Koh Lay Huan

Kapitan China Koh Lay Huan (simplified Chinese: 辜礼欢; traditional Chinese: 辜禮歡; pinyin: Gū Lǐhuān; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ko͘ Lé-hoan; died 1826) was a wealthy and educated man,[1] who had earlier rebelled against the Manchu-led Chinese Qing Dynasty and fled to Siam and the Malay States, to eventually settle in Penang as its first Kapitan China.[2] He was a merchant, planter, tax farmer,[3] Chinese secret society headman, and one of a handful of pioneering leaders of Penang.[4]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Koh (Gu, 辜).

Earlier life

Koh Lay Huan was from T'ung-an county,[5] Zhang Zhou Prefecture in the Fujian Province,[6] on the southeast coast of China. At the time, Fujian was at the focus of the activities of Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society), a secret society aiming at the overthrow of the Manchu-led Chinese Qing Dynasty. Having become involved in rebellious activity, Koh Lay Huan was forced to flee to the south part of Siam, where he settled successfully.[7]

He became a close ally of the headman/penghulu of Nakhon Srithammarat (who would, around 1821, marry one of Koh's daughters in Penang).[8][9] Later, encouraged by commercial prospects, he moved to Kedah where he again settled successfully,[7] kept a second family,[10] and became Kapitan Cina of Kedah at Kuala Muda.[11]

Participation in the founding of Penang
Main article: History of Penang

In 1786 Francis Light claimed the island of Pulau Pinang on behalf of the King of England and renamed it Prince of Wales Island. There were only about a hundred Malay fishermen inhabiting the island at that time, but the population would grow fast - to 5,000 in 1789 and 10,000 ten years later.[12]

Koh Lay Huan had a share in that success. Already a shortly time after Light arrived, Koh Lay Huan came to visit him [13] and brought with him, from Kuala Muda, Kedah, several boatloads of Chinese and Malays to clear the land, inhabit, trade and generally develop the island.[14] At their inaugural meeting, Koh presented Light with a present of some fishing nets.[6] In May 1787 Light appointed Koh as the first Kapitan Cina of Penang.[15]

Light respected Koh's canniness, enterprise and social and political acumen and connections. He was recorded to have said about Koh, "Tuanka (towkay) China is an old fox. He has little to do with the government but being rich and having married a daughter of the old King he bears a considerable sway in their Becharas or Council"[16] By appointing Koh Kapitan China, Light had gained an able administrator and judge.

Koh was known as Chewan in official documents.[6] He was also known as Koh Lay Hwan,[17] Cheki,[18] Chu Khee,[19] Ku Li-huan and Patcan.[20]

Today, Koh Lay Huan's original residence has been restored and is now a boutique hotel (The East Indies Mansion) at 25 Lebuh China (China Street) in George Town, Penang.

And Origin of Penang's Municipal Assessments

In 1795, Light's business partner, James Scott, sought representation when it was decided that properties should be taxed, the revenue being needed to fund the police force, maintain roads and ensure cleanliness. It was at this time that Kapitan Cina Koh Lay Huan, his counterpart for the Indian community (Kapitan Keling) Cauder Mohideen, and other prominent members of the community, formed the first Committee of Assessors to decide the rates and collection of taxes (assessments).[21]

Cultivation of pepper in Penang began through the initial effort of Francis Light and Koh Lay Huan.

Koh had been involved with pepper cultivation already long before his arrival at Penang, having had experience in this field both in Phuket and in Kedah.[22] This was facilitated by his being well connected with the English- and French-speaking Sultan of Acheh, Jauhar al-Alam.[4] At the time, Aceh accounted for a large part of the worldwide production of pepper. In 1790 Francis Light sent Koh to Acheh to gather pepper plants for cultivation in Penang.

Koh retained his connection with the Acheh Sultan Jauhar al-Alam and around 1819 helped him to put down a rebellion by Achenese territorial chiefs .[4][23]

Descendants

Koh would go on to found a kongsi. His descendants played a major role in the Penang-Kedah Chinese community for generations.[24]

He had six sons and two daughters by Saw It Neoh, his wife in Penang, and two sons and one daughter by Guan Boey Neoh, his wife in Kedah. His daughter, Luan, the wife of the headman/penghulu of Nakhon Srithammarat, later became the mother of the governors of Phang Nga and Takuapa, who financially supported Khaw Su Chiang's successful tax monopolies in those provinces and who with the support of this powerful lady later became the governor of Rating in 1844.[9]

Koh's eldest son, Koh Kok Chye, was from his Penang wife and was promoted to be the governor of Kuala Kedah (1821–1841).[8][9] Another son accompanied Sir Stamford Raffles to Singapore at its foundation in 1819.[3] Koh Lay Huan's son also served as Raja of Pungah in Ligor, and Agent for the Chau Phya of Ligor.[25]

His famous descendants also include Koh Teng Choon, the planter and Teng Choon's son, Koh Seang Tat who together with Foo Tye Sin operated the successful firm of Tye Sin Tat & Co.

A descendant of Koh Seang Teik (younger brother of Koh Seang Tat) was Koh Lip Cheng and Koh Lip Teng (Queens scholar of Penang Free School).

One more famous descendant of Koh Lip Cheng was Datuk Koh Sin Hock (DSPN, AMN, OBE, JP) who was actively in the Malayan politics under both the British and the Japanese.

Another descendant of Koh was Gu Hongming, a Scottish-educated conservative Confucian cultural critic serving in minor Chinese government positions during the end of the Qing Dynasty.

References
  1. Rites of Belonging: Memory, Modernity, and Identity in a Malaysian Chinese Community By Jean DeBernardi, Jean Elizabeth DeBernardi Published by Stanford University Press, 2004; ISBN 0-8047-4486-6, ISBN 978-0-8047-4486-7; p. 26
  2. The Straits Settlements, 1826-67: Indian Presidency to Crown Colony By Constance Mary Turnbull Published by Athlone Press, 1972; p. 9, 420
  3. Baba Beginnings by Hugh M. Lewis
  4. Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society By Malaysian Branch, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Malaysian Branch, Singapore Published by , 1996; p. 119
  5. Chinese Epigraphic Materials in Malaysia: Collected, Annotated, and Edited by Wolfgang Franke and Chen Tieh Fan By Wolfgang Franke, Tiefan Chen Published by University of Malaysia Press, 1982; Item notes: v.1-2; p. 717
  6. Chinese Business in the Making of a Malay State, 1882-1941: Kedah and Penang By Wu Xiao An, Xiao An Wu Published by Routledge, 2003; ISBN 0-415-30176-9, ISBN 978-0-415-30176-3; p. 28
  7. Zhongguo hai yang fa zhan shi lun wen ji By Zhongguo hai yang fa zhan shi lun wen ji bian ji wei yuan hui, Zhong yang yan jiu yuan San min zhu yi yan jiu suo, Zhong yang yan jiu yuan Zhongshan ren wen she hui ke xue yan jiu suo Published by Zhong yang yan jiu yuan san min zhu yi yan jiu suo, 1984 Item notes: v.5 (1993)
  8. C.S.Wong, A Gallery of Chinese Kapitans (Singapore Government Printing Office, 1964), p.15. and The Burney Papers, Vol. II, Part I (London : Gregg International Publishers, 1971), p. 18.
  9. "The Implication of Penang Connection in Southern Thailand by Phuwadol Songprasert, Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand presented at The Penang Story – International Conference 2002 18-21 April 2002, The City Bayview Hotel, Penang, Malaysia; Organisers: The Penang Heritage Trust & STAR Publications". Archived from the original on 16 November 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  10. The Straits Settlements 1826-67: Indian Presidency to Crown Colony by M Stenson - 1977
  11. Penang Po Leung Kuk:Records and Recollections (1889-1934): Chinese Women, Prostitution & a Welfare Organisation By Neil Jin Keong Khor, Keat Siew Khoo, Izrin Muaz Md. Adnan Published by Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 2004; ISBN 967-9948-32-3, ISBN 978-967-9948-32-5; pp. 15, 21
  13. The Patriarch By Joo Kim Yeap Published by Times Books International, 1984; ISBN 9971-65-150-5, ISBN 978-9971-65-150-3; p. 21
  14. Asian Transformation: A History of South-East, South, and East Asia By Gilbert Khoo, Dorothy Lo Published by Heinemann Educational Books (Asia), 1977
  15. Historical Personalities of Penang By Historical Personalities of Penang Committee, Historical Personalities of Penang Committee Published by Historical Personalities of Penang Committee, 1986; p. 82
  16. Tregonning 1965: 79
  17. Twentieth Impressions of British Malaya, Arnold Wright, 1908
  18. This name appeared in the list of mortgages granted at Prince of Wales Island on 24 February 1795. On 5 August 1794, Cheki, the Chinese Captain mortgaged his pepper plantation at Sungai Kluang to James Scott for 1,300 Spanish dollars with an interest of 12 percent per annum
  19. See the list of Chinese inhabitants residing in Georgetown, Prince of Wales Island, in December 1788. Chu Khee came from Kedah together with 18 members of his family. He was mainly a merchant.
  20. Urban Growth and Municipal Development in Colonial Port-town Penang 1786-1830 by Dr. Nordin Hussin Pusat Sejarah, Politik dan Strategik FSSK UKM [email protected]; The Fourth International Malaysian Studies Conference (MSC4) 3–5 August 2004 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  21. Recipe for rebellion: THE THIRD SPACE By NEIL KHOR and KHALDUN MALIK, The Sunday Star Sunday 3 August 2008
  22. LANDMARKS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA – CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDONESIA. (K.T. Joseph)
  23. The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia By Nicholas Tarling Published by Cambridge University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-521-66370-9, ISBN 978-0-521-66370-0; pg. 260
  24. Chinese Business in the Making of a Malay State, 1882-1941: Kedah and Penang By Wu Xiao An, Xiao An Wu Published by Routledge, 2003; ISBN 0-415-30176-9, ISBN 978-0-415-30176-3; p. 28>
  25. The Western Malay States, 1850-1873: the effects of commercial development on Malay politics By Kay Kim Khoo Published by Oxford University Press, 1972; pp. 67, 209, 239

See also
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