The Author seeks to trace his roots from the time the grandfather,
Yong Koon (Seong) (born in 1871, China; came to British Malaya in
1885 to join his two brothers to work as tinsmiths in Kuala Lumpur,
Yong Koon went back to China to seek a wife; married Loh Pat but
left when she was with child in 1905. In 1911, he went to China to
bring back his wife and first born son, Peng Pow, the father of the
author. Another three sons were born, Peng Sin (1914), Peng Kai
(1915) and Peng Seong (1923). Initially Yong Koon and his family,
stayed with his brothers and families at their shop at Cross
Street, Kuala Lumpur. Later, the grandmother, a shrewd and frugal n
businesslady; saved enough to buy a 2 storey shop house at 219 Pudu
Road which the whole family moved to. Peng Pow was a good student
who studied in MBSKL in the early years but tranferred to Kajang
High School where he sat for his Junior Cambridge Exams in 1922.
Basing on his good scores; he and another classmate, Justice Tan
Sri Datok Yong Shi Meow was asked by the school to sit for the
Queen's Scholarship exams in 1924. Both were successful and offered
scholarships to study in the United Kingdoom but they had to buy
their own steamboat tickets to UK. Unfortunately, PP's parents
refused to give him the money for the ticket as they expected him,
being the first born son and out of filiality; should stay behind
to look after the parents and his 3 younger brothers. Instead the
parents gave him money to start an English language bookstore in a
small room at the corner pawnshop along Yap Ah Loy street. Phoenix
Bookstore catered mainly for English businessmen, planters and
returning soldiers serving in British Malaya then. By accident, an
English businessman; aware that PP's father and uncles were
tinsmiths, suggested that he should experiment with the manufacture
of pewter ware such as beer mugs, cigarette cases, candle holders,
vases ect. for export to England and Europe where these were in
demand and expensive. After successfully producing some prototypes
samples; orders poured in and Malayan Pewter Works which PP
started; moved to 219.By then, PP already married to his child
bride (bought into the Yong family in 1917) had 4 older children
(Woon Yin, Poh Seong, Siew Yin and Poh Fah). With the assitance of
the 3 younger brothers; business picked up and PP even paid for the
weddings of the two older ones. However; sometime in 1935; PP took
a second wife and in 1939 told the father and brothers that he was
moving away to a bigger premise at 4th Mile Cheras Road as his
family was increasing and business expanding . After a heated
argument with his father and brothers (Loh Pat already dead); PP
and his two wives and 12 children, were asked to vacate the
patriach home of Yong Koon, just after the fullmoon of the author.
Not long after; Japan attacked Malaya on 10 Dec. 1941 and occupied
Malaya and Singpore on 15 February 1942. Tragically, PP was
murdered just 6 months or so before Japan surrendered after the
dropping of the two atomic bombs on Horoshima and Nagasaki on 6 th
and 8th August 1945. The author's mother, a widow with nine
fatherless children; was totally devasted, penniless, disdraught
and through sheer endurance, tremendous hardships, sacrifices and
deprivations; finally saw her second last child (the author)
graduate as an engineer in 1966 supported by scholarships in school
and university.
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