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Towkay Foo Nyit Tse (Tze) And Falim House
Towkay Foo Nyit Tse was a clansman of Foo Choo Choon (Known at one time as "The Richest Chinaman in the World"), one of the foremost miners of his day, who employed him when he first came to Kinta in the 1880s. Foo Nyit Tse opened his first mine in 1898 and over the next seven years expanded until he had mines at Chemor, Chepor, Pulai, Tanjong Tualang, Tanjong Malim and Menglembu. He became one of the biggest miners in the State owning 1234 acres of mining land at the height of his career in 1930.
In 1920 Foo Nyit Tse built one of the earliest examples of a self contained housing estate, with a large number of low cost terrace housing and 40 shop houses along Lahat Road between Ipoh and Menglembu. He called it Falim meaning Beautiful Forests. This was on land that once had been owned by Foo Choo Choon, but was given to Foo Nyit Tse as settlement of a debt. Some years later, around 1927, and just across the road, he built himself Falim House, a large mansion where he gave lavish parties and dinners. In the early 1930s he also built a row of shophouses on Togo Street, Ipoh, almost opposite the site of the new Market in Ipoh. Initially the new house incorporated what had been Foo Choo Choon's home at Falim.
Foo Nyit Tse involved himself in the community becoming Vice President of the Perak Confucian Association and a committee member of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Perak Chinese Mining and Planting Association and the Ratepayers Association. He died age 69 on 20 th January 1934. His wealth from tin mining and standing in the community were reflected by the mile long funeral procession. His will stipulated that 50,000 dollars be devoted towards public charities or charitable institutions chosen by the trustees. One such beneficiary was the Perak Chinese Maternity Hospital which could then relocate to seven acres of land in Kampar Road, Ipoh donated by the trust.
To learn about the early beginnings of Falim House, click here.
To read about Togo Street and other Ipoh street names, click here.
To read a brief history of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce, click here.
To read about the Second Perak Chinese Maternity Hospital, click here.