IMR455 - FINDING AIDS

Tan Cheng Lock
Malaysian
businessman

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:
FINDING AIDS PROJECT
“Tan Cheng Lock”

Prepared by:
A’INUR MAISARAH BINTI KHAIRUL FAIZIN (2020441418)

BIBIANA UDIN (2019416682)
MUHAMMAD MIRZA ZAHIRUDDIN BIN ABD AZIZ (2020448894)

NORAQILAH AMIRUDDIN BAKI (2020465396)
WAN NUR SAKINAH MOHAMAT ZAKI (2020501861)

Prepared for:
DATIN JANNATUL IZA BINTI AHMAD KAMAL

MR KAMARUL AZWAN BIN AZMAN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, in the name of Allah, the most gracious and forgiving. We
would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Allah SWT for providing us with
the patience, strength, determination, and courage to complete this assignment
successfully. The success and final outcome of this assignment required a lot of
guidance and assistance from many people and we are extremely fortunate to
have their help in completing this work. Whatever we have done is only due to
such guidance and assistance and we would not forget to thank them. We would
like to thank both of our lecturers for providing us all the support and guidance
which gave us the ability to complete the assignment on time.

Our gratitude and appreciation also extended to our parents and fellow
classmates, who assisted us with their helpful useful advice, cooperation, and
stimulating remarks, which were extremely beneficial for this task. We also like
to express my regret for any errors or missions in completing this task. Finally,
we are delighted if this assignment would be beneficial to others.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

This finding aids flipbook is prepared for academic purposes only and it is also to
assist the students in retrieving the archival materials from OFA especially
materials that are related to political archives. Not only that, this flipbook is solely
focusing on Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Besides that, all the materials including images
of the political figure, Tun Tan Cheng Lock is obtained from the Online Finding
Aids (OFA) website of National Archives of Malaysia (NAM).

Furthermore, this finding aids is also aim to help the researchers to obtain
information and related materials from the available platform that has been
provided by the National Archives of Malaysia (NAM) through the Online
Finding Aids (OFA).

Lastly, by using the OFA website, the researchers can get more reliable resources
that can help them in conducting their researches.

INTRODUCTION

As we all know, there are various types of archives. Archives are records
that are not necessarily non-current, as long as they have continuous
importance and must be permanently preserved. Business archives,
national archives, personal archives, school archives, and so on. Our
group will discuss about the political archives in this project. Tun Tan
Cheng Lock is the political archive that we have chosen. He was a
Malaysian nationalist and the MCA's founder. From 1923 to 1934, he
was an unofficially membership of the Straits Settlements Legislative
Council, and from 1933 to 1935, he was an unofficial member of the
Governor's Executive Council. He was well known for his achievements
in business and politics, as well as his efforts to integrate the Chinese
and Indian communities into the emerging Malayan society.

ABBREVATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER 1: EARLY LIFE AND
FAMILY

Tun Tan Cheng Lock was a prominent member of the Chinese community
in the Straits, and as the first elected president of the Malayan Chinese
Association (now the Malaysian Chinese Association) or MCA, he was
one of the men who assisted in the independence negotiations and on
behalf of the Malaysian Chinese population. He makes a substantial
contribution in the fields of education, politics, and social welfare.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock was born on Hereen Street in Malacca on April 5,
1883. He was awarded the Tan Teck Guan scholarship for being the top
performer at Malacca High School. He taught at the Raffles Institution
from 1902 to 1908. After leaving the institution, he went to work for the
Bukit Kajang Rubber Estates as an assistant manager.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock went on to work for the Malacca Pinda Rubber
Estates, Ayer Molek Rubber Company, and the United Malacca Rubber
Estates, among others. From 1912 until 1922, he served as a Justice of the
Peace in Malacca and then as the Commissioner for the Municipality of
the Town and Fort of Malacca.

Accession number:
2001/0026745W

CONT: EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY

Tan Cheng Lock was a Baba-Chinese who landed in Malaya in
1771 with his ancestor Tan Hay Kwan. He was the third of seven
brothers and sisters in his family. His great grandfather migrated to
Malacca from China in 1771, making him the fifth generation of
Chinese Malaysians.

Tan Choon Bock's grandpa founded one of Malaya's first
steamship firms. Tun Tan Cheng Lock was a teacher of English
language and literature at Raffles Institution in Singapore before
starting on a successful career as a rubber planter. He was well
educated and well read in both Western and Chinese political
theory.

Accession number: United Malacca Rubber Estates, which is still listed on the
2001/0026768W Malaysian stock exchange, was founded by him in 1910. Tan
Cheng Lock's oratorical prowess and high standing within
Malacca's Chinese community, aided by his economic acumen and
marriage to Yeo Yeok Neo, daughter of Malacca's Hokkien
community leader.

He was the father of five children. Tan Siew Sin, his son, was
Malaysia's Finance Minister. Madam Agnes Tan (his last surviving
child), who gave the gift to NUS to honour her father's name. Tan
Cheng Lock was a successful entrepreneur in Malayan rubber,
tapioca, and gambier.

CHAPTER 2: EARLY EDUCATION

Tun Tan Cheng Lock was born on April 5,1883 at Heren Street in
Malacca, he obtain the Teck Guan Scholarship as because he was
awarded as the top performance in Malacca High School and
pursue his education at the Raffles Institution, as a fresh graduate
and a smart student, he was awarded as the top achiever student in
the Malacca High School, after he finish his school, working at the
Bukit Kajang Rubber estate is his first job as a fresh graduate, and
he was picking up his skills of trade quickly and appointed to
visiting agent to Nyalas Rubber Estates in 1909. As he was highly
educated and good at Western at and Chinese political
Philosophies, he became a teacher of English language and
literature at Raffles institutions in Singapore.

Accession Number:
2001/0026741W

CHAPTER 3: POLITICAL
CAREER

Accession number: Tun Tan Cheng Lock was nominated as an unofficial member of
2001/0026748W the Straits Settlements Legislative Council at the age of 40, and
from 1933 to 1935.

He was an unofficial member of the Straits Settlements Executive
Council.

He was an outspoken supporter of social causes such as opium
smoking, Chinese vernacular education, and immigration issues.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock was chosen the first president of the MCA in
1949 and was active in public affairs.

He died of a heart attack on December 8, 1960, in Malacca,
leaving behind a huge legacy and a strong family.

CONT: CAREER OF TUN TAN CHENG
LOCK

Tan Cheng Lock created an Overseas Chinese Association during the
Japanese occupation, which he spent in India, in order to exert some
influence on British postwar planning, though it appears likely that it
was more concerned with economic reparations than with political
problems.

The Malayan Union scheme, which brought the British back to Malaya,
offered a unitary state with a single citizenship.

Tan Cheng Lock was among a tiny group of politically safe persons
who participated in the British-sponsored Communities Liaison
Committee, which was formed in late 1948 to reduce communal friction
and strive toward national unity when the Communist Emergency broke
out in mid-1948.

Tan Cheng Lock was an almost unavoidable choice to lead the Malayan
Chinese Association when it was formed in 1949, first as a welfare
association and then as the first full-fledged, centrist Malayan Chinese
political party.

He remained its president until and after independence in 1957, though
more in a ceremonial capacity.

Accession number:
2001/0026747W

CHRONOLOGY CAREER OF TUN TAN
CHENG LOCK

CONT: CHRONOLOGY CAREER OF TUN
TAN CHENG LOCK

CONT: CHRONOLOGY CAREER OF TUN
TAN CHENG LOCK

CHAPTER 4: RETIREMENT OF TUN TAN
CHENG LOCK

Accession number: Tun Tan Cheng Lock is a Chinese Malaysian businessman and a former
2001/0026765W founder of a political party called Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)

Tun Tan Cheng Lock was the only person that can bring the Malayan
Chinese together when he founded Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)

Not only that, when forming the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA), Tun
Tan Cheng Lock frequently raised the issues regarding the citizenship terms
that were appointed when the Federation established.

In 1958, Tun Tan Cheng Lock announced his retirement from the Malayan
Chinese Association (MCA) after Dr Lim Chong Eu won at the national
assembly

CONT: RETIREMENT OF TUN TAN
CHENG LOCK

A major change has taken place when Dr Lim Chong Eu became the second
president of Malayan Chinese Association after the first founder, Tun Tan
Cheng Lock.

Dr Lim Chong Eu became the second president after defeating Tun Tan Cheng
Lock in the election party by 89 votes to 67 votes.

After being defeated, Tun Tan Cheng Lock announced his retirement in
politics.

Before announcing his retirement, Tun Tan Cheng Lock has suffered from a
severe fall making it hard for him to be a candidate and participate in the
Cabinet.

He went through a major surgery and has been hospitalized for four months.
Not only that, after being hospitalized, he stayed in Malacca for almost fully
retired.

Accession Number:
2001/0026729W

CONT: RETIREMENT OF TUN
TAN CHENG LOCK

Accession number: Before his retirement, Tun Tan Cheng Lock has
2001/0026767W contributed a lot for his people.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock aimed to unite the Malayan
Chinese in Malaya and protect their rights as well as
to work together with the government to oppose
communisms.

Not only that, Tun Tan Cheng Lock founded Malayan
Chinese Association (MCA) to cooperate with other
races such as Malay and Indian in order to gain
independence for the Federation of Malaya.

CONT: RETIREMENT OF TUN TAN
CHENG LOCK

Before the independence of Malaya, Tun Tan Cheng
Lock was a member of the Legislative Council of the
Straits Settlements.

In 1952, Tun Tan Cheng Lock contested in political
election with United Malays National Organization
(UMNO) as a partner.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock’s dream to obtain citizenship for
the Malayan Chinese has finally came true .

When United Malays National Organization (UMNO)
accepts the proposal and include it in the memorandum of
the Alliance to the Reid Commission who was
responsible in writing the Federal Constitution.

Accession Number:
2001/0026735W

CONT: RETIREMENT OF TUN TAN
CHENG LOCK

Accession number: After almost 40 years of being active in politics, Tun Tan Cheng
2001/0028165W Lock died at the age of 77 years old on 13th December 1960 at the
Malacca General Hospital.

Tun Tan Cheng Lock died because of a heart attack and leaving
behind his great legacy. After his death, his son, Tan Siew Sin
became the Malayan Chinese Association’s third president.

Besides that, after his death, Tun Tan Cheng Lock was given a
state funeral by the Malayan government. He was the first Chinese
political to be granted such an honour.

Lastly, Tun Tan Cheng Lock was buried at his birthplace, Malacca
and it is also where his family resides for four generations.

CHAPTER 5: AWARDS AND Accession Number:
RECOGNITIONS 2001/0026730W

Tun Tan Cheng Lock has contributed a lot of his work towards Malaya during
his life. The most notable one, when Tun Tan Cheng Lock contributes in
business and political for his work with the Chinese and Indian in Malaya. He
was also the key figure in Malaya who contributed his life for the welfare,
education, and politics for the struggle community Chinese. He believes that
people of Chinese in Malaya deserve to be a part of race in Malaya because
on how they contribute the economy of Malaya at the time. He also believes
that Chinese community must pledge loyalty to the Malaya. During his life,
he succeeded to bring back the Malaya Independence from British alongside
with Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun V.T Sambanthan right
after United Malay National Organization (UMNO) under Tunku Abdul
Rahman leadership to win the first ever General Election (GE) in Malaya. At
that time, UMNO were alliance with two other political party which are
Malaysian Association of Chinese (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress
(MIC). Nowadays, these people who brought back the Independence from
Malaya is the founding fathers of Malaysia.

CONT: AWARD AND RECOGNITION
(HONOURS)

During his life, he received widely recognition from Malaya and
outside Malaya specifically from Great Britain. In Malaya, he
received his Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the
Realm or in Malay name called “Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara”
(S.M.N.) which bring the title of ‘Tun’ in 1958 by Al-Marhum
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhammad.

Accession Number:
2001/0026743W

He also received the honours for his contribution in politics and welfare for the

people of Johore Chinese community with the gains Knight Commander of the
Order of the Crown of Johor or in Malay name as “Dato’ Paduka Mahkota
Johor” (DPMJ) which bring the title of Dato’ in 1949 by the 22nd of Sultan of

Johor, Sultan Sir Ibrahim Al-Masyur ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Sir ABu Bakar

Al-Khalil Ibrahim Syah. On outside of Malaya, Tun Tan Cheng Lock has

received the recognition from the British Empire that bring him 2 honours

award which are the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in

1933 and he received another honour from British which are Knight

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1952 which bring the
title of ‘Sir’ by the Queen of United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II.

CONT: AWARD AND RECOGNITION
(POLITICAL)

Tun Tan Cheng Lock entered the politics side to bring the spirit of Chinese
Community who lives in Malaysia over a decade ago. Tun Tan Cheng Lock is the
founder of Malayan Chinese Association alongside with Tun Leong Yew Koh and
Kolonel H.S Lee which is now called as Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
and managed to get elected as the first ever President of MCA.

Accession Number: The main purpose of establishing the MCA to act as the charity party for
2001/0026721W
the people of Chinese. During 1949, MCA has helped countless time to the

people of Chinese to unite them from the guerrilla war incident led by the
Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) or in Malay name as ‘Parti Komunis
Malaya’ (PKM). To convince the British that Chinese people do not

associate with the CPM, MCA has located the Chinese community to the

new villages that is safer and farther than the CPM base. In 1951, MCA
has joined a new part which is called ‘Malaysian Independence Party’
(IMP) that is backed by Dato’ Onn Jaafar but the cooperation is broken
down because of Dato’ Onn Jaafar didn’t meet the requirement that is

offered to the MCA. But on 1652, MCA joined the coalition party that is

joined by the UMNO and MIC and won the first ever General Election in

Tanah Melayu. Upon winning the first ever General Election, the coalition

part leaders have requested to the British Empire to gain Independence

from them that lead by Tunku Abdul Rahman. And finally, on 20 February
1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman delegation came back fArocmceLssoinodnonNuanmdbhears:

declare Independence from British Empire date on 31 August 1957.

CONT: AWARD AND RECOGNITION
(RUNDINGAN BALING)

On the same year as Coalition party won the first
General Election, Tun Tan Cheng Lock has joined
the ‘Rundingan Baling’ between Government of
Tanah Melayu and Malayan Communist Party. As his
contribution of ceasefire and surrender to the
Government, Tunku Abdul Rahman has granted Tun
Tan Cheng Lock wishes which is to grant the
Chinese community as a citizenship of Tanah
Melayu. This wish will be included on the
memorandum to Suruhanjaya Reid before the
Independence of Tanah Melayu. Until this day,
Chinese community has regarded as ‘Anak Malaysia’
thanks to the contribution made by Tun Tan Cheng
Lock

Accession Number:
2001/0026736W

CONCLUSION

Accession Number: The conclusion for finding aids of Tan Cheng Lock is, as a Chinese leader,
2001/0026742W his contribution is huge in the effort to lay the foundation stone of unity
for Malaysians, especially for the Chinese. His struggle in defending the
Chinese is huge and should be appreciated and remembered by today's
society his services will remember to the 21st century and to all the Y
generation.

LIST OF ARCHIVAL FIGURES

INDEXES

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Tregonning, K. (1979). Tan Cheng Lock: A Malayan Nationalist. Journal of
Southeast Asian Studies, 10(1), 25-76. Retrieved July 24, 2021, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20070268

Lim, S. (1960). Tan Cheng Lock: His Leadership of the Malayan Chinese. Journal
of Southeast Asian History, 1(1), 29-55. Retrieved July 24, 2021, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20067291

Online, T. S. (2019, December 1). Tan, one of Msia's founding fathers. The
Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2015/01/23/tan-one-of-msias-
founding-fathers.
UKEssays. (November 2018). Biography of Tan Cheng Lock. Retrieved from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/the-background-of-tan-cheng-lock-
history-essay.php?vref=1

UK Essays. (n.d.-a). History Of Tun Tan Cheng Lock History Essay.
UKEssays.Com. Retrieved July 18, 2021, from
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/history/history-of-tun-tan-cheng-lock-
history-essay.php

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Lim, P. P. H., & Cheong, M. (1989). Tan Cheng Lock Papers. Institute of
Southeast Asian Studies.

Yeo, S. S. (1990). Tan Cheng Lock, the Straits Legislator and Chinese Leader.
Pelanduk Publications.

Persidangan Malaya Merdeka Di London. (2018, March 16). PeKhabar.
https://pekhabar.com/h-i-d-s-persidangan-malaya-merdeka-di-london/

Tun Tan Cheng Lock. (279 C.E., July 20). Malaysian Chinese Association.
http://www.mca.org.my/3/Content/SinglePage?_param1=04-072016-1279-07-
201604&_param2=M

Britannica, T. E. (2021, Jun 25). Tan Cheng Lock. Retrieved from Britannica :
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tan-Cheng-Lock

Wikipedia. (2021, July 11). Tan Cheng Lock. Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Cheng_Lock