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The Perak Hokkien Association
The original motive for the establishment of the Association was the need to provide a local burial ground for their fellow countrymen when they passed away. Consequently in 1893 a philanthropist Mr Dai Bu donated 8 acres of land in Gopeng Road, to an informal group who were eventually to form the Association, for this purpose. In 1895 Mr Liu Sheng Cai, an Ipoh Judicial Officer’s Clerk, gathered together some fellow Hock Kean’s to manage the cemetery and associated business. The members of the initial group of Pioneers were: Hu Zi Chun (aka Foo Choo Choon), Dai Bu, Zheng Luo Sheng, Wang Gao Sheng, Guo Zhang Chi, Hu Shao Xiang, Chen Wen Zha and Li Zi Wen.
During 1897, with an $800 loan from Hu Zi Chun, Ji Chen Long and Fu Mao long a further 4 acres was added to the cemetery and rubber trees were planted around it to bring in income. On December 25th 1897, the “Hock Khean Hoey Kuan (Association)” was officially formed, with coverage restricted to the Ipoh area, but no premises of its own.
1907 saw a large fund-raising campaign which netted $8,000 and with this the Association were able to buy No 120 Belfield Street from Mr Kang Yi Shan (a Fu Zhou) who generously offered it to the Association at a cost price of $6,600. The Association had a home!
In 1912, association pioneer, Zheng Luo Sheng called a meeting for all of Perak’s Hock Khean countrymen, the result being the formation of a new enlarged association, “The Perak Hock Khean Hoey Kuan (Association)”, with its headquarters in Ipoh and sub branches in other districts. As a result, the premises at 120 Belfield Street were too small and association pioneer Hu Zi Chun offered the Association his three empty shop lots at 111 to 113 Belfield Street for $6,000. No. 120 was sold, the shop lots bought and the new two storey premises (pictured) were built. They opened on April 29th 1916 and on January 1st 1917 changed the Association name to “Perak Hock Khean Kong Hoey”. That same year the Association bought a shop at the rear of the new premises (No 10 Jalan Katong) and converted it into a Private School.
January 7th 1925 saw the forming of Poi Lam School by the Association. Poi Lam translates literally as “Educate and train Overseas Chinese for a profession”. The school was open to all Chinese and the first classes started on July 7th under the Headmaster Mr Huang Ying. Subsequently, up until the Japanese occupation of Malaya in 1941, the headmasters were: Messrs Hu Wan Li, Hu Wei Fu, Rao De Ren and Zhuang Yi Sheng.
In 1928 the Association under the guidance of Peh Seng Koon and Hu Bing Nan, purchased 12 acres of rubber estate along Tambun Road, which was judged to be too far away and too hilly for a new school, hence it was left to bring in regular income.
From 1941 to 1945 the Association and School were closed and the buildings suffered badly at the hands of the Japanese invaders. However, soon after the Japanese surrender the President Peh Seng Koon revived the Association, set up a women’s section, reopened the School under headmaster Mr Qiu Heng Shan and started night classes for those who had missed their education during the war.
By 1953, a new site was needed for the school and 2 acres of land and a bungalow was purchased by the Association at 13 Douglas Road, Ipoh, today’s site of Poi Lam School. The school vacated its home in the Association buildings and moved into its new premises in 1955. The history of Poi Lam School is a separate entry within this archive.
In 1983 it was decided to rebuild the Association’s buildings, initially as 4-storeys with plans for a further 4 when funds permitted. Ground breaking took place on March 8th 1984 and the new building, square, functional, but without the attraction of the old buildings, was occupied in stages. Final completion of the building took place in 1988. It remains the Association’s headquarters today (2008).
To read more about Zhen Luo Sheng, click here.
To read more about Foo Choo Choon, click here.
To read more about Poi Lam Private School, Ipoh, click here.
To read more about Dato Peh Seng Koon , click here.