View source for Tan Cheng Lock

{{Short description|Malaysian politician, 1st President of the Malaysian Chinese Association}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}

{{Distinguish|Tan Cheng Bock}}
{{Western name order|1= Tan Cheng Lock}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Malay styles and titles#Honorary styles|Yang Amat Berbahagia]] [[Malay styles and titles#Tun|Tun]] [[Sir]]
| name                = Cheng Lock Tan
| native_name         = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|陳禎祿}}}}
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=MYS|size=100|SMN|DPMJ}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|KBE|JP}}
| image               = Tan Cheng Lock (cropped, 4to3 portrait).jpg
| caption             = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1883|4|5|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Malacca]], [[Straits Settlements]]
| residence           = 
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1960|12|13|1883|4|5|df=y}}
| death_place         = Malacca, [[Federation of Malaya]]
| office              = President of the<br/>[[Malayan Chinese Association]]
| term_start          = 27 February 1949
| term_end            = 27 March 1958
| predecessor         = ''Position established''
| successor           = [[Lim Chong Eu]]
| party               = [[Malayan Chinese Association]]
| occupation          = Businessman
| majority            = 
| relations           = 
| spouse              = Yeo Yeok Neo
| children            = 5, including [[Tan Siew Sin|Siew Sin]]
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
| education           = {{unbulleted list|[[Malacca High School]]|[[Raffles Institution]]}}
}}

[[Malay styles and titles#Tun|Tun]] [[Sir]] '''Cheng Lock Tan'''{{efn|{{zh|t=陳禎祿|poj=Tân Cheng-lo̍k}}}} [[Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|KBE]], [[Order of the Defender of the Realm|SMN]], DPMJ, [[Justice of the peace|JP]] (5 April 1883 &ndash; 13 December 1960) was a [[Malaysia|Malaysian]] [[Peranakans|Peranakan]] businessman and a key public figure who devoted his life to fighting for the rights and the social welfare of the Chinese community in Malaya. Tan was also the founder and the first president of the [[Malayan Chinese Association]] (MCA), which advocated his cause for the Malayan Chinese population.

==Background==

Born on 5 April 1883, Tan was the third son of Tan Keong Ann{{efn|{{zh|t=陳恭安|poj=Tân Kiong-an}}}}<ref>Page 127, ''Who's Who in Malaya 1938''</ref> who had seven sons and daughters, and was a [[immigrant generations|fifth generation]] [[Peranakan]]-[[Hoklo people|Hokkien]] [[Chinese Malaysian]] living at 111 Jalan Heeren in [[Malacca]]. His ancestor, Tan Hay Kwan{{efn|{{zh|t=陳夏觀|poj=Tân Hē͘-kuan}}}} a junk owner and trader, had migrated to Malacca from [[Zhangzhou]] prefecture in [[Fujian]] Province, China in 1771.<ref>Page 1, "A Son of Malacca" 1985. Private publication authored by Mrs Agnes Scott-Ross a.k.a. Agnes Tan Kim Lwi.</ref> His grandfather, Tan Choon Bok{{efn|{{zh|t=陳春木|poj=Tân Chhun-bo̍k}}}}, was very wealthy but he felt his four sons were unworthy to inherit his business empire and wealth and locked his assets in a family trust which ended 84 years after he died, in 1964. By then Tan Cheng Lock had been dead for four years.<ref>Nutgraph.com interview with Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, 7 January 2010.</ref> Tan Cheng Lock's father, Tan Keong Ann, was so devastated by his 'disinheritance' that he railed at his father's portrait daily and took to drink.<ref>Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000.</ref> He did not try to earn a living to support his family and instead lived off his annual allowance of $130 (Straits dollars) from the family trust in genteel poverty.<ref>Speech by Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, addressed to the MCA School of Political Studies.</ref> Tan Cheng Lock refused to emulate his father.

The young Tan attended [[Malacca High School]] and won the Tan Teck Guan Scholarship awarded to top performers in the school. He later continued his education at the [[Raffles Institution]] in Singapore. He was unable to proceed to England to study law due to his financial situation so he decided to teach instead, and taught at the Raffles Institution from 1902 to 1908.<ref>Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000.</ref> He was unhappy with his lot and was too impatient to be a teacher,<ref>Speech by Tan Siok Choo, granddaughter of Tan Cheng Lock, addressed to the MCA School of Political Studies.</ref> so his mother, Lee Seck Bin, insisted he return to Malacca to work as an assistant manager of the Bukit Kajang Rubber Estates Ltd.,<ref>Page 1, "A Son of Malacca" 1985. Private publication authored by Mrs Agnes Scott-Ross a.k.a. Agnes Tan Kim Lwi.</ref> a company which belonged to his maternal cousin, Lee Chim Tuan.<ref>Biodata on Tan Cheng Lock, Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia 2000</ref> Being a rubber planter suited him and he was a quick learner. Soon he was appointed visiting agent to Nyalas Rubber Estates in Malacca in 1909. In 1910, Tan was involved in the founding of three rubber companies. He started United Malacca Rubber Estate Ltd. himself, and he obtained the assistance of other businessmen to jointly set up Malacca Pinda Rubber Estates Ltd. and Ayer Molek Rubber Company, Ltd.<ref>Pages 2 and 3, Report on THE MALAYSIAN PLANTATION INDUSTRY, 1880–1921 by Boon Weng Siew, Vice chairman, MPOA & President, MEOA.</ref>

Three years later in 1912, he was nominated as Malacca Council Commissioner and a Justice of the Peace for Malacca by the [[British government]]. Months later, he was also nominated as the Commissioner of the Town Council for the towns and Malacca port as well. In 1914, he resuscitated the Chinese Company of the Malacca Volunteer Corps (later also known as B Company, 4th Battalion, Straits Settlement Volunteer Force) and served as a private for five years until 1919.<ref>Page 19, Leaders of Malaya and Who's Who 1956.</ref> In 1915, he revived the Straits Chinese British Association (SCBA), electing him as the President of SCBA soon after. In 1923, at the age of 40, he was appointed as a nominated member of the [[Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements]].

In 1926, Tan made a speech to the legislative council about the ideals of a territorially and politically united Malaya. Like many Straits-born Chinese of his time, Tan was partial towards Britain but was deeply influenced by ideas of independence which were sweeping across many British colonies. He advocated for a "united self-governing British Malaya". From 1933 to 1935, he was an [[unofficial member]] of the Straits Settlements Executive Council. He championed social causes like opposing opium smoking, promoting Chinese vernacular education, legislating against polygamy and pressing for immigration policy reform. During the [[Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak|Japanese occupation of Malaya]], Tan and his family lived in exile in [[India]]. They witnessed the struggles of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]] for independence during their stay in India, which inspired them to do the same for [[British Malaya|Malaya]] when they returned.

==The Malayan Chinese Association==

Tan returned to Malacca after the Japanese surrendered. On 27 February 1949, Tan founded the [[Malayan Chinese Association]] (MCA) alongside Tun [[Leong Yew Koh]] and Colonel [[H. S. Lee]]. Although he was 66 when elected to the position, Tan was regarded as the only man able to bring the Malayan Chinese together.

The post-war years and the Emergency was a difficult and dangerous juncture for the community. The Chinese were deeply divided and their loyalty was under scrutiny. Among the Chinese, only Tan had the stature to engage with senior Malays such as Datuk [[Onn Jaafar]] and [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]]. Strongly anti-communist, he was also trusted by the British colonial officials. He joined the Malay leaders – first through the [[All-Malaya Council of Joint Action]], which he chaired, and then the [[Communities Liaison Committee]] headed by Dato' Sir [[E. E. C. Thuraisingham]] – to fight for constitutional change and work towards inter-ethnic co-operation. Tan organized a hartal (general strike) in Malacca to protest against the British colonial government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Asad Latif|title=The life and times of Gerald de Cruz : a Singaporean of many worlds|date=2015|publisher=ISEAS Publishing, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute|isbn=978-981-4620-69-7|location=Singapore|oclc=921296739}}</ref>

The establishment of the [[Federation of Malaya]] did not go down well with the ethnic Chinese, as favourable conditions for obtaining citizenship for the Chinese and other non-Malays were withdrawn. Tan Cheng Lock frequently raised grievances over the citizenship terms that were set when the federation was established.<ref>Bayly, Harper, ''Forgotten wars: Freedom and Revolution in Southeast Asia'', pg 502-3</ref> As a result, communal tensions between the Malays and Chinese surfaced, and [[Onn Jaafar]], who was then heading [[UMNO]] kept his distance from Tan. Tan encountered initial difficulties with meeting Sultan [[Ibrahim of Johor]], who was not accustomed to working with Chinese businessmen.

The goal for the foundation of the [[Malaysian Chinese Association|Malayan Chinese Association]] was to unite the Chinese population in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]], including the protection of the rights and interests of the Chinese, to work with the colonial government to stop the spread of communism and to work with other races to achieve independence for Malaya. The MCA branches had been set up after their campaigns had attracted more than 200,000 members.

On 26 September 1951, he supported Onn Jaafar's idea to form the [[Independence of Malaya Party]] (IMP) in [[Kuala Lumpur]] with co-operation of various races as its theme. However, the formation was choppy, due to the fact that Onn Jaafar was not co-operative on the issue of [[citizenship]].

In the end, Tan decided that only a Chinese party could safeguard the interests of his community and that multi-ethnic co-operation was more likely to be achieved through partnership with [[UMNO]]. With that, the MCA joined with UMNO to form the [[Alliance Party (Malaysia)|Alliance Party]], the precursor to the [[Barisan Nasional]]. However some people do not agree that he acted in best interest of Malaysian Chinese as some felt that the marginalization of Malaysian Chinese would not be so severe had the British continued to rule citing Hong Kong as an example.

In 1952, Tan Cheng Lock and the [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO) under Tunku Abdul Rahman's leadership contested the election as partners. He was best remembered for his contributions in the business and political arenas and his work for integrating between the [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] and the [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]] communities to Malayan society.<ref>[http://www.iseas.edu.sg/private.html "Private Paper"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516134855/http://www.iseas.edu.sg/private.html |date=16 May 2011 }}. (22 September 2002). ''ISEAS''.</ref>

Under Tan Cheng Lock, the MCA played a vital role in negotiating independence from the [[British Empire|British]]; he was also in charge as the MCA formed the Alliance in 1954 in coalition with the [[United Malays National Organisation]] and the [[Malaysian Indian Congress]]. Tan, who was a member of the Malayan Anti-Japanese League, was MCA's first president, but did not enter the cabinet on independence because his rival, Tun H.S. Lee, from [[Selangor]], was part of the cabinet.

Prior to the independence of [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]], he was also a member of the [[Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements]]. In 1952, Tan Cheng Lock and the [[United Malays National Organisation]] (UMNO) under Tunku Abdul Rahman's leadership contested the election as partners. He was best remembered for his contributions in the business and political arenas and his work for integrating between the [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] and the [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]] communities to the nascent Malayan society.<ref>[http://www.iseas.edu.sg/private.html "Private Paper"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516134855/http://www.iseas.edu.sg/private.html |date=16 May 2011 }}. (22 September 2002). ''ISEAS''.</ref>

Tan died of a heart attack on 16 December 1960 at the age of 77. His son, [[Tan Siew Sin]] became the 3rd President of MCA after his death.

==Legacy==

Many tributes were made to Tan, for his contributions to Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite news  | url = http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/15/nation/16326831&sec=nation  | title = A true Malayan nationalist  | work = [[The Star (Malaysia)]]  | date = 15 December 2006  | url-status = dead  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101202230635/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F12%2F15%2Fnation%2F16326831&sec=nation  | archivedate = 2 December 2010  | df = dmy-all  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2007/6/30/central/18139089&sec=central | title = Tribute to a great son of Malaysia | author = Debbie Chan | work = [[The Star (Malaysia)]] | date = 30 June 2007 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070706193435/http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F6%2F30%2Fcentral%2F18139089&sec=central | archivedate = 6 July 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Besides being recognised as one of the founding fathers of modern-day [[Malaysia]], along with Tunku Abdul Rahman, [[Tun Abdul Razak]] and [[V.T. Sambanthan|Tun V.T. Sambanthan]], the street named ''Foch Avenue'', adjacent to the [[Petaling Street]] was renamed ''Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock'' in [[Kuala Lumpur]] after 1957. The former Cross Street was renamed [[Tan Siew Sin]] Street in honour of Tan's son, a former Finance Minister of Malaysia. In [[Malacca]], Heeren Street where Tan's family home and the place of his birth was situated was also renamed ''Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock'' in his honour. In 2002, a school was built at Subang Jaya in the state of Selangor and was named SJKC Tun Tan Cheng Lock.

In April 2005, the [[National University of Singapore]] (NUS) received a private donation of S$4 million from Ms Agnes Tan, the last surviving daughter of Tan Cheng Lock, to acquire a [[Peranakan]] house on Neil Road in Singapore.<ref>{{cite news|first=Parvathi|last=Nayar|title=Cultural philanthropy; Parvathi Nayar looks at the important – but often unnoticed – role cultural philanthropy has played in creating and shaping important public collections in Singapore's growing number of museums|publisher=The Business Times Singapore|date=1 December 2006}}</ref> Another donation of S$1.5 million was made for the purpose of acquiring two other houses on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock in Malacca for the conservation and promotion of [[Peranakan]] architecture and culture in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The house in Singapore was named the ''Tan Cheng Lock [[Baba House]]'', in honour of Tan's strong belief in education.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sandra|last=Davie|title=Daughter of late businessman wants the young to learn the legacy|location=Singapore|publisher=Straits Times|date=8 October 2005}}</ref>

==Honours==

===Honours of Malaya===

* {{Flag|Malaya}}
** [[File:MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg|50px]] Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Defender of the Realm]] (SMN) – '''Tun''' (1958)<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.istiadat.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1958.pdf|title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 1958}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Johor}}
** [[File:Order of the Crown of Johor ribbon bar.svg|50px]] Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Crown of Johor]] (DPMJ) – '''Dato'''' (1949)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/maltribune19490915-1.2.13|title=Tan Cheng Lock To Be Dato|work=[[Malaya Tribune]]|date=15 September 1949|pages=1}}</ref>

===British Commonwealth Honours===

* {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
** [[File:Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon.png|50px]] Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) (1933)<ref name="CBE">{{London Gazette|issue=33898|page=12|supp=y|date=2 January 1933}}</ref>
**[[File:UK King George V Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] [[King George V Silver Jubilee Medal]] (1935)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitsbudget19350530-1.2.91|title=KING'S JUBILEE MEDAL AWARDS IN MALAYA|work=[[Straits Budget]]|date=30 May 1935|pages=16}}</ref>
** [[File:Order of the British Empire (Civil) Ribbon.png|50px]] Knight Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (KBE) – '''Sir''' (1952)<ref name="KBE">{{London Gazette|issue=39421|page=24|supp=y|date=1 January 1952}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef
| before = Party newly found
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Malaysian Chinese Association|Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) President]]
| years = 27 February 1949 – 27 March 1958 
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Lim Chong Eu]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1960 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Malacca]]
[[Category:Malaysian anti-communists]]
[[Category:Malaysian Buddhists]]
[[Category:Peranakan people in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Presidents of Malaysian Chinese Association]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Hokkien descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Raffles Institution alumni]]
[[Category:Malaysian political party founders]]
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[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Malaysian independence activists]]