Wee Kheng Chiang (simplified Chinese: 黄庆昌; traditional Chinese: 黃慶昌; pinyin: Huáng Qìng Chāng; Jyutping: Wong4 Hing3 Coeng1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ûiⁿ Khèng-chhiang; 1890–1978) was a Malaysian Chinese businessman of Quemoy Bân-lâm Hoklo ancestry who founded the United Chinese Bank (now United Overseas Bank) and Bian Chiang Bank (now known as CIMB Group). He was the father of Wee Cho Yaw, Chairman Emeritus & Adviser of the United Overseas Bank.
Wee Kheng Chiang | |
|---|---|
| 黄庆昌 | |
| Born | Wee Kheng Chiang 22 July 1890 |
| Died | 1978 (aged 87–88) |
| Nationality | Malaysian (1963–1978) British (1890–1963) |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse | Ong Siew Eng |
| Children | 5 (including Wee Cho Yaw) |
| Parent(s) | Wee Tee Yah (father) Song Kim Keow (mother) |
Early life
editWee was born into a Hoklo family with ancestry from Quemoy island on 22 July 1890 in Kuching, Sarawak (now part of Malaysia), a British established puppet colony. He was the family's second-to-eldest son. His father was Wee Tee Yah (died 1889), and his mother was Song Kim Keow, a local born widow. The younger Wee attended Saint Thomas Secondary School, and spoke Hokkien and English fluently.[1]
Career
editIn 1924, Wee established the Bian Chiang Bank (now known as CIMB Group) in Kuching, Malaysia.[2][3][4] In 1975, Fleet Group Sdn Bhd bought a 100% stake in Bian Chiang Bank, making the bank a wholly owned unit of the Fleet group. Subsequently, the bank moved its headquarters to Kuala Lumpur from Kuching.
He became the Treasurer of the Kuching-based Chinese General Chamber of Commerce upon its inception in 1930, before being promoted to president. In addition, Wee was the Hokkien Association (福建会馆)'s President.[5]
In 1931, he was elected as Chairman of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He resigned from the post in 1946.[2]
On 6 August 1935,[6] he established the United Chinese Bank with six other partners. The bank is now known as the United Overseas Bank (UOB).[7]
Wee staffed his bank with Hoklo employees to serve his Hoklo clients.[8]
Personal life
editThe Kapitan Cina Ong Tiang Swee (Chinese: 王長水; pinyin: Wáng Chángshuǐ), who was then Kuching's wealthiest person, was impressed by Wee, and decided to let him marry his eldest daughter, Ong Siew Eng (Chinese: 王秀英; pinyin: Wáng Xiùyīng).[9][1] Wee was then given the role of manager of the Sarawak Chinese Bank,[1] which Ong owned. Wee soon got to know more prominent businesspeople and other important figures; he shortly started a string of businesses, including farming and goods importing and exporting.
He was married twice and had fifteen children (five sons and ten daughters).[2] Wee's second wife is the mother of Wee Cho Yaw, chairman of Singapore's United Overseas Bank.
Death and legacy
editIn 1978, Wee died in his Kuching residence. His fourth son, Wee Cho Yaw, was subsequently appointed to head United Overseas Bank.[5] Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, a road in downtown Kuching, is named after him.
Awards
editWee Kheng Chiang was posthumously hailed as the "uncrowned king of Sarawak" in Queen of the Head Hunters by Rajah Vyner Brooke's spouse, Sylvia Brooke.[1] Ranee Sylvia Brooke also used this sobriquet, in her 1939 book The Three White Rajahs.[2]
In 1941, Wee was presented with the Commander of the Star of Sarawak by the Third White Rajah of Sarawak.[2] In 1964, he was awarded the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak by the first Governor of Sarawak.[2]
Affiliations
edit- The Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce (1930–1946)
- The Hokkien Association (1932–1947)
- The Singapore-Sarawak Association (from 1930)
- The Hokkien School Management Board (1932–1947)
- The Sarawak China Relief Fund Committee (1938)
- Kuching Joint Primary and Secondary Schools Management Board (1946)
- Kuching China Consulate Building Committee (1949)
- Anti-Tuberculosis Society
- Sarawak Turf Club (1937)
- Sarawak Buddhist Society
- Tse Chia Koh Buddhist Association
- Kuching Hung Nam Shieng Thang
- Sarawak Tong Sin Siang Tong Association
- The Federation of Wee Clan Associations, Sarawak[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Lee 2013, p. 464.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lam, Chee Kheung (2012). "Wee Kheng Chiang of Sarawak: Entrepreneur Extraordinaire" (PDF). Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies. 1: 18–39. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ CIMB (2020). "CIMB Group History 1920 - 1929". CIMB. Kuala Lumpur.
- ^ P.W. Thong (31 January 2003). "CAHB goes from strength to strength". The Star. Kuala Lumpur.
- ^ a b Lee 2013, p. 465.
- ^ "Our Corporate Profile". United Overseas Bank. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ Siow, Li Sen (3 June 2010). "UOB patriarch looking for a successor". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
- ^ Charmian Leong (2 August 2018). "Meet the families behind Singapore's most iconic buildings". Peak.
- ^ "Siew Eng ONG". Geni.com. MyHeritage Ltd. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
Bibliography
edit- Lee, Khoon Choy (2013). Golden Dragon and Purple Phoenix: The Chinese and Their Multi-Ethnic Descendants in Southeast Asia. World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-4383-43-1.