Wee Kheng Chiang

Early life

Wee was born 22 July 1890 in Kuching, Sarawak (now part of Malaysia). He was the family's second-to-eldest son. His father was Wee Tee Yah (died 1889), a Chinese immigrant, and his mother was Song Kim Keow, a local born widow. The younger Wee attended Saint Thomas Secondary School, and spoke English and Chinese (Hokkien) fluently.

Career

In 1924, Wee established the Bian Chiang Bank (now known as CIMB Group) in Kuching, Malaysia.

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 Fujian Association (福建会馆)'s President.

In 1931, he was elected as Chairman of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He resigned from the post in 1946.

On 6 August 1935, he established the United Chinese Bank with six other partners. The bank is now known as the United Overseas Bank (UOB).

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). Wee was then given the role of manager of the Sarawak Chinese Bank, 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). Wee's second wife is the mother of Wee Cho Yaw, chairman of Singapore's United Overseas Bank.

Death and legacy

In 1978, Wee died in his Kuching residence. His first son, Wee Cho Yaw, was subsequently appointed to head United Overseas Bank. 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. Ranee Sylvia Brooke also used this sobriquet, in her 1939 book The Three White Rajahs.

In 1941, Wee was presented with the Commander of the Star of Sarawak by the Third White Rajah of Sarawak. In 1964, he was awarded the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak by the first Governor of Sarawak.

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