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Towkay Cheong Chee
Born in China in 1885 Cheong Chee arrived in Malaya with his uncle at the age of 14. He worked as a sundry shop helper and later as a pork seller. Cheong Chee’s mining career began when he agreed to recruit coolies for a local mine owner, Capitan Chung Thye Phin on a profit sharing basis. On his retirement the Capitan sold the 125 acre mine to Cheong Chee who named it the Kwong Yik tin mine. Striking a rich tin vein he prospered until the Japanese Occupation in 1937 when he then involved himself in social work supporting the Chinese war effort.
After the Occupation he restarted his Tanjong Tualong mine, was made Justice of the Peace (JP), by the Sultan of Perak, in 1948, and was elected President of the Perak Mining Association in 1949. Under him the Association formed the Kinta Valley Home Guard to protect miners and workers from Communist threats during the Malayan Emergency. It was funded by the miners and disbanded at the end of 1958 after successfully maintaining the mining operations in difficult times.
He passed away at age 70 after a long illness, leaving his wife, six sons and seven daughters
Some interesting fats about living in Cheong Chee's Mansion, at 272 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh, before and after WWII and the family's experiences during the war, recounted by his granddaughter are in the e-book link below.
To see some photographs of the decaying mansion in 2010, Click here.
To read more about The Kinta Valley Home Guard, click here
To read more about Chung Thye Phin click here.