20/04/2026
The history of Late Leong Sin Nam, the former president of the Perak Kaying Association.
Leong Sin Nam
Leong Sin Nam, who lived from 1880 to 1940, worked his way up as a mining labourer to own several tin mines and managed several large rubber estates in Perak. A Hakka from the Guangdong province in China, was one of the founders of Perak Kaying Association and had bequeathed his bungalow and land in Ipoh to the association.
He was known for his contributions to charity, education, sports and social institutions in Perak. He was the founder of SJK (C) Min Tet in 1913 in Falim and the SJK (C) Wan Hwa in Menglembu in 1914.
Sin Nam held several posts, including that of a member of the Perak State Council, president of the Perak Chinese Association, president of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce, president of the Perak Kaying Guild, chairman of the Overseas Chinese Mining Association and vice-president of the Khek Community Guild in Singapore.
He was also chairman of the Malayan Chinese Daily News in Kuala Lumpur and managing director of the Perak Chinese Daily News in Ipoh.
Sin Nam had also received various awards, including meritorious service from the Republic of China and the Order of the British Empire conferred by King George VI.
He was a strong supporter of Dr Sun and his successor Chiang Kai Shek in overthrowing Yuan Shi Kai and the warlords after the 1911 revolution in China.
During the second Sino-Japanese War, he was chairman of the Perak Overseas Chinese Distress Relief Fund and he gave cash aid to alleviate the wounded in the war zones in China.
A road in Ipoh and another in the Cameron Highlands were named after Sin Nam after his death.
Source: Grandson desires to honour a patriarch - TheStar Online
Image credit: Alchetron