1933 - 2015
Mister
Lim Ching Chuan
林清泉
Born
23 March 1933
Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Died
26 November 2015
Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Occupation
Business Owner
Spouse
Madam Ng Tee
Children
7 including Lim Hoi Seng
Nationality
Malaysian
Race
Chinese
Ethnicity
Hokkien
Ancestry
Resting Place
Religion
Member
记得我，我所有的故事
Lim Ching Chuan (Chinese: 林清泉; pinyin: Lin QingQuan; Hokkien : Lim Ch'ng Juan; 23 April 1933 - 26 November 2015) was a citizen of Malaysia, residing at Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. He was a Malaysian Chinese businessman and entrepreneur, running a motorcycle repairing shop in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. He was born in Malaysia, but a descendent of Fujian, QuanZou, Anxi. China. Better known as Lim Ah Tao among the family members, he was brought up in a Hokkien speaking family.
Lim ( [lǐn]; Chinese: 林; pinyin: Lín) is the Mandarin romanization of the Chinese surname written 林. It is a common surname used in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan.
It is pronounced as Lim because many Chinese descendants are part of the Southern Min diaspora and speak Min Nan, Hokkien or Teochew. In Cantonese-speaking regions such as Hong Kong and Macau it is spelled as Lam or Lum.
It is listed 147th on the Hundred Family Surnames. Within mainland China, it is currently the 18th most common surname.
The Hokkien (/ˈhɒkiɛn/) variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan 闽南 region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in Taiwan, and it is also widely spoken within the Chinese diaspora in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Born in 1933 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. Lim Chin Swee was the only child in his family. His father Lim Mao came to Malaya during early 20th century. Originally residing in Hulu Kelang, Lim was born into a wooden house, built by his father in the early 30th century, a 2200 Square Feet single storey wooden house sitting on a land of 6500 Square Feet. The land was under the lease of The city hall of British Government. He then moved to Jinjang New Village during Malayan Emergency for safety, a wooden house built on a land of 3200 Square Feet. It was then he met his wife Ng Tee, his neighbor. In Jinjang New Village, they gave birth to six children until they moved to Pekeliling, next to Titiwangsa, when 13 May incident happened. In the later year, Lim eventually moved to Wangsa Maju Sek 10 and resided there until his death.
Lim Chin Swee's father, Lim Mao came to Malaya during early 20th century, originally residing in a mountainous county in southeastern Fujian province, China. Lim Mao was born into a rustic environment in a village. During that time, China was in a period of turmoil and unrest after the 1911 revolution, but life was relatively sheltered for Lim in the village. However, disaster struck and his father died when he was very young. Lim Mao and his brother Lim Kiu was forced to take up their responsibility as the head of house, as young as 18 year old and 22 year old.
As China's situation was becoming worse, Lim Mao and his brother decided to take the plunge in venturing out to Malaysia (known as Malaya at that time) following in his cousin footsteps. He left China through Xiamen in early February 1927 at the age of 19. He worked for his uncle as a carpenter in the first two years, learning the Malay language in the meantime. After gaining experience he went on to become a painting sub-contractor and completed his first job of painting a suspended bridge in Kuala Lumpur. He died in the young age of 35, and was survived by his son Lim Chin Swee. Lim Kiu, his brother raised Lim Chin Swee as his own until his death in 1968.
The Japanese invaded Malaya in 1942 and caused Lim to have a few near-death experiences. During the early Japanese Occupation, he earned a living by collecting scrapped metal but decided to follow his uncle footsteps as a painter sub-contractor. When the Japanese Occupation ended, there was an urgent demand for heavy machinery for resumed operations in mines and rubber plantations. Lim seized the opportunity and begin his career as bicycle repairman outside the rubber estate, in Guang Chien Village, Gombak.
From repairing damaged and used bicycle, Lim strayed into trading second hand bicycle with the villagers. While dealing in light machinery, Lim accumulated a wide range of reconditioned machines as well as a substantial amount of cash to move into starting his own business in trading new bicycle.
On 16 June, the British government declared a state of emergency after three European planters were murdered by Communists in Perak state. The police were given sweeping powers of arrest, and punishments including the death penalty could be administered without an ordinary trial. In the two weeks, the party was declared illegal on 23 July. Party militants regrouped in the jungle as the Malayan Peoples' Anti-British Army (MPABA). During this period the MCP engaged in intimidation, including assassination, of civilians with the aim of coercing material aid, information, and silence. On 1 February 1949 the MPABA changed its name to 'Malayan Peoples' Liberation Army' (MPLA) and The party began to campaign for a Peoples' Democratic Republic of Malaya, which included Singapore.
To prevent peasants, particularly squatters, from aiding the guerrillas, the British commenced relocation, which became a major component of British strategy under the Briggs Plan of 1950. By the mid-1950s about 500,000 people (roughly 10% of Malaya's population) had been moved into compounds, termed 'New Villages', which were surrounded by high barbed wire fences and guarded by police.
Lim was then moved to one of the new village named Jinjang. It was there he met his late wife, Ng Tee, and given birth to 6 children. Lim and family has been residing there since after the British government left Malaya. In Jinjang, he started to repair motorcycle and eventually retire in his 60s.
Lim moved to government house in Pekeliling, during early 60s. And then moved to Wangsa Maju living with his eldest son, Mr. Steven Lim for the rest of this life until his dead in 2015. He died peacefully in his favorite arm chair. He was buried in Nirvana Memorial park in Semenyih Malaysia.
