Lim Nee Soon

Lim Nee Soon (Chinese: 林義順; pinyin: Lín Yìshùn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Gī-sūn; 12 November 1879 – 20 March 1936) was a Singaporean banker and businessman who promoted social and community matters, and was a respected community leader in Singapore. Lim was of Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Chenghai District, Shantou in Guangdong, China.

Lim Nee Soon
林義順
Born(1879-11-12)12 November 1879
Singapore
Died20 March 1936(1936-03-20) (aged 56)
Shanghai, China
Resting placeNanjing, near Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum
Alma materAnglo Chinese School
OccupationBanker, businessman
Spouse(s)Wi Peck Hay (阮碧霞)
ChildrenSons:
Lim Chong Kuo (林忠國)
Lim Chong Pang (林忠邦)
Lim Chong Min (林忠民)
Daughters:
Lim Chek Geck (林積玉, a.k.a. Mrs Oei Tjong Tiong)
Lim Kheng Geck (林瓊玉, a.k.a. Mrs See Bong Him)
Mrs Tan Tuck Hoe (maiden name unknown)
Lim Mui Gek (林美玉)
Lim Lek Gek (林綠玉)
Lim Seok Gek (林雪玉)
Parent(s)Father: Lim Peng Nguan (林炳源)
Mother: Teo Choon Lian (張春蓮)
RelativesMaternal Grandfather: Teo Lee (張理)
Maternal Grandmother: Tan Poh Neo (陳寶娘)
Maternal Uncle: Teo Eng Hock (張永福)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese林義順
Simplified Chinese林义顺
Hokkien POJLîm Gī-sūn
This is a Chinese name; the family name is 林 (Lin).

He was a rubber magnate and was nicknamed the "pineapple king" for being the leading pineapple planter in the region. He was also a banker, contractor and general commission agent. He was the first general manager of the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company Limited, formed in 1908. Nee Soon and Company was formed in 1911.

As a Chinese Peranakan (Baba), he was affectionately known as Bah Soon Pah (Chinese: 峇順芭; pinyin: Bā shùn bā). Bah Soon Pah Road was named after him.

Early life

Lim Nee Soon was born in Kampong Glam, Singapore. His family was from Shantou, Guangdong, China.[1] His father died when he was eight and his maternal grandfather, a merchant, took care of him. Lim was educated in English at the St. Joseph's Institution, and then later, at the Anglo Chinese School.[1]

Career

Lim was one of the pioneers that opened up Sembawang. He served on the Rural Board from 1913 to 1921 and was also appointed a Justice of Peace. In the field of education, he was one of the founders of The Chinese High School and also a member of the Raffles College Committee. He was the President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce for two periods, from 1921-1922, and 1925-1926.

Later life

Lim, along with his uncle Teo Eng Hock, were the leading members of the Teochew clan association Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan, and was a close friend of Dr Sun Yat Sen.

He died on the way home from a trip to China and his embalmed body was scheduled to be brought back to Singapore. However, the Chinese government requested to give him a State burial and so he was buried in Nanjing,[2] near the mausoleum of his close friend, Dr Sun Yat Sen.

Family

Lim married Ms. Wi Peck Hay (Chinese: 阮碧霞; pinyin: Ruǎn Bìxiá) and had 3 sons and 6 daughters. His sons Lim Chong Kuo (Chinese: 林忠國; pinyin: Lín Zhōngguó) and Lim Chong Pang (Chinese: 林忠邦; pinyin: Lín Zhōngbāng) later also became prominent merchants and community figures. One of his daughter, Lim Chit Geck, married Oei Tjong Tiong, son of Chinese-Indonesian Businessman, Oei Tiong Ham.

Legacy

Nee Soon Road was officially named in 1950 by the Rural Board to facilitate postal services. Nee Soon also owned a large plot of land in the area and several roads in this area are named after his business concerns and family members. For example, Chong Kuo Road is named after his eldest son Lim Chong Kuo, and Chong Pang City his second son Lim Chong Pang.

The residential town of Yishun in the northern part of Singapore, is also named after him. Although originally named Nee Soon, the name was subsequently romanized to its current appellation, to reflect the Singapore government's move to use Mandarin over the more popular and unrecognized Chinese dialects prominent amongst local dialect groups.

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References
  1. "MR. LIM NEE SOON". Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. "Lim Nee Soon To Be Buried in Nanking". The Sunday Times. Singapore. 12 April 1936. p. 1.

Secondary sources
  • Lim, How Seng; Lim, Guan Hock, eds. (1987). A Pictorial history of Nee Soon Community. Singapore: The grassroots organisations of Nee Soon Constituency : National Archives : Oral History Department. p. 43.
  • Wakin, Eric (1997). Asian Independence Leaders. Global profiles. New York: Facts on file. pp. 13–16. ISBN 0-8160-3320-X.
  • Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (25 May 2001). "Lim Nee Soon". Singapore Infopedia. Singapore: The National Library of Singapore. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  • "Famous Singapore Chinese Supporters of Dr Sun Yat Sen". Dr Sun & 1911 Revolution. Singapore: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  • "Death [Obituary](Lim Nee Soon)". The Straits Times. Singapore. 23 March 1936. p. 2.
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