Funeral of Yong Yit Lin (Images from the Past)

Photos from a wake and funeral with the caption "Mr. Yong Yit Lin" caught my eye from the Elliot Collection of photos which accessible online from the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology website. It is an amazing series of photos that gives rare and private insight to this historical event which are often hard to find. I had to research further and the below are some of the things i found out.

Yong Yit Lin arrived in Malaya in 1913 at the age of 16 and was a tin miner, carpenter and clerk before venturing into construction. He was lucky when he in the 1920s, the Public Works Department (PWD) in Seremban awarded him to build fences and gateposts for the British Resident of Negeri Sembilan, Mr Ernest Wolff. When the Resident later move to Singapore, he remember the good work of Mr. Yong, he invited him to tender for government construction projects. That led to bigger projects for many well-know buildings in Singapore such as Clifford Pier, Changi Prison and MacDonald House. He also built the foundations of the Government Offices in Johor Bahru. Mr. Yong Yit Lin became a naturalised British subject in 1949.

Mr. Yong Yit Lin was a Khek / Hakka community leader and was the Vice-President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce from 1946-1947 before becoming its President in 1948. (Tan Lark Sye became the President in March 1950). He was also a member of the Chinese Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chung Khiaw Bank and Managing Director of Woh Hup Ltd

Yong Yit Lin

Murdered

Mr. Yong Yit Lin, J.P and former President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce was fatally shot on 25 May 1950 while resting after lunch in his favourite easy-chair at the Tong Lam Club, Hospital. He passed away at General Hospital from the gunshot wounds. He had 3 bullet wound in the body, 2 in the right arm and the 6th in his right leg. The assailant who entered and fired 7 shots from a Browning automatic pistol at a range of about 6 feet. Despite being shot so many times, Yong Yit Lin manage to wrestled the assailant down before others came to his aid and restrained the murderer later identified as a former business partner, Mr. Ng Kai Sung.

Biggest Ever Funeral for Yong Yit Lin

More than 200 motor vehicles took part in the longest funeral process ever seen in Malaya post war. More than 30 trade and benevolent associations were granted permission to take part, but because of of emergency regulations, the police did not allow any pedestrians in the procession. The procession left the house of Mr. Yong at 519-A East Coast Road towards town through Mountbatten on foot for 1/4 mile after which it will be by vehicles. Mr. Yong's 21 children - 12 sons and 9 daughters together with 10 brass bands and 10 sets of Chinese musicians were in company. The police will be on duty as well along the whole 20 mile route It paused for 15 minutes on reaching the Khek Community Guild at Peck Seah Street before making it way to Holland Road at the Chinese cemetery there. Arrangements for the procession were made by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Kwangtung Association and the Khek Community Guild.

With the recent availability of this photos from the Elliott Collection, i am fortunate to able to "see" this funeral wake, procession and Yong Yit Lin's grave at the Holland Road Cemetery. You can also how green the hills of Holland Road area is back in 1950. Do also read my second article on the 49th ritual after his burial.

Yong Yit Ling funeral cortege and family
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Yong Yit Ling funeral
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Yong Yit Lin wake - Family Mourners
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Paying respect to Yong Yit Lin
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Family mourning at the grave of Yong Yit Lin
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Family and curious onlookers at the grave of Yong Yit Ling
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Yong Yit Lin's coffin in a crypt
(source: Elliot's Collection, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology)

Legacy

After the passing of Mr. Yong Yit Lin, his son, Mr. Yong Nam Seng took reins and became Chairman until he eventually passed away at the age of 92 on 16 January 2021. Under his watch, more iconic buildings were added into their accolade including Golden Mile Complex (1974), Great World City (1977), Gardens by the Bay and Changi Airport's Jewel in a joint venture with Japanese firm Obayashi (2018). A Bloomberg report in 2018 estimated the Yong family was worth about US$600 million. The current Chairman of Woh Hup is Mr. Yong Tiam Yoon.

Bukit Brown Connection

Miss Kwik Poh Lian (third daughter of Kwik Tiang Boon) married Mr. Yong Nam Seng (son of Mr. Yong Yit Lin, J.P. former President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and contractor for many iconic buildings such as Clifford Pier, Changi Prison and Clifford Pier). The wedding reception was suppose to be held at Cathay Restaurant on 26th May 1950 but was cancelled due to the brutal murder of her father-in-law, Mr. Yong Yit Lin who was gunned down at his club. Madam Kwik Poh Lian passed away at the age of 67 on 31st July 1995. The obituary list that she is survived by her husband, Yong Nam Seng, sons (Yong Tiam Yoon, Yong Kon Yoon, Yong Khim Yoon) daughter (Yong Mei Hsien), son-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.