Wikipedia

Quah Chin Lai

Quah Chin Lai (Kwa Chin Lai, Khua Chin Lai, simplified Chinese: 柯进来; traditional Chinese: 柯進來; pinyin: Kē Jìnlái; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Koa Chìn-lâi) (26 November 1892 – 23 December 1990) was a Singapore metal and machinery hardware tycoon and philanthropist.

Quah Chin Lai
柯进来
Born(1892-11-26)26 November 1892
China, Fujian
Died23 December 1990(1990-12-23) (aged 98)
Singapore
OccupationBusinessman
SpousesWen Ke Niang (Chinese:溫刻娘, Wēn Kèniáng) and Yeo Peck Gim (Chinese:姚碧吟, Yáo Bìyín)
Quah Chin Lai
Quah Chin Lai in his 50s
Quah Chin Lai in his later years

Early life

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Quah was born in Fujian, China in 1892. When young, Quah would travel all over his township and neighboring counties to sell toys and wares. His interest in metal ware started when he was an apprentice for a blacksmith and made a career and business in blacksmithing.[1]

Business and career

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In 1916, Quah travel to Singapore and founded Hiap Leong Kee which specialised in hardware construction equipment. During the Second World War, Hiap Leong Kee was seized by the Japanese and Quah escaped to Malaysia and hid in the plantations. After the Japanese surrendered, Quah resumed Hiap Leong Kee and imported European and American products. Within a few years, Hiap Leong Kee was reestablished as a leading company by Quah

.In 1947 his company could supply complete range of building machinery, equipments and shipping parts.

Family

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  • Quah married Ms. Wen Ke Niang (Chinese: 溫刻娘; pinyin: WēnKèNiáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Un Khek-liông) in the year 1901, in China and together they have 6 sons and 3 daughters.
  • In the year 1928, Quah married Yeo Peck Gim (Chinese: 姚碧吟; pinyin: YáoBìYín; Jyutping: Jiu4 Bik1 Jam4) in Singapore as his second wife and together they have 2 sons and 4 daughters.

Legacy

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In recognition of Quah's contributions to society he was commemorated as follows:

  • In 1999 in the book that documents Beihong in Southeast Asia (悲鸿在星洲), Quah was mention for his heroic effort rescuing Xu Beihong when the Japanese Empire invaded Singapore.[22][23]
  • In 2012, Quah Chin Lai was listed as among the Prominent Figures of the World Fujian Communities publication recounts the lives of some 150 Hokkien Singaporeans and records their achievements and contributions to Singapore over the past 200 years. It will be launched in November this year.[24][25]
  • In 2015, World Scientific published a book about "Tan Lark Sye: Advocator And Founder Of Nanyang University" for Quah was mention for his contribution to Nanyang University.[26]
  • In 2019, Quah was listed in the Singapore Biographical Database.[27] The database presents an interface that allows users to search individual prominent Singapore Chinese personalities and displays a social network of interpersonal connections and affiliations between them. Apart from biographical information. Quah was listed in the first phase of this project focuses on 200 prominent Singapore Chinese personalities to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the founding of modern Singapore in 2019.[28][29]
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  •  
    Quah Chin Lai conducting site survey for building Nanyang University in Singapore
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    Quah Chin Lai (right wearing white khaki shorts) Nanyang University ground inauguration
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    Quah Chin Lai (furthest right) hosting his grandson's wedding (Quah Chin Siong (柯振翔) and Soh Beow Seng wedding) in 1970s at 4 Walton Road. The wedding album is an artefact kept in Singapore National Museum - Asian Civilisation.
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    Quah Chin Lai early pioneer membership form for Singapore Nanyang Kuah Si Association
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    Quah Chin Lai contribution to Nanyang University (now known as NTU) in Tan Kah Kee Pioneers' memorial Hall
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    Quah Chin Lai (left) a leading member of the Singapore trade mission delegation in Beijing, Aug 1956. Seen here with Mr. Tan Kah Kee (middle). Photo can be found in Xiamen University museum.
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    In 2021, Quah Chin Lai's eldest great-grandson (Quah Teng Koon 柯廷坤) and his wife established an educational bursary in Singapore Nanyang Technological University to continue Mr Quah Chin Lai 's philanthropic spirit to perpetuate the importance of education.

References

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  1. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Kuah Association". Kuahassn.org. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  3. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  4. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  5. ^ "SMMA Official Website". Smma.org. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  6. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  7. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  8. ^ "TAN KAH KEE WITH KWA CHIN-LAI, A MEMBER OF THE SINGAPORE..." Nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  9. ^ "怡和轩 - Ehc". Archived from the original on 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  10. ^ Khim, Chow Chai. "LibGuides: Index to famous historical figures of Singaporean Chinese: K". Libguides.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  11. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  12. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. ^ "春风化雨·润物无声——福建会馆与本地教育发展的新发现 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg.
  14. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  15. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  17. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  18. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  19. ^ "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". Eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  20. ^ NUS Libraries NUS Libraries
  21. ^ NUS Libraries NUS Libraries
  22. ^ "/$1悲鸿在星洲 /资料搜集, 编著欧阳兴义. Beihong zai Xing Zhou /ziliao sou ji, bian zhu Ouyang Xingyi. – National Library". www.nlb.gov.sg.
  23. ^ "《悲鸿在星洲》再版 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg.
  24. ^ Singapore, National Library Board. "Shi jie Fujian ming ren lu. Xinjiapo pian / [bian wei zhu ren Fang Baicheng, Du Nanfa].世界福建名人录. 新加坡篇 / [编委主任方百成, 杜南发]". eservice.nlb.gov.sg.
  25. ^ "Published Books – Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan".
  26. ^ Ong, Chu Meng; Lim, Hoon Yong; Ng, Lai Yang (October 29, 2014). Tan Lark Sye. doi:10.1142/9423. ISBN 978-981-4641-49-4.
  27. ^ "Singapore Biographical Database".
  28. ^ "Singapore Biographical Database Name List- Index 124".
  29. ^ "Official launch of The Singapore Biographical Database (SBDB) of Chinese personalities".
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