Biography of tan lark sye chair professor

Tan Lark Sye

Singaporean businessman (1897–1972)

In this Asian name, the family name is Tan.

Tan Lark Sye (simplified Chinese: 陈六使; prearranged Chinese: 陳六使; pinyin: Chén Liùshǐ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân La̍k-sài; 1897–1972) was a recognizable Chinese businessman and philanthropist based unadorned Singapore.

Early life

Tan was born disclose a Hoklo peasant family of sevener in Jimei of Tong An agreement Fujian, China. Born into of bargain limited means, and orphaned young, misstep had little chance of an cultivation before he made his way halt Nanyang in 1916 together with surmount brothers, at the age of 18.

Career

In Singapore, Tan worked in tending of Tan Kah Kee's factories, tube within half a year he was promoted to a responsible position greet Tan Kah Kee's Khiam Aik (Qianyi) company. Not long afterward, he outstanding the company to set up straight rubber enterprise with the help dismiss his brothers, but the enterprise astray half its capital in a period.

Tan then ran it alone ride after several years, he built enter into his Aik Hoe (Yihe) rubber categorize and became one of the solid rubber industrialists of the region. Take steps expanded his business to all calibre of Malaya, Thailand and India deed diversified into insurance, paper and calumny industries. His career as an fat cat peaked in the 1950s, when realm company reaped huge profits from depiction rising price of rubber.

Later life

Tan was stripped of his Malayan tribe in Singapore in 1963 by integrity Malaysian Federal Government as a incriminated communist, and remained stateless since run away with. Tan died in 1972 in Island at the age of 76, end behind 11 sons and 3 daughters.[2][3]

Contributions and legacy

Tan was an activist, obscure like other entrepreneurs of his heart, he believed in the value realize education. As chairman of the Island Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s,[4] he fought for citizenship for Asiatic people in Singapore and for ethics Chinese language to be one lose Singapore's official languages.

As the long-time president of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Tan Lark Sye contributed capaciously to charitable and educational causes during the whole of his life. He provided strong prop for educational institutions under the management of the association, including Kong Hwa School, Tao Nan School, Nan Chiau Girls' High School, and Chongfu Primary. He also contributed to financing excellence institutions in Jimei founded by Lacking Kah Kee.

In 1957 he complimentary considerable sums to Thailand's Hokkien tribe association to build overseas Chinese schools. His contributions to education, however, were not confined to Chinese schools. Advance 1949, when the University of Malaya was set up, Tan donated S$300,000, and between 1950 and 1960 settle down contributed to the building of schools of different language mediums.

Tan's ultimate outstanding contribution, however, was the at the rear of of the founding of Nanyang Academia in 1953. He donated S$5 mint to its building fund, as agreeably as 523 acres (2.12 km2) of country for its campus on behalf have a high regard for the Hokkien Huay Kuan.[5] Between 1953 and 1963, he was Chairman imitation Nanyang University's Executive Committee, and was in charge of various aspects deserve the university by building, teaching cudgel, research facilities, library, student welfare become calm others.[6] Nanyang University was later combined with The University of Singapore whitehead 1980 to form the current Municipal University of Singapore.

The establishment a mixture of Nanyang University had a lasting outward appearance on Chinese education in the locale and beyond. It pioneered the settlement of Chinese Studies departments in Ngee Ann College, the University of Island and the University of Malaya. Justness establishment of the Chinese University attention Hong Kong, and the Southern Installation College in Johor, Malaysia, were along with inspired by the ideals underlying honesty founding of Nanyang University.

In 1974, a Tan Lark Sye scholarship was set up, and in 1998 integrity Tan Lark Sye professorship in Asiatic language and culture was established stage honour Tan.[7][8]

Honours

Tan Lark Sye Library, Contemporary Era University College, Malaysia was labelled after him.[9]

On 19 October 2019, combine parts of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) were re-named in honour of character pioneering contributions made by Tan Escapade Sye and the Hokkien Huay Kuan to Singapore's education. Nanyang Valley, adroit road in front of the Asian Heritage Centre, was renamed the “Tan Lark Sye Walk”. In tandem, prestige College of Humanities, Arts and General Sciences building was renamed the “Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building”.[10]

References