THE Pinang Peranakan Mansion, once known as Hai Kee Chan in its heyday, today opened its doors for the bicentennial celebration to mark the life of late Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee, who was best known for his philanthropic, mining and entrepreneurship skills.
Chung, who was also the founder and administrator of modern Taiping in Perak, made a sensational return to Penang after his retirement many years ago, and went on to build the famous Pinang Peranakan Mansion.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was the guest of honour during the celebration, said the current Pinang Peranakan Mansion’s location used to serve as Chung’s business headquarters that included operations like tin-mining, revenue farming, contracting and others.
“Today, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion continues to serve as an important cultural heritage for the people of Penang and our future generations.
“The fact that Chung Keng Kwee was a giant of his era needs no further elaboration. He was an inspiring entrepreneur, a charismatic community leader, a very successful businessman, and a generous philanthropist to his fellow countrymen and for worthy causes.
“To put it simply, he was very much a Confucian at heart but embraced the principles, practices and culture of western colonialists of his adopted country at that time,” Chow said during his speech at the Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee’s bicentennial celebration at Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Church Street today.
He also mentioned about how Chung’s imprints are still very much felt in Penang despite his demise 120 years ago.
“He built and donated both Lebuh Keng Kwee and Lebuh Ah Quee to the Municipality. He generously donated funds to the Kek Lok Si Temple, Kwangtung and Teochew Cemeteries, the old temple in King Street, which I visited recently,” he added.
Chow also stated that the legacy and life left by Chung should be a driving force for the people of today to lead their lives despite the varied struggles and challenges in their lives.
“For many of us in Penang, in fact, for all Malaysians who are now facing economic loss and financial difficulties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, Chung Keng Kwee’s extraordinary past accomplishments and how he overcame his difficulties and detractors, can help inspire us all to great things in life.
“Lastly, I wish to congratulate the Chung Keng Kwee bicentennial celebrations organising committee for having successfully organised this dinner event,” Chow added.
Today also marked the launching for the publication of the commemorative magazine to remember the extraordinary and equally remarkable string of achievements in the eight decades which he lived.
Chung was born in a peasant Hakka family in China before journeying through a series of interesting yet memorable life events in other parts of the world.
Also present during the event were state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud