Kenneth Low
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Mang-Kwong Low is a Fiji
an businessman and political leader of Chinese descent
. He unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary election
of 1999 as a candidate for the General Voters Party (GVP) for the Western Central (General Electors) Communal Constituency
. He also lost the Fiji national elections in 2001 for the Suva City (General Electors) Communal Constituency, where he was the candidate of the United Fiji Party (SDL), but was appointed to the Senate
as one of nine nominees of the Fijian Prime Minister
, and became Vice-President of the Senate on 28 February 2005, the first Chinese-Fijian to do so, following the appointment of the previous Vice-President, Dr
Ahmed Ali
to a Government Cabinet position.
According to Low, he was born in Chongqing
, China
at the end of World War II
and came to Fiji at the age of 10. He is a third generation Fiji-Chinese with his grandfather Low Fong arriving in Fiji in 1908. Low's father Low Kum-Tim, came with his family to Fiji from Hong Kong in 1955 as a school teacher in the Lautoka Chinese School. In Hong Kong, Low Kum-Tim and his two partners, Chiang Yu-Loong and Ma Kok-Yu operated the "Green Sea Farm" for 5 years after leaving mainland China. The farm had received government awards for being the best and most progressive chicken farm, and Low Kum-Tim had published 3 books on "Diseases of Chicken and the cure" during this time from experience in raising chicken commercially.
Low Kum-Tim was an artist in traditional chinese painting
of the famous Chinese grand master Qi BaiShi school, www.QiBaishi.com and had held many an exhibition in the Fiji Arts Club in the 1960s together with his old friend Sec-Poy Fong, managing director of On Wah Chang, Suva. In June 1966, Low's parents and brothers migrated to the United States of America and lived in New York city. Low Kum-Tim continued his passion in painting in NYC and had held several exhibitions in NY and Philadelphia. He died in 1993 after battling Parkinson's disease for almost 20 years.
In 1966, Low left Fiji to study architecture at the university of New South Wales. After graduation in 1970, he remained in Sydney Australia and commenced private practice in architecture from 1974. He was also a registered Gold Licensed Builder in N.S.W. from 1978. Low taught Architecture and Construction at the Sydney College of Technical and Further Education from 1976-1978. Whilst teaching, he also completed his Diploma in Education in 1978.
Low returned to Fiji in 1983 and set up his private practice in architecture and construction until the 1987 coup. He then returned to Sydney and undertook construction contracts.
But in 1991, Low again returned to Fiji, to practise architecture and also as a property developer and investor.
Low, who is the founder (1994) and President of the All Chinese Business Association of Fiji, was instrumental to promote trade directly between Fiji and China.
During his time as Senator, Low has joined much of the Fiji-born Chinese community in calling for a crackdown on illegal immigration (mainly from mainland China)which he says is detrimental to the local-born Chinese and the Chinese reputation as a whole. He alleged in the Senate on 8 November 2005 that corrupt immigration officials in Fiji were granting Fijian citizenship and visas to illegal Chinese immigrants, for financial and sexual favours, and called for a full inquiry into what was going on.
Low retired from the Senate in June 2006 and did not participate in the 2006 national elections. Low is now actively promoting and fostering better relationships between Fiji and China.
Today, Low remains the Chairman of Board of Directors, and is the current Manager of the Lautoka Chinese School. In 2003-2004, Low increased the number of classrooms and upgraded the school hall.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an businessman and political leader of Chinese descent
Chinese in Fiji
The Chinese diaspora in Fiji consists a small, but influential, community in the multiracial society that makes up modern day Fiji. In the early 2000s their numbers were estimated at around 6,000, or a little over half of one percent of Fiji's population. The most recent estimation puts the...
. He unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 1999
General elections were held in Fiji between 8 and 15 May 1999. They were the first election held under the revised Constitution of 1997, which instituted a new electoral system and resulted in Mahendra Chaudhry taking office as Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.-Electoral system:Previously,...
of 1999 as a candidate for the General Voters Party (GVP) for the Western Central (General Electors) Communal Constituency
West Central (General Electors Communal Constituency, Fiji)
West Central General Communal is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 3 communal constituencies reserved for General Electors, an omnibus category including Caucasians, Chinese, and all others whose ethnicity is neither indigenous Fijian nor Indo-Fijian...
. He also lost the Fiji national elections in 2001 for the Suva City (General Electors) Communal Constituency, where he was the candidate of the United Fiji Party (SDL), but was appointed to the Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
as one of nine nominees of the Fijian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
, and became Vice-President of the Senate on 28 February 2005, the first Chinese-Fijian to do so, following the appointment of the previous Vice-President, Dr
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali (politician)
Dr. Ahmed Ali was a Fijian academic and politician who held Cabinet office several times from the late 1970s onwards. Unlike the majority of his fellow Indo-Fijians, he was aligned with the Alliance Party of Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in the 1970s and 1980s, and with the United Fiji...
to a Government Cabinet position.
According to Low, he was born in Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, 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...
at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and came to Fiji at the age of 10. He is a third generation Fiji-Chinese with his grandfather Low Fong arriving in Fiji in 1908. Low's father Low Kum-Tim, came with his family to Fiji from Hong Kong in 1955 as a school teacher in the Lautoka Chinese School. In Hong Kong, Low Kum-Tim and his two partners, Chiang Yu-Loong and Ma Kok-Yu operated the "Green Sea Farm" for 5 years after leaving mainland China. The farm had received government awards for being the best and most progressive chicken farm, and Low Kum-Tim had published 3 books on "Diseases of Chicken and the cure" during this time from experience in raising chicken commercially.
Low Kum-Tim was an artist in traditional chinese painting
Chinese painting
Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental; they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures. Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots, or animals...
of the famous Chinese grand master Qi BaiShi school, www.QiBaishi.com and had held many an exhibition in the Fiji Arts Club in the 1960s together with his old friend Sec-Poy Fong, managing director of On Wah Chang, Suva. In June 1966, Low's parents and brothers migrated to the United States of America and lived in New York city. Low Kum-Tim continued his passion in painting in NYC and had held several exhibitions in NY and Philadelphia. He died in 1993 after battling Parkinson's disease for almost 20 years.
In 1966, Low left Fiji to study architecture at the university of New South Wales. After graduation in 1970, he remained in Sydney Australia and commenced private practice in architecture from 1974. He was also a registered Gold Licensed Builder in N.S.W. from 1978. Low taught Architecture and Construction at the Sydney College of Technical and Further Education from 1976-1978. Whilst teaching, he also completed his Diploma in Education in 1978.
Low returned to Fiji in 1983 and set up his private practice in architecture and construction until the 1987 coup. He then returned to Sydney and undertook construction contracts.
But in 1991, Low again returned to Fiji, to practise architecture and also as a property developer and investor.
Low, who is the founder (1994) and President of the All Chinese Business Association of Fiji, was instrumental to promote trade directly between Fiji and China.
During his time as Senator, Low has joined much of the Fiji-born Chinese community in calling for a crackdown on illegal immigration (mainly from mainland China)which he says is detrimental to the local-born Chinese and the Chinese reputation as a whole. He alleged in the Senate on 8 November 2005 that corrupt immigration officials in Fiji were granting Fijian citizenship and visas to illegal Chinese immigrants, for financial and sexual favours, and called for a full inquiry into what was going on.
Low retired from the Senate in June 2006 and did not participate in the 2006 national elections. Low is now actively promoting and fostering better relationships between Fiji and China.
Today, Low remains the Chairman of Board of Directors, and is the current Manager of the Lautoka Chinese School. In 2003-2004, Low increased the number of classrooms and upgraded the school hall.