Low Yok Lin
Low Yok Lin (1894–1976) was a Malaysian businessman and philanthropist.
Yok Lin had an entry in the "Biographies of Prominent Personalities in Nanyang", a document cited by academic circles as an important resource for historical researchers interested in Chinese figures in Nanyang . (Chinese: 南洋名人集传).[1][2] It consists of a distinguished compilation of Chinese figures in Southeast Asia.
Early life
[edit]Low Yok Lin (also romanized Low Yoke Lin or Lau Yok Lin) (Chinese: 劉毓麟) came to Malaya from China in the early 1900s. He immigrated to Malaya, where he established his life and career.[1]
Forming Malayan Broadcasting Service
[edit]Low established the Malayan Broadcasting Service ("MBS") in 1927, a national media organization. Yok Lin was listed as MBS' founding director in the prospectus of the initial public offering (IPO).[3] The name, Malayan Broadcasting Service was also used synonymously as Radio-Malaya Singapore in 1946.[4]
Other business ventures
[edit]Like other early immigrants[5] to Malaya (the former name for Malaysia), Yok Lin came with nothing. He built his enterprise in diverse industries, such as rubber cultivation. He served as the President[6][7] of the Taiping Chinese Rubber Association, during a period when Malaysia became the world's foremost rubber producer from 1930 onwards. Taiping,[8] situated in Perak, was one of the main producers during this global rubber production surge.[9]
He diversified into other businesses, including tin mining,[1] hardware supply, brick production, and plantation management.[10] He frequently engaged with the press to discuss economic conditions and trends.[11]
Philanthropy
[edit]Low Yok Lin was involved in various philanthropic endeavors. His philanthropic efforts included:
Leadership in cultural and community organizations
[edit]Yok Lin was the founder of the '励德社' (Lì Dé Shè) Society,[1] which translates to 'Society of Encouraging Virtue' or 'Society for Promoting Moral Integrity.' It is often used to refer to organizations or groups that aim to promote and encourage virtuous behavior and moral values in society, and this term is associated with traditional Chinese ethical and Confucian principles.
He also held an active role within the Hokkien Hoay Kuan (Hokkien Association Taiping) and was also the Chairman of the Fujien Association. The members of these organization often tendered to the needs of the early settlers by providing them with essential necessities such as food and lodging until they achieved self-reliance. The Hokkien Hoay Kuan is the second oldest club in Perak and the fifth oldest in Malaysia, with its headquarters situated at No. 290, Jalan Kota, Taiping, Perak.
The Hokkien Hoay Kuan associations primarily catered to the needs and interests of members belonging to the dialect group, who assumed responsibility for the well-being and affairs of their fellow clanspeople who had immigrated from China.[12]
Involvement in charitable causes
[edit]Yok Lin's contributions to various charitable causes included school building funds,[13] art promotions;,[14][15] efforts to provide relief from various diseases;[16] and other similar causes.
Snapshot of newspaper article, 1927 (formation of Malayan Broadcasting Service)
[edit]
Major milestone for Radio Malaya, Singapore
[edit]
Ex-Chairman of Hua Lian High
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Research Article". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ "ABOUT THE BIOGRAPHIES OF PROMINENT PERSONALITIES IN NANYANG (南洋名人集传) AND SITES TO ACCESS THE MATERIAL". Retrieved 31 Oct 2023.
- ^ "The Establishment of Malayan Broadcasting Service Limited," The Straits Times, 4th June 1927". Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Radio Malaya-Singapore". NewspaperSG. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "The Truth About The Chinese Migration To Malaya". 16 January 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Liu Yulin of the Taiping Chinese Gum Association was the president of the Taiping Chinese Rubber Association(太平華人樹膠公會劉毓麟蟬聯正會長 南洋商报) 10 Feb 1952". Malaysian Chinese Paper, Nanyang Siang Pau(南洋商报). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "NewspaperSG-Taiping Chinese Rubber Association Liu Yulin and Huang Jiu are appointed as the president and vice president (太平華人樹膠公會劉毓麟黃九親任正副會長)". eresources.nlb.gov.sg (南洋商报 (Nanyang Siang Pau)). 20 Dec 1949. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Taiping - the historically rich town in Perak, Malaysia". 3 June 2008.
- ^ "EARLY 20TH CENTURY RUBBER DEVELOPMENT". Economic History Malaysia. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "From Years to Abundance(从 "有年到 "丰裕") 2 September 2013". Sinchew ( Chinese Newspaper in Malaysia). Sinchew Chinese Newspaper in Malaysia.
- ^ "The market conditions in Taiping have become increasingly stable, Liu Yulin(太平和豐兩埠市况已日趨穩定劉毓麟與王振相二君)1 March 1934". Nanyang Siang Pau ( Malaysian Chinese Newspaper). Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Hokken Hoay Kuan Singapore Infopedia". Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "Yongwupo Shihua School fundraising construction school building(永梧坡時化學校募捐建築校舍鳴謝) 28 March 1927". SingaporeSG- Chinese News paper in Malaysia-(Nanyang Siang Pau), 28 March 1927, Page 5. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "毫芒雕刻家黃老奮 在太平舉行個展 劉毓麟主持剪綵". NewspaperSG-(Chinese Newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh), 4 December 1955, Page 7. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Newspaper Article-(Sin Chew Jit Poh), 4 December 1955, Page 7". Translation to English on the charitable art cause.
- ^ "英屬British Taiping Fujian Overseas Chinese Relief Fever(太平閩僑之賑捐熱)". Retrieved 25 October 2023.
