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Mr Hew Sze Tong Receiving The DPMP Award From Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah
This photograph by Kuan Cheong Photo Studio, shows Mr Hew Sze Tong receiving the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) award, which carries the title of Dato, from Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah, the Sultan of the State of Perak from 1963 to 1984.
This was part of the Royal birthday honours list on the occasion of the 57th birthday of the Sultan in 1981. Subsequently as the Kampar, Perak Member of Parliament he received further awards and at the time of writing this description he is known as Tan Sri Dato Hew See Tong, DPMP, JP, PMP, PSM. Confusion between his names Sze (as on the photograph) and See are typical and depend upon the style of the dialect used or the Hanyu Pinyin equivalent.
Mr Hew Sze Tong, the eldest son of Mr Hew Lan Seng, received his early education in Pei Yuan School (Kampar) and then completed his studies in Shui Bai High School, Mei Xian (a town in Guangdong province of China). He inherited his father’s business and became a partner of a Amang factory in Kampar, several mining companies, banks and a finance company. A famous philanthropist; he was the chairman of the Perak Table-Tennis Association, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Kaying Association, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Tin-Mining Association, and the Director of the Heng Yap Bank.
His mining career began in 1959 in Kampar and Chenderling and by the early 1980s he had about 12 mines operating in the Ipoh area. He was actively involved in the mining associations and their work to address the difficulties met in the operation of gravel pump mines. In 1969, for example, he and Dato Leow Yan Sip worked alongside the authorities ensuring that the pumps operated in the 24 hour curfew introduced by the government.
Although he gave up tin mining in 1989 Hew Sze Tong maintained his commitment to Kampar where his career began. Over three terms as MP he has been successfully promoting the town and lobbying for greater resources to encourage growth and development. He generously donated 50 acres of land to Kolej Tunku Abdul Rahman (KTAR) Perak Branch and RM 5 million to set up the College in Kampar. His plans for the Universiti Tunkul Abdul Raman were key in establishing a fine campus of which the new rejuvenated Kampar can be justly proud.
To read more about the Perak Ka Yin Association, click here.
To read more about Sultan Idris Al-Mutawakkil Alallahi Shah, click here.