Nationality Malaysian Died 1978, Kuching, Malaysia Occupation Banker
Trader Children Wee Cho Yaw | Name Wee Chiang Role Wee Cho Yaw's father | |
Full Name Wee Kheng Chiang Born 22 July 1890 Kuching, Sarawak Spouse(s) Ong Siew Eng (1st Wife) Parent(s) Wee Tee Yah (Father)
Song Kim Keow (Mother) Grandchildren Ee-chao Wee, Wee Wei Ling, Wee Ee Chong, Ee Lim Wee, Wee Wei Chi | ||
Organizations founded United Overseas Bank | ||
Dato' Wee Kheng Chiang (simplified Chinese: 黄庆昌; traditional Chinese: 黃慶昌; pinyin: Huáng Qìng Chāng; July 1890 – 1978) was a Sarawakian (Malaysian) businessman. He was the founder of United Overseas Bank (UOB), formerly known as United Chinese Bank, and the father of Wee Cho Yaw.
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Early life
Wee was born 22 July 1890 in Kuching, Sarawak (now part of Malaysia). He was the family's second-to-eldest son. His father was Wee Tee Yah (died 1889), a Chinese immigrant, and his mother was Song Kim Keow, a local born widow. The younger Wee attended Saint Thomas Secondary School, and spoke English and Chinese (Hokkien) fluently.
Career
In 1924, Wee established the Bian Chiang Bank (now known as CIMB Group) in Kuching, Malaysia.
He became the Treasurer of the Kuching-based Chinese General Chamber of Commerce upon its inception in 1930, before being promoted to President. In addition, Wee was the Fujian Association (福建会馆)'s President.
In 1931, he was elected as Chairman of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He resigned from the post in 1946.
On 6 August 1935, he established the United Chinese Bank with six other partners. The bank is now known as the United Overseas Bank (UOB).
Personal life
The Kapitan Cina Ong Tiang Swee (Chinese: 王長水; pinyin: Wáng Chángshuǐ), who was then Kuching's wealthiest person, was impressed by Wee, and decided to let him marry his eldest daughter, Ong Siew Eng (Chinese: 王秀英; pinyin: Wáng Xiùyīng). Wee was then given the role of manager of the Sarawak Chinese Bank, which Ong owned. Wee soon got to know more prominent businesspeople and other important figures; he shortly started a string of businesses, including farming and goods importing and exporting.
He was married twice and had fifteen children (five sons and ten daughters). Wee's second wife is the mother of Wee Cho Yaw, chairman of Singapore's United Overseas Bank.
Death and legacy
In 1978, Wee died in his Kuching residence. His first son, Wee Cho Yaw, was subsequently appointed to head United Overseas Bank. Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, a road in downtown Kuching, is named after him.
Awards
Wee Kheng Chiang was posthumously hailed as the "uncrowned king of Sarawak" in Queen of the Head Hunters by Rajah Vyner Brooke's spouse, Sylvia Brooke. Ranee Sylvia Brooke also used this sobriquet, in her 1939 book The Three White Rajahs.
In 1941, Wee was presented with the Commander of the Star of Sarawak by the Third White Rajah of Sarawak. In 1964, he was awarded the Panglima Negara Bintang Sarawak by the first Governor of Sarawak.