<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>TEO SOO CHUAN (1918-2008)
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Rice tycoon and philanthropist dies
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Man who spearheaded development of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the 1960s dies at 90 </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Leong Weng Kam & April Chong
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ST PHOTO: NGEE AN KONGSI
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LEADING Chinese business and community leader Teo Soo Chuan, who founded See Hoy Chan, Singapore's largest rice importer, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 90.
He is survived by six children and 16 grandchildren.
His eldest son, Mr Teo Chiang Long, who is the president of Ngee Ann Kongsi, told The Straits Times that his father died of 'old-age-related diseases' in his Leedon Road home yesterday at about 8.30am.
The tycoon's family had taken him home from Raffles Hospital on Thursday morning.
Mr Teo Soo Chuan was born in Chaoyang county in Guangdong province, China, in 1918. He was only 15 when he left home to join his father, Teo Hang Sam, in Kuala Lumpur, selling eggs in the Central Market.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao in 1988, he said he spent five years hawking eggs with his father before saving enough money to open a provision shop.
Long-time friend Baey Theng Mong, 64, said: 'He woke up at five each morning. Besides selling eggs in the market, he would also deliver eggs on his bicycle to food stalls and hotels to make extra money.'
When they had earned more, father and son branched into real estate and trading by setting up See Hoy Chan in 1939. The company initially dealt only in rice and sugar.
However, the younger Teo moved to Singapore after the war in 1945, where he set up See Hoy Chan here.
Over the decades, the company diversified into insurance, banking and finance, property and hotel development.
In 1967, he set up a sugar refinery in Singapore to answer the Government's call for the development of pioneer industries to boost the country's economy.
Besides his role as an entrepreneur and industrialist, Mr Teo was also an active Chinese community leader, especially in Ngee Ann Kongsi, a philanthropic foundation of the Teochew community. It is also probably Singapore's most successful and wealthiest community organisation.
He succeeded his father first as a council member in the foundation, and later became its president after the latter died in 1965.
He spearheaded the development of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the 1960s with the donation of a huge piece of land belonging to the Kongsi, and Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road which is majority-owned by the foundation.
He stepped down as president of the Kongsi in 1999 after his eldest son, Mr Teo Chiang Long, took over the post from him.
Other Chinese business and community leaders contacted yesterday said the late Mr Teo was very committed to the welfare of the community, giving both his time and money generously.
Mr K.C. Tan, 89, businessman and former president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: 'Mr Teo Soo Chuan was my vice-president before in the chamber and I was very impressed with his dedication when we were working together.'
Mr Lim Fang Hua, 61, secretary-general of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, said Mr Teo had been the federation's vice-president since its inception in 1986.
'He resigned only last year due to ill health,' he added.
Former MP and Ngee Ann Kongsi council member Phua Bah Lee, 76, said: 'I have known Mr Teo for many years and though he was able and wealthy, he remained a very humble man throughout his life.'
The wake will be held on the sprawling grounds of the tycoon's family home in Leedon Road in the Holland Road area. Two huge white tents have already been set up in anticipation of the big turnout expected to pay their last respects.
The Straits Times understands that 100 members of the Seu Teck Sean Tong - a Chinese religious and charitable institution - will turn up to chant prayers and play musical instruments. The late Mr Teo was the honorary life president of the organisation.
The funeral will be held at 1pm next Tuesday, and the cremation will take place after that at Mandai Crematorium.
[email protected]
[email protected]
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WEALTHY BUT HUMBLE 'I have known Mr Teo for many years and though he was able and wealthy, he remained a very humble man throughout his life.'
Former MP Phua Bah Lee, 76
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Rice tycoon and philanthropist dies
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Man who spearheaded development of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the 1960s dies at 90 </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Leong Weng Kam & April Chong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
ST PHOTO: NGEE AN KONGSI
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->LEADING Chinese business and community leader Teo Soo Chuan, who founded See Hoy Chan, Singapore's largest rice importer, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 90.
He is survived by six children and 16 grandchildren.
His eldest son, Mr Teo Chiang Long, who is the president of Ngee Ann Kongsi, told The Straits Times that his father died of 'old-age-related diseases' in his Leedon Road home yesterday at about 8.30am.
The tycoon's family had taken him home from Raffles Hospital on Thursday morning.
Mr Teo Soo Chuan was born in Chaoyang county in Guangdong province, China, in 1918. He was only 15 when he left home to join his father, Teo Hang Sam, in Kuala Lumpur, selling eggs in the Central Market.
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao in 1988, he said he spent five years hawking eggs with his father before saving enough money to open a provision shop.
Long-time friend Baey Theng Mong, 64, said: 'He woke up at five each morning. Besides selling eggs in the market, he would also deliver eggs on his bicycle to food stalls and hotels to make extra money.'
When they had earned more, father and son branched into real estate and trading by setting up See Hoy Chan in 1939. The company initially dealt only in rice and sugar.
However, the younger Teo moved to Singapore after the war in 1945, where he set up See Hoy Chan here.
Over the decades, the company diversified into insurance, banking and finance, property and hotel development.
In 1967, he set up a sugar refinery in Singapore to answer the Government's call for the development of pioneer industries to boost the country's economy.
Besides his role as an entrepreneur and industrialist, Mr Teo was also an active Chinese community leader, especially in Ngee Ann Kongsi, a philanthropic foundation of the Teochew community. It is also probably Singapore's most successful and wealthiest community organisation.
He succeeded his father first as a council member in the foundation, and later became its president after the latter died in 1965.
He spearheaded the development of Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the 1960s with the donation of a huge piece of land belonging to the Kongsi, and Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road which is majority-owned by the foundation.
He stepped down as president of the Kongsi in 1999 after his eldest son, Mr Teo Chiang Long, took over the post from him.
Other Chinese business and community leaders contacted yesterday said the late Mr Teo was very committed to the welfare of the community, giving both his time and money generously.
Mr K.C. Tan, 89, businessman and former president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: 'Mr Teo Soo Chuan was my vice-president before in the chamber and I was very impressed with his dedication when we were working together.'
Mr Lim Fang Hua, 61, secretary-general of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, said Mr Teo had been the federation's vice-president since its inception in 1986.
'He resigned only last year due to ill health,' he added.
Former MP and Ngee Ann Kongsi council member Phua Bah Lee, 76, said: 'I have known Mr Teo for many years and though he was able and wealthy, he remained a very humble man throughout his life.'
The wake will be held on the sprawling grounds of the tycoon's family home in Leedon Road in the Holland Road area. Two huge white tents have already been set up in anticipation of the big turnout expected to pay their last respects.
The Straits Times understands that 100 members of the Seu Teck Sean Tong - a Chinese religious and charitable institution - will turn up to chant prayers and play musical instruments. The late Mr Teo was the honorary life president of the organisation.
The funeral will be held at 1pm next Tuesday, and the cremation will take place after that at Mandai Crematorium.
[email protected]
[email protected]
<HR width="50%" SIZE=1>
WEALTHY BUT HUMBLE 'I have known Mr Teo for many years and though he was able and wealthy, he remained a very humble man throughout his life.'
Former MP Phua Bah Lee, 76
