History

About Mr. Cheah Leong Keah JP (1875-1941)

Updated: Oct 2021

Mr. Cheah Leong Keah J.P.


Born in Swatow City (now known as Shantou) in Guangdong South China, Cheah Leong Keah JP was the son of Cheah Chin Seah, a Teochew who had made his way to the settlement of Penang with his family around the turn of the century (date uncertain, late 1870s to early 1900s). 



Mr. Cheah Chin Seah,
father of Cheah Leong Keah


The family business he established was that of a Horse Dealer and General Storekeeper under the chop Chin Hin Brothers at Nos. 50e and 50d Penang Road, and Coach Builder, Saddlery and Harness maker under the chop Chin Seng & Co. at No. 27 Penang Road.

Chin Seng & Co. Limited

It would seem, by deducation based on historical facts presented after scouring many newspaper clippings, that the business was already established as early as 1875 in the Straits Settlement of Penang. By 1905, Mr. Cheah Leong Keah had resumed management of the business and by 1910, Chin Seng & Co., Limited was listed and a first to import motor cars and fire engines to Penang. 

17 September, 1910, The Weekly Sun

The prospectus has been issued of Chin Seng & Company Limited., with a capital of $165,000 dollar shares, 87,500 of which are offered to the public. The directors are Dr. Avetoom, Mr. R.A.P. Hogan, Mr. A. Sarkies, Mr. Kheah Choo Yew and Mr. Cheah Leong Keah. The latter is the vendor and the Managing Director. 

There is a tale that when the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII of England visited Penang, Mr. Cheah Leong Keah took the Prince ceremonially sightseeing in his car. 

29 March, 1912, The Straits Echo:
 
Duke Calling at Penang... 
We hear from a reliable source that Messrs. Chin Seng & Co. have received a wire from Baroness Zolen to the effect that a number of their motorcars are to be kept in readiness for the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, and a Party arriving here from Rangoon per British India steamer Dunera on Sunday next. 

They intend touring by Messrs. Chin Seng & Co. motor cars overland from Penang to Singapore. Messrs. Chin Seng & Co. are now very busy in thoroughly overhauling whatever available cars they have.  

The motorcade below, brings us right to that moment in 1922.




In the company prospectus published in The Straits Echo in September 1910, it was further stated that:

Chin Seng & Company is and always has been under the patronage of several distinguished persons, resident councillors, judges, and consuls and other leading men of all nationalities and is well known for its good and highly finished work as has been justified by testimonials granted by the Hon. R.N. Bland, Ex Resident Councillor, H.H. The Sultan of Perak, Mr Justice Thornton, Colonel R.F.S. Walker at C.MG, Mr P.R. Borger, sometime Consul for the Netherlands; Mr. Eu Tong Sen of Kampar, Mr. Gan Gnoh Bee of Penang, Mr. M. M. Noordin of Penang and many others.

 

The firm has always been carried on upon the footing to ensure high efficiency as the above testimonials will bear out.

 

At the several shows and exhibitions in Penang, it’s works have carried off several prizes and at the agricultural show, 1909, the establishment was awarded six prize medals and certificates of merit for vehicles built by the firm.

 

Its business might almost be said to be a monopoly, as no other firm has so far been able to successfully compete with it. 

 

In 1910, the vendor, Mr Cheah Leong Keah, started the business of Chin Hin & Co. in connection with Chin Seng & Co., and ever since its commencement it has been a success and at present has the sole agency of:-

 

  • The Wolseley Siddeley Motor Cars
  • Messrs. D. Akiha & Company’s Jinrikishas, and the sub agency of:
  • The Asiatic petroleum company’s motorcar, Spirit
  • The Continental Motor Car Tyres
  • Messrs R.S. Hart Brothers’ Horse Fodder.


A requirement of the listing of Chin Seng & Co. Ltd. was for Mr. Cheah Leong Keah JP to remain as Managing Director for a period of three years. From the motor trade, he ventured into rubber planting, establishing Napoh Estate and Chang Loon in Jitra. He amassed land in Transfer Road and Kelawai Road and also a substantial plot of land stretching from Gurney beach to Kelawai Road and part of Burmah Road. He built residential properties and retail shops at Jalan Phuah Hin Leong and in the Pulau Tikus area. By 1928, he built 41 two-storey terrace houses in Bangkok Lane and it was his aspiration that the houses would be for his descendants. The architect responsible for the Western-influenced yet still distinctly Straits Chinese design was Chew Eng Eam. 

Bangkok Lane, Pulau Tikus, Penang
Photo credit: David Cheah



Decorous in manner and conduct, he aided the poor and uplifted entrepreneurs regardless of their race or religion to gain a foothold in business. He was awarded the very rare and highly honoured title of Justice of the Peace by the High Commissioner on behalf of the King in 1937 for his service to the Government of the Federated Malay States.

An active member of the Buddhist community in Penang, he donated graciously to temples and Buddhist associations. His philantropy is evident at the Jubilee Home for the Aged, where a simple photo hangs in the main hall. Mr. Cheah Leong Keah donated 22.5 acres of land for the establishment of the home. 

Excerpt from Silver Jubilee Home For The Aged website: 

The Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged stands proudly today as an impressive household name in Penang. It stretches over 22.5 acres of flat land with eight blocks of cluster units housing 124 rooms, 5 medical wards withover 80 beds, a rehabilitation centre, a physiotheraphy section, a splendid dining hall and 2 kitchens to cater for the Muslim and non-Muslim Residents and a self contained laundry.

Photo credit: Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged

This HOME was established in the year 1935 to commemorate the Silver Anniversary of King George V. The land, situated in Sungai Dua, was donated by the late Mr.Cheah Leong Keah, J.P. for the aged destitute in Penang. 'The Penang and Province Wellesley Silver Jubilee Fund' was then launched to collect funds for the setting up of the HOME. Together the Straits Settlement Government, the Municipal Council of Georgetown and the general public managed to raise about $1,000,000.00 to set up the HOME. Thus in 1936, a Trust Fund was established under the name of " The Penang and Province Wellesley Silver Jubilee Fund "

The Chief Minister, as Chairman and 3 other trustees are the administrators of the Fund, known as the Board of Trustees for the Fund. They are assisted by a 12-member General Management Committee headed by another Chairman whose function is to oversee the general administration of the HOME. They are all appointed into office by the State Executive Council. While the trustees are appointed for life, the members of the General Management Committee are appointed on a biennal basis and their services to be renewed for as long as they are needed by the HOME.

The home in 1970s (Photo credit: Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged)

At the moment, there is the Manager, two assistant Managers, two Matrons, a Finance Officer and other section staff to provide the day-to-day running of the HOME.

Beside the donation of the land by philanthropist, the late Mr.Cheah Leong Keah, J.P., other philanthropists like the late Honorable Khoo Sian Ewe, C.B.E.,O.B.E., J.P., donated 4 cottages in memory of his beloved wife, the late Mdm. Lee Sim Neoh and the Lim Kongsi ( Kew Leong Teong Lim Temple) donated another 4 more cottages. At that time, there was a visiting doctor, Y. B. Dato ' Seri Tan Ewe Aik, who started the clinic with the assistance of a few nurses from the Grey Sisters. He was then also a member of the General Management Committee. In the 1960 Dato' Seri Dr.Tan advised, designed and set up a 25-bedded female medical ward for the sick. Referrals were made to the General Hospital for the resident who needed further treatment.

The HOME spends an average of RM 100,000.00 per month which totaled up to over RM 1 million each year. Through the kind generosity of the general public, the HOME is able to function smoothly even at difficult periods especially at times of recession.



Cheah Leong Keah Hall - 2005 (Photo credit: Silver Jubilee Home for the Aged)
















The State Government of Penang and the Federal Government allocates annual grants to the HOME through the Ministry of Women, Family And Community Development. About 70% of the expenses came from the magnanimous hearts of the general public. The HOME always welcome donations, however small, in kind and especially in cash. 

Interested to donate to the home? Click here: http://silverjubileehome.org/silver_donation.html

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