Cheok Huan Cheong (Bukit Brown)

Cheok Huan Cheong was a prominent chinese rubber planter and leader in Johore. He was a member of the Council of State in 1937 and again in 1941 and often spoke for improvements in agriculture farming to benefit the community (e.g. improvements in padi-bearing land by providing better facilities and of longer term land ownership license for the chinese smallholders community based in Johore). He was also in the Johore's Planter Association. In 1941, the Hon. Towkay Cheok Huan Cheong was conferred Order of the Third Class of the Crown of Johore, S.M.J. 

Cheok Huan Cheong 

Chinese Community Launch Aid-Britain Week

The Chinese community led Federation of China Relief Fund committees in South-East Asia launch in September, a "Aid-to-Britain" week in September 1941. Cheok Huan Cheong was quoted in support and that "Britain's victory is China's Victory. For our very lives and livelihood, we must help Britain to the uttermost to win this war." Little did he know, less than a year later, he will be living and dying in Japanese occupied Malaya.

The mass extortion for $5 million

During the Japanese Occupation, Cheok Huan Cheong was made the Chairman of the Oversea Chinese Association in Johore Bahru. The first daunting task assigned by the Japanese occupiers in April 1942 was to put Cheok Huan Cheong in charge of getting the chinese community in Johore to "donate" ( a thinly veiled extortion) $ 5 million dollars as a gesture of their "loyalty and sincerity" in co-operating with the Japanese Government via The Yokohama Specie Bank and the Bank of Taiwan. 

Cheok Huan Cheong passed away at the age of 58 at his Syonan Residence (Singapore) No. 129 Emerald Hill on 17 October 1942. He leaves behind the following; 

3 wives: Lim Siok Hong, Tan Geok Lan and Tan Geok Quee 

5 sons: Cheok Swee Hock, Cheok Swee Lock, Cheok Swee Choo, Cheok Swee Teng, Cheok Swee Hoe

5 daughters: Cheok Chye Cheng, Cheok Kim Lian, Cheok Shien Tiam, Cheok Chien Ai, Cheok Chien Kiew

2 sons-in-law: Thung Toh Tee and Kim Teong Whatt

2 daughters-in-law: Tan Mui Lee and Tan Mui Wah

2 grandsons: Cheok Hoon Chim and Cheok Hoon Meng

1 granddaughter: Cheok Chye Choo

2 adopted sons: Chua Boon Hock and Tan Swee Yong

Nephews: Cheok Swee Guan, Cheok Swee Kah, Cheok Swee Boo, Cheok Lian Huat

Niece: Cheok Swee Keam

Properties 

In 1919, he bought several freehold building sites in Emerald Hill Road. The last residence mentioned in his obituary was at 129 Emerald Hill. 

[research on-going]

Location of tomb 

Cheok Huan Cheong tomb in Bukit Brown is a simple wartime tomb. A prominent chinese leader who eventually died a few months during the Japanese occupation period under difficult circumstances and forced to collaborate in the extortion of money from the chinese community for the Japanese war effort. Cheok Huan Cheong simple tomb is located in Block 1 Division E plot P37

Cheok Huan Cheong 

Cheok Huan Cheong tomb in Bukit Brown