the company to set up with his brothers a rubber enterprise which, however, lost half its capital in a year. Tan Lark Sye then went it alone and after several years’ struggle he built up his Aik Hoe (Yihe) rubber company and became one of the leading rubber industrialists of the region. He expanded his business to all parts of Malaya, Thailand and India, and diversified into insurance, paper and cement industries. His career as industrialist peaked in the 1950s when his company reaped huge profits from the rising rubber price.
He was an activist, and like other entrepreneurs of his time, believed in the value of education. As chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s he fought for citizenship for the Chinese of Singapore and for the Chinese language to be counted as one of the official languages. As chairman of Hokkien Huay Kuan
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan is a cultural and educational foundation. It was established in 1840 to promote education, social welfare and the preservation of the Chinese language and culture among immigrants of Chinese descent in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia.-Educational...
(Hokkien clan association) he developed many schools under the auspices of the association: Kong Hwa School
Kong Hwa School
Kong Hwa School ' is a Special Assistance Plan primary school offering fully bilingual primary education in Singapore. The school was founded by Tan Lark Sye at 1953....
in Guillemard, Tao Nan School in Marine Parade, Nan Chiau School in River Valley and Chongfu Primary School in Yishun. He also contributed to financing the Jimei schools founded by Tan Kah Kee. In 1957 he donated considerable sums to Thailand’s Hokkien clan association to build overseas Chinese schools. His contributions to education, however, were not confined to Chinese schools. In 1949 when the University of Malaya was set up he gave it $300, 000, and between 1950 and 1960 he contributed towards the building fund of schools of different language media.
His most outstanding contribution, however, was the initiating of the founding of Nanyang University
Nanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
in 1953. He donated personally $5 million to its building fund, as well as 523 acres (2.1 km²) of land for its campus on behalf of the Hokkien Huay Kuan. In the period 1953–1963 he was Chairman of Nanyang University’s Executive Committee, and gave of both effort and money to look after various aspects of the university – building, teaching staff, research facilities, library, student welfare and others. The campus of Nanyang University is now occupied by Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Technological University is one of the two largest public universities in Singapore with the biggest campus in Singapore and the world's largest engineering college. Its lush 200-hectare Yunnan Garden campus was the Youth Olympic Village of the world's first 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in...
.
The founding of Nanyang University was a highly significant act for the Singapore Chinese community. Chinese from all walks of life donated towards its building fund. It had an effect on Chinese education in the region and beyond. One may say the setting up of a Chinese Studies department in Ngee Ann College, the University of Singapore and the University of Malaya stemmed from it. The establishment of the Chinese University in Hong Kong, the Overseas Chinese Chongsheng University in Thailand and the Southern College in Johore, Malaysia, may also have been inspired by the ideals underlying the founding of Nanyang University.
Tan Lark Sye died in 1972 at age 76. In 1974 a Tan Lark Sye scholarship was set up, and in 1998 the Tan Lark Sye professorship in Chinese language and culture was established to honour this peasant boy from China made good.