Teochew kangchu, Tan
Hiok Nee (1827 – 1902), the leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi of Johor, was such a significant personality in the pioneering
era that a road in Johor Bahru’s heritage quarter was named after him.
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Datin Patricia Lim [Seated Centre] with Derrick
Tan [Seated Right] John Ang, Steven, Suzanne
and Sheryl [Standing Left to Right]
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Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is a road that
runs parallel to Jalan Ibrahim and Jalan Dhoby. The OCBC Bank – the bank for
Johor’s pioneer overseas Chinese – marks one end of the road while the opposite
end of this road faces HSBC – a bank with its roots in Hong Kong and
Shanghai.
Tan was responsible for
transforming this kongsi or society, from a quasi-military
revolutionary brotherhood into an organisation of kangchu or
river lords and revenue farmers for pepper and gambier, the first economic
crops in Johor.
A trusted friend of Sultan Abu
Bakar, he was appointed Mejar Cina of Johor, a governmental position created
for him, as well as a member to the Council of State to represent the Chinese community in Johor.
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A road sign for Jalan Tan Hiok Nee
in the heritage quarter
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When
the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum was opened in 2009, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee,
one of the two roads that border this museum, was declared a Heritage Walk by
the then Johor Menteri Besar.
In
view of this, the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk committee was formed
to organise and curate interesting weekend cultural events at the Heritage Walk.
As these weekend cultural events
started to attract more visitors to the heritage quarter, the nearby streets
gradually transformed into a hip and happening heritage destination that became
popular with both local and foreign visitors.
To celebrate its identity as a
significant heritage destination in the city, the Johor Baru City Council
(MBJB) endorsed the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua (Chinese) Association’s plan to build
two arches at opposite ends of the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.
Completed in 2013, the twin
arches beautifully complimented the paved road while the charming heritage
identity of this quarter, attracted self-motivated young people to start
businesses here.
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Holding up books on Tan Hiok Nee and his
family published for the Tan family
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I
first learnt about the Tan Hiok Nee Bicentennial Celebrations in June 2025 when
Derrick Tan, a member in the fifth generation of Tan Hiok Nee’s family, reached
out to me by email to My Johor Stories.
Through
an email exchange, I soon discovered more about the plans for this Bicentennial
Celebration to mark the birth of Mejar Cina Tan Hiok Nee in 1827.
Derrick
introduced himself as part of the planning committee for the celebration
planned to take place in the middle of 2027, in Tan’s hometown in China as well
as in Johor Bahru and Singapore.
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Datin Pat [Seated Left] looking at old photos
documented in the Tan family books
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Derrick
was helping to compile information to write a book about Tan Hiok Nee and
launch it during the Bicentennial Celebration. To do this, he was reaching out
to Datin Patricia Lim and me, in a quest for historical information about Tan’s
life in Johor.
He
was aware that Datin Pat (as she is fondly called) is the great-grand-daughter
of Johor pioneer, Wong Ah Fook, and he even explained the link as to how he was
also related to the Wong family by marriage.
As
we know, Datin Pat is a historian by profession and she has authored a
number of well-researched books on Johor as well as on Wong Ah Fook. Derrick
told me he has her book on Wong Ah Fook and that his Aunt Florenz fondly
remembers her.
Along
with his email, Derrick attached the draft plans for my info and to share with
Datin Pat. This outlined some of the exciting plans they have arranged to host
in Singapore – which would be replicated in Johor Bahru, where possible.
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Reference books on Tan Hiok Nee
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In
addition, he sought my help to connect with a group in Johor Bahru who could
help with organizing the celebration plans here. This would include street
decorations in the heritage quarter, a special curation of exhibits in the
Chinese Heritage Museum as well as a tour of some historic places in Johor
Bahru in a heritage walk or tour.
He
also enquired about present-day Mejar Cina Dato David Wong, so I was pleased to
provide Derrick with his contact details, that of the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua
Association as well as the Teochew Association in Johor Bahru. I also shared
with Datin Pat, the draft plans and all the details of my correspondence with
Derrick.
After
I heard from Derrick, I received separate message from John Ang, who introduced
himself as a descendent of Mejar Cina Tan Hiok Nee, on his maternal side. He said
that he was in charge of the Entertainment and Performances for the
Bicentennial Celebration dinner party.
John
had stumbled upon what I had documented in My Johor Stories about a
musical drama that was performed as part of the Johor Arts Festival in 2011.
Titled,
Bumi Berlantai Permata or The Bejewelled Land, this musical drama
showcased a historical piece that featured prominent personalities in the
pioneering era in Johor, that included a role as Tan Hiok Nee.
While
this show was part of the annual Johor Arts Festival, it was so well received
that in 2019, it was performed again as a Royal Command Performance on the occasion
of the Johor Sultan’s official birthday/coronation day.
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Recommended resource materials
for relevant information
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Organized
by the Johor Society for the Performing Arts (JSPA), founded by Yap Siong Cheng
and his wife, Suzie, the Johor Arts Festival was presented annually for 15
years. With the sudden passing due to illness, of Suzie in October 2019 and Yap
in March 2021, the Johor Arts Festival came to an abrupt end.
I
had to explain to John that this musical drama involved a whole cast and crew,
and it was a challenge to unite them again for a performance. It was, however,
not a dead end yet as I had an idea to get in touch with the director of this
production.
Meanwhile
in April 2025, I connected with Tan Ngiap Joo (TNJ), former General Manager of
OCBC Sydney, who has since retired and lives in Singapore. He is familiar with
my cousin, Malcolm, who worked with him in OCBC Sydney.
When
my cousin talked to TNJ about My Johor Stories, he was keen to have his
own set of the trilogy of my books. After he received my books, TNJ was in
touch with me to chat about what he found interesting or amusing. In the course
of our chit-chat, TNJ mentioned that he was a descendant of Tan Hiok Nee.
So
when I told TNJ that recently, Derrick Tan and John Ang got in touch with me
regarding the Bicentennial Celebrations for Tan Hiok Nee, he replied, “I know.
They are my cousins!”
It
was November 2025 when Derrick sent another email to let me know that he was in
touch with the Chinese Associations in Johor Bahru and awaiting their
confirmation of appointment to meet here.
He
also proposed to meet with Datin Pat and I, during his visit to Johor Bahru on
a particular date in December when they will meet with the Chinese Association
people. On this visit, he would be accompanied by his wife, Sheryl and his
cousin, John, who was part of the planning committee.
Closer
to that date, he extended an invitation to Datin Pat and I to join them for
lunch before the meet-up to talk about the celebration plans in Johor Bahru.
When
we met at the restaurant, we were introduced to Derrick and John from the fifth
generation while their niece, Suzanne Ng, was of the sixth generation in the
Tan Hiok Nee family. Suzanne was accompanied by her husband, Steven.
They
brought along books published by the Tan family on Tan Hiok Nee and his family,
complete with old photographs that they had collected and compiled over the
years.
As
they turned the pages, Datin Pat, who grew up in Singapore, was familiar with
some of the people and places that were in the photos and remembered some of
their mutual relatives. As they discussed who’s who among their relatives, they
figured out how Derrick and Datin Pat were related in the Wong Ah Fook family.
They
were also curious about how Derrick and I may be related because Datin Pat and
I have a shared family tree – albeit a bau bacang link – so I briefly
explained our family ties, which I had documented briefly in, My Johor
Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.
The
Tan family then shared about their planned celebrations, including publishing a
book to commemorate this Bicentennial event. They were very pleased that the
Johor Bahru Chinese Association made them feel very welcome and said that there
were some 25 people in their meeting.
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Issue of Heritage Asia magazine
dated Sept - Nov 2004
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After
lunch, we continued with a discussion with Datin Pat who was an appropriate
source for information to fill in some gaps in the life of Tan Hiok Nee in
Johor Bahru.
She
introduced a number of books which the Tan family could use as reference resources
on Tan Hiok Nee’s life, the early agricultural industry here as well as triad traditions
in a bygone era.
Datin
Pat also showed them an ancient map of Johor Bahru that indicated the area
where the Teochew community had settled and the access to Sungai Segget, the
wonder waterway that linked to the Johor Straits and Singapore.
Incidentally,
a friend who was decluttering her house recently, gave me an old copy of Heritage
Asia magazine dated September-November 2004, an issue which featured articles
on Johor. [She was aware that this was of interest and value to me!]
When
I looked closer, I read that the Guest Editor of this issue was none other than
Datin Pat. When I showed this magazine to the Tan family, they responded with
interest – especially as there was a feature on Tan Hiok Nee inside – and Datin
Pat responded by saying that she has an extra copy which she will give to them.
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The Tan family members learnt more about the
life of Tan Hiok Nee in Johor, from Datin Pat
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Derrick
expressed his appreciation for my help in connecting them with the Johor Bahru
Chinese Association and was pleased with the progress of their meet-up as well
as for our time with Datin Pat.
While
this may be the early stages of their plans for the Tan Hiok Nee Bicentennial
Celebrations in Johor Bahru, I am deeply honoured to be part of this exciting
event, scheduled for 2027.
On
Saturday, December 20, John alerted me with his message that said: “Did you
notice? The Chinese Sin Chew newspapers published an article about our visit.
Thanks to your arrangements.” [I do not read Chinese so I was not aware of
this.]
Later
I read the Google-translated English version of this article he sent me. I was
pleased that the Johor Bahru Chinese Association had documented their meet-up
and was ready to work in partnership with the Tan family to make the Tan Hiok
Nee Bicentennial Celebrations in Johor Bahru, a meaningful and memorable event.
