A little bird told me.....
JALAN LOKE YEW
such a familiar street name in KL! Jalan - in our local language refers to STREET.
Named after Mr Loke Yew who arrived in Malaya at the age of 13.
Who is this man and what were his contributions to Kuala Lumpur?
- Born in San Wui - Southern China in 1845 as Wong Loke Yew
Dropped his surname and became known just as LokeYew- coz he believed it brought
him luck !
- struck it rich when he discovered rich tin deposits in Kling Bahru.
Besides owning numerous tin mines, also owned rubber and coconut plantations, also
dappled in supplying provisions to British troops, monopolised liquor sales,
managed a pawn broker and held licenses to run gambling tables.held properties
investments in Singapore and Malaya.
- was one of the founders who established Victoria Institution.
- also help established Tan Tock Seng hospital in Singapore.
- was one of the leading man in establishing the Kwong Yik bank in 1915.
His family established Associated Theatres Ltd which was renamed Cathay Organisation..also helped built Singapore's first skyscraper Cathay Building in 1939.
He bought over the Loke Mansion in Jalan Medan Tuanku (currently abandoned)in 1892 from tin miner Chow Ah Yoke. He upgraded and renovated the mansion making it one of the most pretigious residences in Asia then.
Today, Jalan Loke Yew is known to KLites as the home to many low cost flats- namely LOKE YEW FLATS,and UE3 a shopping complex .
ref: Sat Metro-Jun02 2007
"WE HAVE TWO EARS AND ONE MOUTH ! THINK TWICE ! SPEAK ONCE ! "
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1 comment:
Mr Loke Yew, together with familiar names like Chan Sow Lin and Chok Kit were also the founders of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
They felt there was a need for an organisation to represent the interests of Chinese businessmen and the Chinese community in general. It was set up on Mar27 1904, with Loke Yew at the helm.
The bureau served as an informal lisason office between the British Administration and the Chinese community. It also helped to translate new laws and regulations into chinese and disseminated them among the business community, as very few Chinese were conversant in English then.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce has been recognised by the Registrar of Societies as one of the country's 10most active and well managed societies in Malaysia. It has also developed strong linkages with Chinese business organisations n the Asean region, China, North America and Australia.
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