Wee Kheng Chiang
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Wee Kheng Chiang (simplified Chinese: 黄庆昌; traditional Chinese: 黃慶昌; pinyin: Huáng Qìngchāng; Jyutping: Wong4 Hing3 Coeng1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ûiⁿ Khèng-chhiang; 22 July 1890 – 12 April 1978[1]) 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.
Early life
Wee was born into a Hoklo family with ancestry from Quemoy island on 22 July 1890 in Kuching, Sarawak, a British protectorate (now part of Malaysia). 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 both Hokkien as well as English fluently.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found.
Career
In 1924, Wee established the Bian Chiang Bank (now consolidated under CIMB Group) in his hometown Kuching.[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.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found.
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,[5] he established the United Chinese Bank with six other partners. The bank is now known as the United Overseas Bank (UOB).[6]
Wee staffed his bank with Hoklo employees to serve his Hoklo clients.[7]
Personal life
The 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).[8]Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. Wee was then given the role of manager of the Sarawak Chinese Bank,Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. 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
On 12 April 1978, Wee died in his Kuching residence. His fourth son, Wee Cho Yaw, was subsequently appointed to head United Overseas Bank.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, a road in downtown Kuching, is named after him.
Awards
Wee 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.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. 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
- 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
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- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Obituary". NewspaperSG. 13 April 1978. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lam, Chee Kheung (2012). "Wee Kheng Chiang of Sarawak: Entrepreneur Extraordinaire" (PDF). Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies. 1: 18–39. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.CIMB (2020). "CIMB Group History 1920 - 1929". CIMB. Kuala Lumpur.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.P.W. Thong (31 January 2003). "CAHB goes from strength to strength". The Star. Kuala Lumpur.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our Corporate Profile". United Overseas Bank. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Siow, Li Sen (3 June 2010). "UOB patriarch looking for a successor". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Charmian Leong (2 August 2018). "Meet the families behind Singapore's most iconic buildings". Peak.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Siew Eng ONG". Geni.com. MyHeritage Ltd. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
Bibliography
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
