Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from by on 02/09/18. For personal use only.

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3 World Scientific

4 Published by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. 5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite , Hackensack, NJ UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Tan Lark Sye : advocator and founder of Nanyang University / edited by Ong Chu Meng, Lim Hoon Yong, Ng Lai Yang. pages cm ISBN ISBN (pbk) 1. Tan, Lark Sye, Educators--Singapore--Biography 3. Philanthropists-- Singapore--Biography. 4. Nanyang University--History. 5. Education, Higher--Singapore--History. I. Ong, Chu Meng, editor of compilation. LA2383.S552T dc British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Copyright 2015 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher. For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher. In-house Editor: Dong Lixi Typeset by Stallion Press enquiries@stallionpress.com Printed in Singapore

5 Dedication by Tan Lark Sye s Family December 1997 Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from It has been 25 years since our forebear, Mr. Tan Lark Sye left us. Even today, upon the 100th anniversary of his birth, there are still friends who would go through the arduous task of publishing this commemorative anthology. We, his children and grandchildren, are comforted by such warmth that still remains in this world. Our forebear spared no efforts in his self less devotion to humanity, his career, his fellow clansmen, the entire Chinese race and our nation. In addition, we are filled with pride and admiration for his dauntless spirit in the establishment of Nanyang University in the face of adverse circumstances and difficulties. As his descendants, our achievements are incomparable to his monumental achievements. For this, we are ashamed of ourselves. Yet, we sincerely hope that the Nantah spirit that he stirred up will be passed on for perpetuity in this part of the world and shine forth with ever-increasing brilliance. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the individuals and social groups for their concerted endeavour to give birth to this book successfully. v

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7 For the 100th birth anniversary of Tan Lark Sye advocator and founder of Nanyang University: When drinking water, think of the source Inscribed by Pan Shou Dated: December 1997 vii

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9 Portrait of Tan Lark Sye ( ), advocator and founder of Nanyang University. ix

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11 Contents Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from Dedication by Tan Lark Sye s Family When drinking water, think of the source Inscription by Pan Shou Preface Lim Hoon Yong Acknowledgments v vii xv xvii Chapter 1 Sparkle of a Glorious Feat in S.E. Asian Chinese 1 Ong Chu Meng Chapter 2 Mr. Tan Lark Sye Founder of Nanyang University 7 Dictated by Pan Shou, and transcribed by his son Dr. Pan Siying Chapter 3 Tan Lark Sye and the Evolution of His National Identity 13 Choi Kwai Keong Chapter 4 Tan Lark Sye s Passion for Universal Education In Memory of the 100th Anniversary of His Birthday 21 Koay How Khim Chapter 5 The Corporate World of Tan Lark Sye 33 Lim How Seng Chapter 6 The Extraordinary Life of Tan Lark Sye 53 Au Yue Pak xi

12 xii Tan Lark Sye: Advocator and Founder of Nanyang University Chapter 7 Tan Lark Sye and Nanyang University 65 Ng Kim Eng Chapter 8 A Chronology of Tan Lark Sye s Life 87 Tan Yam Seng Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from Chapter 9 Collection of Mr. Tan Lark Sye s Important Speeches Call for the Establishment of Nanyang University Declaration of the Establishment of Nanyang University Sowing the Seeds of Culture in this Wilderness The Status of the Chinese People Before and After the Japanese Occupation Hosting Delegates to the World Youth Congress Call on the Public to Elect Their Assemblymen A Painstaking Report on the Lin Yutang Incident The Proudest Day for the Overseas Chinese Autonomy, Independence and Citizenship for the Chinese A Letter to the Education Minister to Straighten Out the Issue of Academic Degrees Conferred by Nanyang University Salvage Chinese Education and Culture Speaking on the Student Movement Surrounding the Chinese High School and Chung Cheng High School Seeking New Medications for the Tuberculosis of the Rubber Industry The Inauguration Ceremony of Nanyang University May Teachers Be Dedicated Persons of Noble Cause With Ideals, and Students Energetic as Lions and Dragons In Defense of Nanyang University s Ten-Year Plan 202

13 Contents xiii 9.17 The First Graduation Ceremony of Nanyang University Performance and Expectation of Nanyang University Graduates 210 Profile of the Contributors 213 Editor s Note 215 Lim Hoon Yong Glossary 217

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15 Preface Lim Hoon Yong Editor Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from The collection of essays published in 1997 by the Nantah Alumni in commemoration of the centenary of its founder, the late Mr. Tan Lark Sye, will soon be made available in English. I have the honour to be invited to write a preface for its publication. In the words of its chief editor, this English version is aimed at enabling non-chinese educated readers to better understand the background in establishing the Nanyang University in mid-1950s; the Odyssey like journey it has undertaken in its two decades of operation until its eventual shut down in However, in retrospective, the founding of Nanyang University needs to be viewed and re-evaluated in a historical perspective. It is most significant because it opened the floodgates for university education to be made available to a greater number of eligible students irrespective of languages and school backgrounds. University was no longer seen and regarded as the ivory tower. It is also significant because during the period when it was under review, colonial legacy prejudicing against Chinese school turnouts for admission to local university was still prevailing. If not for the Nanyang University, hundreds of Nantah Alumni including the writer would not have been able to receive tertiary education in those days. The many talents of graduates who had advanced themselves in overseas institutions and engaged in scientific and academic researches would have been lost. Equally significant, Nantah was the first University to adopt a credits system in lieu of the academic year system in all its xv

16 xvi Tan Lark Sye: Advocator and Founder of Nanyang University Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from courses of study. This augured well for the University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University to later on convert to the credits system in most of their courses of study. However, notwithstanding the shutdown of the University in 1980, its establishment and eventual closure still remain an issue of concern for those who invariably contributed to its founding i.e. its alumni and the communities that participated enthusiastically in its funding programmes. But, for now, join me to pay tribute to the founder of our Alma Mater, for without him and his commitment, the founding of Nanyang University would not have been possible. On this note I pray for him to rest in peace.

17 Acknowledgments Tan Lark Sye Downloaded from This collection of essays is based on a Chinese book published in 1997, on the occasion of Mr Tan Lark Sye's centenary birthday. The first group of the organisations and people we ought to thank are those who made the 1997 publication possible. Without that Chinese publication, this English edition would not have come into being. For this English edition, we must thank the organisations and those who planned the publication, various editors, authors and proof readers, and those who remained invisible but contributed significantly. In particular, let us mention the Tan Lark Sye family, Nanyang University Alumni Association of Hong Kong, World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd, Pan Shou (Pan Kuo Chu), Lim Soon Tiong, Phua Kok Khoo, Ong Chu Meng, Lim Hoon Yong, Ng Lai Yang, Choi Kwai Keong, Koay How Khim, Lim How Seng, Au Yue Pak, Ng Kim Eng, Tan Yam Seng, He Hua, Jimmy Low, Dong Lixi, Yam Siew Khim, Gan Kok Koon, Wei Yu Hui, Leck Kim Koon and Siw Ming Mei. xvii

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