Chan Wing (1873–1947) is a

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

businessman in colonial Malaya. He is notable as the developer and owner of what later became the first generation National Palace of Malaysia.

Early life

Chan arrived in Malaya at the age of 14 with his brother, Loong. They worked at a

tin mine Tin mining began early in the Bronze Age, as bronze is a copper-tin alloy. Tin is a relatively rare element in the Earth's crust, with approximately 2 ppm (parts per million), compared to iron with 50,000 ppm. History Tin extraction and use can ...

Sungai Besi Sungai Besi (formerly known as ''Sungei Besi'') (English: Steel River) is a town and suburb within the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. It was also a federal constituency in Kuala Lumpur from 1974 to 1995. Sungai Besi was a historical mining ...

in southern

Kuala Lumpur , anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera'' , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia , pushpin_map_caption = , coordinates = , sub ...

, but Loong was unable to cope with the harsh working conditions and returned home after a year. Chan Wing continued to work many jobs, including as a shopkeeper for two of

Loke Yew Loke Yew (), born Wong Loke Yew, CMG, LL.D. (1845–1917) was a Chinese-born, of Cantonese descent, business magnate. During his lifetime, he played a significant role in the development of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fath ...

's shops in Sungai Besi. At the age of 24, he formed a syndicate with four of his clansmen, including

Cheong Yoke Choy Cheong Yoke Choy, JP, OBE (; 16 July 1873 – 26 May 1958) was a famous philanthropist during the British Malaya era. During his lifetime, he became one of the early developers of Kuala Lumpur, together with several prominent figures from th ...

, to investigate tin ore next to

's Sungai Besi mine. The syndicate, Hong Fatt Tin Mine, became the largest open cast tin mine in the world and made Chan a millionaire. It is today the site of The Mines Resort City. Chan also ventured into rice and rubber, and with fellow ''towkays'', founded

Kwong Yik Bank RHB Bank Berhad (), formerly known as RHB Sakura Merchant Bank Berhad, is a Malaysian bank based in Kuala Lumpur and founded in 1994. It is a subsidiary of RHB Capital Berhad, which is one of the largest banks in Malaysia. RHB Bank has over 1 ...

in 1913. He chose to live permanently in Malaya, and as an act of defiance against the Manchu government he cut off his

queue __NOTOC__ Queue () may refer to: * Queue area, or queue, a line or area where people wait for goods or services Arts, entertainment, and media *''ACM Queue'', a computer magazine * ''The Queue'' (Sorokin novel), a 1983 novel by Russian author ...

Residence

In the 1920s Chan Wing built a mansion at Petaling Hill in western Kuala Lumpur for his family of 10 wives and 26 children. Designed by the architecture firm ''Swan & McLaren'', it was completed in 1929 and came to known as ''The Big House''. It was perhaps the biggest house in town at that time. Chan Wing's family was able to flee the country during the Japanese occupation in 1942 and the mansion was made the residence of the Japanese Governor. After the war, it was commandeered by the British. In 1950, it was rented to the

Selangor Selangor (; ), also known by its Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 Malaysian states. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east ...

state government as a second palace for the Sultan of Selangor. Upon Malayan independence in 1957, the mansion was sold to the Malayan government and became the Istana Negara, functioning as such until 2012.

References

{{Authority control 1873 births 1947 deaths Malaysian people of Chinese descent Chinese emigrants to British Malaya