Driving away from Chinatown, we passed through Upper Cross Street and onto Havelock Road. With Kim Seng Road just around the corner, we stopped by the road side to explore the surroundings and reminiscence one of Singapore’s heroes, Tan Kim Seng (1805-1864).
The picture shows Great World City, which is situated along Kim Seng Promenade.
Our Hero - Tan Kim Seng
For those of you who are not too familiar with this hero, let me tell you a bit about his biography. Born in Malacca, he came to Singapore in 1840. He was a Hokkien Baba who set up a trading firm, Kim Seng and Company along Boat Quay. He was a hardworking businessman and through perseverance, he rose to become a wealthy man. Kim Seng made significant philanthropic contributions to the development of Singapore.
Looking at the numerous roads named after Kim Seng, Kim Seng Road, Kim Seng Promenade and Kim Seng Walk one must surely imagine the amount of fortune amassed by him. To understand how he was able to contribute financially to the thoroughfare, I dug out some information regarding his business legacy. As a Chinese, he relied heavily on forging networks and building relationships with fellow merchants. Relying on 'guan xi' is a typical practice of many Chinese businesses. Tan Kim Seng eventually developed a reputation as a natural leader and was regarded highly amongst the Chinese.
His trading business also flourished as he had foresight to start up along the Singapore River which soon became a hub of commerce and trade in the 1850s.
Looking at the numerous roads named after Kim Seng, Kim Seng Road, Kim Seng Promenade and Kim Seng Walk one must surely imagine the amount of fortune amassed by him. To understand how he was able to contribute financially to the thoroughfare, I dug out some information regarding his business legacy. As a Chinese, he relied heavily on forging networks and building relationships with fellow merchants. Relying on 'guan xi' is a typical practice of many Chinese businesses. Tan Kim Seng eventually developed a reputation as a natural leader and was regarded highly amongst the Chinese.
His trading business also flourished as he had foresight to start up along the Singapore River which soon became a hub of commerce and trade in the 1850s.
His contribution legacy to Singapore is even more impressive! Tan Kim Seng is best known for his farsightedness in realising the need for fresh water supply in early Singapore. He donated $13,000 in 1857 towards the development of public waterworks. That's around $300,000 in current dollars!
He was also an avid supporter of public education, building Chong Wen Ge in 1849 – the first education institution set up by the Chinese community in Singapore. He also endowed the Chinese Free School (Chui Eng Institute) in 1854 for boys in the Hokkien community.
Other notable contributions included his support towards Tan Tock Seng Hospital and his active involvement in important societal roles. He was appointed the first Chinese magistrate and made Justice of Peace in 1850. Tan Kim Seng used his position as a Chinese leader to suppress secret society activity and riots.
With such important contributions to Singapore, he surely must have several monuments that can be found in Singapore in recognition of his legacy. Besides having several roads named after him, Tan Kim Seng Fountain, at Esplanade Park was erected in 1882 to recognise his donation towards water development.
Other notable contributions included his support towards Tan Tock Seng Hospital and his active involvement in important societal roles. He was appointed the first Chinese magistrate and made Justice of Peace in 1850. Tan Kim Seng used his position as a Chinese leader to suppress secret society activity and riots.
With such important contributions to Singapore, he surely must have several monuments that can be found in Singapore in recognition of his legacy. Besides having several roads named after him, Tan Kim Seng Fountain, at Esplanade Park was erected in 1882 to recognise his donation towards water development. Driving further away from Kim Seng Road, we will arrive at Kim Seng Constituency. Situated in Bukit Merah, the Singapore Government founded it in 1972 to further remember his contributions. There is a police post and even a community centre named after him.
Lastly, to recognise his contributions to education, plaques of Chui Eng Institute which closed in 1954 where it was first built remain along Amoy Street. There is also Chong Wen Ge which stands next to Thian Hock Keng Temple in Telok Ayer Street.
Lastly, to recognise his contributions to education, plaques of Chui Eng Institute which closed in 1954 where it was first built remain along Amoy Street. There is also Chong Wen Ge which stands next to Thian Hock Keng Temple in Telok Ayer Street.
Overall I believe that without his foresight in recognising the developmental needs of Singapore, many things such as fresh water would be a distant imagination rather than a reality then. Each time we on the tap, we should think of Tan Kim Seng and thank him for making fresh water a possibility in Singapore!
I read the Eu Tong Sen post before this, I was impressed with him but I would say that by measuring success with contributions to the society Tan Kim Seng overshadows Eu Tong Sen by far. Tan Kim Seng really had foresight with the development of water supply. Fresh water supply seems obvious for us, but during those times it was far from obvious. $13,000 does not sound that much, but taking account that it was in the year 1857, it must be a great amount of money. It would be interesting to know what would be an equivalent amount in today’s Singapore dollars.
ReplyDeleteHis contributions towards development of Singapore are truly remarkable. I was surprised to find out the extent of his contributions. Not only he helped developing the water supply, but also schools, hospitals and suppressed riots and secret societies’ activities.
I have only seen a part of Singapore and really I was surprised to find out how many roads have been named after him and all the memorials made for him. But of course, through his support for Singapore’s development it is no surprise to have such honor.