Leong Sin Nam

Leong Sin Nam 梁燊南(1880–1940), alias Leong Sin, Leung Sin, Leong Sin Hee, was a Malaysian businessman. He migrated and settled in British Malaya in 1898. From humble beginnings, he worked hard to become a wealthy tin mine owner in Perak. He was a businessman, an active community leader and a philanthropist. He was a Chinese revolutionary with similar aspirations as Dr. Sun Yat Sen and a strong supporter of the Chinese war efforts during the Sino-Japanese war.

Leong Sin Nam was born on 20 April 1880 in Thai Chook Pau, a village in the district of Mooi Yan (Kaying), Kwangtung Province, south eastern China. He was a Hakka. His other names were Leong Sin, Leung Sin and Leong Sin Hee.

Leong Hin Fook alias Leong Tin Siew, his father, left Kwangtung with the family to settle in Penang in 1883. Leong Sin Nam was only 3 years old and had two younger brothers, Leong Yoon Hee and Leong Lian Hee. China was then ruled by the Ching Dynasty where wars and famines were common. The failed Taiping rebellion led by a Hakka caused widespread misery.

Leong Sin Nam grew up and received his early Chinese education in Penang. He was described as a brilliant and diligent scholar and completed a middle course in Chinese. However his education was interrupted by the death of his father in 1894. Leong Sin Nam then aged 14 years and being the eldest of the three sons took on the responsibility of looking after the family.

In 1896, Leong Sin Nam's mother decided to return to China with her husband's remains (ashes). During the journey she fell ill and died at Swatow. From Swatow, Leong Sin Nam hired a sampan and proceeded to Mooi Yan. Leong Sin Nam held the responsibility of burying his mother and looking after his two younger brothers aged 6 and 10 years old. He had a warm welcome on arrival in Mooi Yan.

Little was known of his teenage life in China. Apparently he led a carefree life and even experimented with opium. Fortunately for him he realised his errors in life early, repented and decided to start a new life in Malaya.

In 1898, Leong Sin Nam at age 18 years returned to Malaya. China was politically unstable. The Empress Dowager was fending off foreign intervention. The Boxer rebellion was crumbling. The Chinese were attracted to British Malaya to work, trade and seek their fortunes in the tin fields. The British policies to increase the labour force to work in the tin mines fielded immigration to Malaya.

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