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The Independence Obelisk at Dataran Pahlawan. |
THEIR first meeting remains forever etched in his memory.
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| Datuk Tan Cheng Swee |
And it was this first meeting that paved the way for Datuk Tan Cheng Swee’s education and entry into the MCA and politics.
It was 1929 and Cheng Swee was a frightened 8-year-old about to meet the revered Tun Tan Cheng Lock who was a close friend of his father, Tan Boon Tam. The meeting was out of necessity as Cheng Swee was over the age for admittance to an English school, but his father was adamant he entered one.
"I was so frightened of him as he was a no-nonsense leader even then," said Cheng Swee, now 86.
Cheng Lock agreed to help, but on one condition — he had to produce good results in his first year in school. Cheng Swee kept his promise.
After enrolling in the Bandar Hilir English School, he managed to secure first place in all three exam terms and got a double promotion.
It was 22 years later that Cheng Swee bumped into Cheng Lock again. The meeting took place at a party and Cheng Swee went up to Cheng Lock and introduced himself.
"I thanked him and told him he was the one responsible for my entering an English school. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was looking after my father’s estate.
"He said that was not enough and he asked me to join the MCA. Naturally, I took his advice," said Cheng Swee who went on to serve the party, state and country admirably.
Cheng Swee served MCA as a vice-president (1970-1976), treasurer-general (1968-1976), Malacca state chairman (1963-1976) and as a commissioner of the Malacca Municipality (1967-1976). He was also acting chief minister of Malacca on four occasions (1961, 1963, 1967 and 1973).
Cheng Lock had sized up the young man correctly. After that second meeting, Cheng Swee built a friendship with Cheng Lock’s son, Siew Sin.
For the federal elections in 1955, Siew Sin stood for the Malacca Tengah Federal Legislative Council seat with Cheng Swee as his election agent.
In the state elections soon after, Cheng Swee stood for one of the eight Malacca state seats and Siew Sin became his election agent.
"Siew Sin won his seat and I was returned unopposed. We were very close because of MCA and because we were both representatives of the people," said Cheng Swee.
One of Cheng Lock’s traits that Cheng Swee remembers best is that he seldom carried money with him.
"There was one occasion during a visit to a temple where he was approached for a donation and he didn’t have any money with him.
"He asked me to settle the matter first but the very next day, he asked his clerk to reimburse me the money."
Cheng Lock was a fifth-generation Baba from Malacca who hailed from a well-to-do family of traders and shipowners.
He was born on April 5, 1883, at Jalan Heeran, Malacca, and died on Dec 13, 1960.
He received his early education in Malacca High School and took up teaching at the Raffles Institution from 1902 to 1908.
He was an eloquent speaker and as a member of the Federal Legislative Council, he would always speak out for the benefit of the people irrespective of race or creed.
On Feb 27, 1949, Cheng Lock founded the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) with other leaders such as Leong Yew Koh and H.S. Lee.
Despite being wealthy, Cheng Lock acquired a reputation for being frugal, something his only son Siew Sin also inherited, said Cheng Swee.
But what Cheng Swee remembers most about Cheng Lock was the role he took after the declaration of Emergency on June 16, 1948.
"The British forced many Chinese to return to China, but Cheng Lock opposed this very strongly saying not all Chinese were communists. He argued that the economy of the country would also be affected if all the Chinese were sent back to China,"
Cheng Swee also remembers Cheng Lock’s part in helping Chinese obtain federal citizenship, explaining through the MCA and the radio the importance of citizenship.
"Although he championed the cause of the Chinese community, he was never an extremist, but always held moderate views and opinions which were acceptable by others. He was also well regarded by the British colonial government and other local communities, especially the Malay leadership.
Although Cheng Lock could not speak Mandarin, he was culturally and spiritually a true Chinese, said Cheng Swee.
-NST-
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