Tan Ean Kiam (Bukit Brown)

Tan Ean Kiam (陈延谦)( Tan Eang Khiam / Tan Ean Khiam) was a successful rubber magnate and banker. He together with Khoo Koh Wah established the Overseas Chinese Bank (OCB) in 1919 and became the Managing Director. The Chairman of the Bank at that time was Mr Lim Nee Soon.  Banks in the past were very much run by community leaders and "towkay's" of their respective dialect groups. As a way to strengthen the economic fundamentals of banks after a major recession and also to reflect the growing commonality of a unified "Chinese" identity not based on dialect groupings, Overseas Chinese Bank later merged with Ho Hong Bank and Chinese Commercial Bank on 31 October 1932 to form the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation or OCBC Bank. Tan Ean Kiam was its Managing Director until his death on 30 March 1943.

Tan Ean Kiam was nominated as a member of the Chinese Advisory Board by Sir Shenton Thomas in November 1937. Tan Ean Kiam was a member of the Tung Meng Hui (Chinese Revolutionary League founded by Dr. Sun Yat Sen) and contributed financially to it. In 1937, Tan Ean Kiam, together with five others, namely Lee Kong Chian, Lee Chin Tian, Lee Choon Seng, Chew Hean Swee and Yeo Kiat Tiow  acquired the Sun Yat Sen villa that Dr Sun Yat Sen stayed while he was in Singapore. When the Sultan of Kelantan and his entourage visited Singapore and was entertained by Mr and Mrs Pang Cheng Yean, among the guest that received them were Tan Ean Kiam together with Lee Kong Chian, Ong Kia Peng,Wee Kheng Chiang, Lim Kian Beng, Tan Lak Sai (Tan Lark Sye), Chee Guan Chiang, Chionh Ke Hu, Chua Keh Hai and Lim Bok Kee.

Tan Ean Kiam 

Overseas Chinese Bank (OCB)

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC)

The below group photograph was taken in 1932 during founding of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), which merger's three banks - Chinese Commercial Bank Limited (1912), Ho Hong Bank Limited (1917) and Oversea-Chinese Bank Limited (1919). Standing in the front row are: Mr Tan Chin Tuan (fourth from left), General Manager Ong Piah Teng (fifth from right), Tan Ean Kiam (sixth from right) and Assistant Manager Khoo Soo Hong (second from left). Back Row: Yap Peng Gek (left), Kwa Siew Tee (third from left), Chew Hock Leong (sixth from left) and a Mr. Teo (right).

Group photo taken in 1932 during the founding of OCBC

OCBC (source:PictureSG)

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd (OCBC).

The amalgamation of the Chinese Commercial Bank, Overseas Chinese Bank and Ho Hong was approved by their respective shareholders on 31 October 1932 and The OCBC was incorporated with a nominal capital of $40 million and a paid-up capital of $10 million was incorporated to take over the business of the 3 banks. The OCBC started business on 2 January 1933 and its first directors of the new bank were:

Nominated by the Chinese Commercial Bank : Messrs. Cheok Cheng Kee, Yap Twee, Wong Siew Qui (S.Q. Wong), Lee Kong Chian, Gan Say Hong and Lim Keng Lian

Nominated by the Ho Hong Bank: Messrs. Chee Swee Cheng, Chan Kang Swi, Tan Cheng Lock, Tan Swee Hoe, Lee Choon Seng, Aw Boon Par

Nominated by the Oversea-Chinese Bank Limited: Messrs, Chua Ka Cheong, Yin Suat Chuan, Hiap Tock Wee, Lim Liat Boon, Oh Sian Guan and Tan Ean Kiam 

Group photo of Directors and Staff of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) in 1933

Close up of some of the OCBC Pioneer Directors that i recognise so far

Japanese Occupation and Beginnings of the O.C.A 

In Singapore, on the day of following its surrender, the Japanese Kempeitai rounded up all the officers of all the chinese banks and some of the directors and senior management of the banks were taken into custody. They were threatened upon release with orders to reopen the banks for business. 

On 27 February 1942, various Chinese leaders who remained in Singapore were asked to gather at the Goh Loo Club. Among those there included Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Lee Choon Seng, Tan Ean Khiam, Lee Wee Nam, Yeo Chan Boon, S.Q. Wong and the Shaw Brothers. They were asked to get the Chinese community to pledge obedience to the Japanese army orders. Tan Ean Khiam implored the Japanese Kempeitei to release all Chinese leaders detained during the past few days (among them his son). The request was translated by Wee Kian Teck a trader from Japan). Before he could finish his interpretation, Lt. Col Oishi (Chief of the Kempeitai) in a fit of anger banged his tables and said this is not for you to request ! It was during this difficult days of news of torture, executions, disappearance, mass executions  when finally the Japanese Chief Military Administrators (Colonel Watanabe and his advisor Toru Takasei) ask for a sum of 50-60 million dollars in cash from the Chinese community as protection. With that, the Overseas Chinese Association (OCA) came to existence, to collect the money from the Chinese community of Malaya and Singapore. Tan Ean Khiam being the banker and financial expert said that it will be extremely difficult for the Chinese to collect such a big sum of money. However, the following allocations were decided for the various states to collect:

Singapore $10 million
Selangor $10 million
Perak $8 million
Penang $7 million
Malacca $5.5 million
Johore $5 million
Negeri Sembilan $1.5 million
Kedah $1.1 million
Pahang $900k
Kelantan $500k
Trengganu $300k

Perlis $200k

On 20 June 1942, the delegates from various states met at Singapore. A total of $28 million had been collected (cash and some in the form of gold and rubber). After repeated negotiations through Wee Twee Kim, the Japanese Military Administrators finally allowed the Chinese to raise a loan of $22 million from the Yokohama Specie Bank. The loan was to be paid up within a year with 6% interest. 

Thus it came to be at 3 pm on 25 June 1942, about 60 Chinese representative gathered at Fullerton Building in the room of the former Singapore Chamber of Commerce. 3 Chinese delegates, Dr. Lim Boon Keng, Wong Tet San (President of O.C.A., KL) and Heah Joo Siang (President of O.C.A., Penang) advanced forward. Dr. Lim Boon Keng handed the cheque of $50 million to Commander-in-chief General Yamashita.

The extortion by the Japanese Military Administration of $50 million from the Chinese in Malaya

In addition to the $50 million, there was a speech that was "forced" upon Dr. Lim Boon Keng to address. It went through several amendments and the text of the address went something like this:

"During the past, the Chinese had been "running dog" of the British imperialists. They have mal-treated the Japanese and they have helped Chiang Kai Shek to put up resistance against Japan. Now that the Imperial forces have arrived, we are willing to repent and to respect the orders of the J.M.A. We now voluntarily offer herewith a sum of $50,000,000 to the J.M.A. as token of our sincerity.

Tan Ean Khiam in seeing the words "running dog" -strongly objected and wanted it to change to "puppets". He explained "dogs" belonged to the category of beasts, while puppets still retained some semblance of human beings.  


Death 

During the Japanese occupation, Tan Ean Kiam continued as Managing Director of the bank and was for a short period, the Vice-President of the Syonan Overseas Chinese Association before he had an heart attack and passed away on 30 March 1943. Lee Choon Seng succeeded Tan Ean Kiam and took the difficulty responsibility of working as "collaboraters" for civil obedience of the Chinese community and to support the Japanese Military rule which included the repayment of the millions of dollars loan.

The couplets on Tan Ean Kiam tomb contains a poem written by him which wisely says: 

No need to bury me in my hometown
For the same quilt will have the same dream
just bury me and let have a deep sleep
for when you close the coffin lid, that will be my abode

Tan Ean Kiam is survived by his wife, Madam Ng Hoon and his sons: Tan Tock Seng, Tan Tock Sin, Tan Tock San, Tan Tock Kheng, Tan Tock Peng, Tan Tock Wah, Tan Tock Boon, Tan Tock Beng and daughters: Tan Ai Lay, Daisy Tan Ai Guat, Tan Ai Geok.

Tan Ean Kiam and Ng Hoon 

Tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Ean Kiam in Bukit Brown

Wife: Madam Ng Hoon 
Mrs. Tan Ean Kiam nee Ng Hoon died at the age of 87 on October 24, 1997.

Madam Ng Hoon

Son: Tan Tock San 
A student at St. Andrew's School, Tan Tock San was the Chairman of Bank of Singapore and a OCBC director. He started from bottom up (despite the fact his father was the managing director), working has a remittance clerk during the Japanese occupation and climb up the ranks till finally he was the Chairman of Bank of Singapore (a OCBC subsidiary) in 1983. He also served as the director of OCBC from 1969-1995. He chaired the Tan Kah Kee foundation which donates money to charitable causes especially education and was also the chairman of the Thong Chai Medical Institution which offers free consultation and medicine to the elderly. He also sat on the board of Chinese High School.

Tan Tock San 

Daughter: Tan Ai Guat 
Tan Ai Guat (daughter of Mr & Mrs Tan Eng Khiam) married Ho Cheng Hin (youngest son of Mrs. Ho Eng Watt and the late Mr. Ho Eng Watt and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Liang Ghee). The marriage took place on 2 June 1936 at 23 Amber Road.

Daughter: Tan Ai Lay

Tan Ai Lay / Tan Ai Li passed away at the age of 16 on 20 June 1926. She is a daughter of Tan Ean Kiam and the epitaph on her tomb was penned by him. 

A Straits-born on Republic Year 1, 1st Lunar Moon, 9th day, died on Republic Year 15, 5th Lunar Moon (summer), 11th day. Tan Ai Lay was bilingual, a gentle and kind girl who handled matters compassionately. She visited Mr. Tan's hometown twice before. Also on the epitaph, the sadness of a father who lost her daughter is revealed when he expressed that how could such a girl of such character die this young! My heart isn't made of wood and rock! I'd rather not feel despair!

Tan Ai Lay (daughter of Tan Ean Kiam)

Brother: Tan Ean Teck

Tan Ean Teck was a prominent merchant and brother of Tan Ean Kiam. He was also a shareholder of the OCBC Bank. I don't have much information of what he did as a merchant, but during the Japanese occupation, he played an important role in keeping the local Chinese community who were resettled out of Singapore into a new settlement called Endau. Unfortunately, this involvement lead to his eventual demise as well  on  19 April 1944 at the age of 42. He is buried in Bukit Brown.

 

Tan Ean Teck

Brother: Tan Ean Long 

Tan Ean Long passed away at the age of 46 on 16th February 1946. The last address that i could gather was from a notice for the deceased estate issued in 1951 by Tan, Rajah and Cheah, Solictors for Chinese Bankers Trust. Tan Ean Long passed away intestate and his last address was listed as No 20 North Boat Quay.

Tan Ean Kiam's legacy

Tan Ean Kiam Foundation

Tan Ean Kiam's lasting legacy continues to-this-date in the form of a foundation named after him, providing scholarships to deserving recipients as well as donations to charities and needy causes.

Sun Yat Sen Villa 

In 1937, five Chinese community leaders, Messrs Lee Kong Chian, Lee Choon Seng, Lee Chin Tian, Tan Ean Kiam, Chew Hean Swee and Yeo Kiat Tiow bought the house in No 12, Tai Jin Road, off Balestier. This was the historically important site where Dr. Sun Yat Sen visited, stayed and work with the local revolutionaries to plan and drum up support for the 1911 revolution that ended 267 years rule of the Qing dynasty.

Bin Chan House / Sun Yat Sen Villa

Variant names

Tan Ean Kiam also refers to: Tan Eng Khiam / Tan Eang Khiam / Tan Ean Khiam

References

Rangoon Branch of The Oversea-Chinese Bank, Ltd (1931, April 4). The Malayan Saturday Post, page 26Sultan of Kelantan. (1936, October 20). The Straits Times, page 13
Acknowledgements. (1997, October 29). The Straits Times, page 54
Former OCBC director dies. (2008, February 1). The Straits Times
Sim, V. (Ed.). (1950). Biographies of prominent Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Nan Kok Pub

The first terrible days in Singapore. (1947, June 12). The Straits Times, page 6
Tan Ean Kiam Postgraduate Scholarship. [website]. Tan Kah Kee Foundation.
Tan Ean Kiam. [website]. Infopedia