Wong Ah Fook
Encyclopedia
Wong Ah Fook (1837–1918) was a Chinese immigrant, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who left an indelible imprint on the state of Johor
in present-day Malaysia, particularly its capital, Johor Bahru
. Primarily a building contractor, although he also ventured into many other businesses, he built a good number of Johor's heritage buildings, including the original Istana Besar
, the royal palace of the Sultan of Johor. Jalan Wong Ah Fook
, one of the busiest street in downtown Johor Bahru, is named after him.
county, Guangdong
province, Wong Ah Fook hired himself out as a farmer's boy when his family fell on hard times. It is likely that he never attended school but he did learn to read and write and also to use the abacus. In 1854, then age 17, Wong emigrated to Singapore
as the result of civil unrest in his hometown that eventually erupted into the Punti–Hakka Clan Wars (1855–1867). Like many others, he had no money to pay his passage and indentured himself to a carpenter as he did not want to travel all the way, only to become an agricultural laborer all over again. After working for a year at nominal wages, Wong was free but he continued to work with his employer and was given a share of the business after a few years.
. Hoo was a successful businessman who had built up a prosperous ships' chandlering business and was the supplier and contractor to Her Majesty's navy.
in 1865 that made him become the main government contractor, Wong Ah Fook was drawn into the politics of Johor
's gambier and pepper economy at about this time when he was asked by the Johor government to penetrate the Kongkek (the Gambier and Pepper Society of Singapore
) which was then monopolizing the industry. This introduced him into revenue farming after he was granted a lease on the tax on all the two crops produced in Johor and its territories, and it was revenue farming that brought him great wealth. In 1892, Wong was granted a 99-year lease for 10 lots of land by Sultan Abu Bakar on the east bank of Sungai Segget as a reward for his services. Named Kampung Wong Ah Fook, the main road in the kampung was named Jalan Wong Ah Fook
, while three other smaller roads, namely Jalan Siu Nam, Jalan Siu Koon, and Jalan Siu Chin, were named after Wong's three eldest sons. The area became a prominent Cantonese-dominant area and is now the city centre of Johor Bahru
, with all the four roads still existing today. However, it was the Kwong Yik Bank that was to become Wong Ah Fook's most ambitious undertaking and also his proudest achievement. Yet, the venture was to lead to his greatest disaster and brought him close to grief. Wong died of double pneumonia at his home in 1918, aged 81, during a severe epidemic of Spanish flu in Singapore. He was buried in Singapore Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng after his death.
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
in present-day Malaysia, particularly its capital, Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
. Primarily a building contractor, although he also ventured into many other businesses, he built a good number of Johor's heritage buildings, including the original Istana Besar
Istana Besar
Istana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
, the royal palace of the Sultan of Johor. Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook is a major one-way road in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It is located in Johor Bahru's central business district and is also one of the busiest roads in the city....
, one of the busiest street in downtown Johor Bahru, is named after him.
Early life
Born in Yanjingcun, a Chinese village in TaishanTaishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
county, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province, Wong Ah Fook hired himself out as a farmer's boy when his family fell on hard times. It is likely that he never attended school but he did learn to read and write and also to use the abacus. In 1854, then age 17, Wong emigrated to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
as the result of civil unrest in his hometown that eventually erupted into the Punti–Hakka Clan Wars (1855–1867). Like many others, he had no money to pay his passage and indentured himself to a carpenter as he did not want to travel all the way, only to become an agricultural laborer all over again. After working for a year at nominal wages, Wong was free but he continued to work with his employer and was given a share of the business after a few years.
The beginnings of success
The Singapore economy was growing and there was a great demand for houses, shops, and warehouses. Seeing the opportunities, Wong became a building contractor as it was a only short step from carpentry work. Obtaining the patronage of Hoo Ah Kay (better known as Whampoa), a fellow Cantonese, he was able to secure a major contract in 1863 to build two godowns for Paterson & Simons (acting as the business agent for the Temenggungs of Johor in Singapore), some ten years after his arrival in Singapore. It was Hoo who introduced Wong to his wide circle of friends, including Maharaja Abu Bakar who subsequently became the Sultan of JohorSultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor is a hereditary seat and the nominal ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara...
. Hoo was a successful businessman who had built up a prosperous ships' chandlering business and was the supplier and contractor to Her Majesty's navy.
Later life
Beginning with the construction of the Istana BesarIstana Besar
Istana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
in 1865 that made him become the main government contractor, Wong Ah Fook was drawn into the politics of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
's gambier and pepper economy at about this time when he was asked by the Johor government to penetrate the Kongkek (the Gambier and Pepper Society of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) which was then monopolizing the industry. This introduced him into revenue farming after he was granted a lease on the tax on all the two crops produced in Johor and its territories, and it was revenue farming that brought him great wealth. In 1892, Wong was granted a 99-year lease for 10 lots of land by Sultan Abu Bakar on the east bank of Sungai Segget as a reward for his services. Named Kampung Wong Ah Fook, the main road in the kampung was named Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook is a major one-way road in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It is located in Johor Bahru's central business district and is also one of the busiest roads in the city....
, while three other smaller roads, namely Jalan Siu Nam, Jalan Siu Koon, and Jalan Siu Chin, were named after Wong's three eldest sons. The area became a prominent Cantonese-dominant area and is now the city centre of Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
, with all the four roads still existing today. However, it was the Kwong Yik Bank that was to become Wong Ah Fook's most ambitious undertaking and also his proudest achievement. Yet, the venture was to lead to his greatest disaster and brought him close to grief. Wong died of double pneumonia at his home in 1918, aged 81, during a severe epidemic of Spanish flu in Singapore. He was buried in Singapore Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng after his death.
Reference
- http://jbdirectory.com/Wong_Ah_Fook
- http://chsbp.net.my/show.php?contentid=1119