Loke Cheng Kim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loke Cheng Kim
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| Born |
Lim Cheng Kim
5 May 1895 |
| Died | 1981 (aged 85–86) |
| Nationality | Malaysian–Singaporean |
| Alma mater | Methodist Girls' School, Kuala Lumpur |
| Spouse(s) | Loke Yew |
| Children | Son Loke Wan Tho Daughters Loke Yuen Theng (Mrs Choo Kok Leong) Loke Yuen Peng (Lady Percy McNiece) |
| Parent(s) | Mother Soon Kui Sim |
| Relatives | Lim Shuk Kwei (cousin and third wife of Loke Yew; deceased) |
Loke Cheng Kim (simplified Chinese: 陆淑佳; traditional Chinese: 陸淑佳; pinyin: Lù Shūjiā) was a smart businesswoman and kind helper (philanthropist) from Malaysia and Singapore. She was born on May 5, 1895, and passed away in 1981. She became known for her business skills and her efforts to help others.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Loke Cheng Kim was the oldest daughter in a Chinese business family from Penang. Her family had been in Malaya for many generations. They owned tin mines in Selangor.
Her mother, Soon Kui Sim, was a very strong woman. When Loke's father became sick, her mother took over managing the tin mines. Even though she couldn't read or write much, she created her own special way to keep track of the family's money. She was so determined that she would even go to the mines herself to make sure the workers started on time.
Loke's mother wanted her daughter to have a good education. So, she sent young Loke to the Methodist Girls' School in Kuala Lumpur. This school was about 50 miles away, so Loke had to travel by train every day.
One day, Loke fell asleep on the train ride home. She woke up just as the train was leaving Rawang Station. She was so afraid of being late and getting scolded by her mother that she jumped off the moving train! Luckily, the train was moving slowly, so she only got a few bruises. But she still got a scolding from her mother when the station master told her what happened. Her mother's strong and determined personality greatly influenced Loke throughout her life.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1914, Loke Cheng Kim married Loke Yew. This marriage was arranged by their relatives. Loke Yew was a very wealthy and important businessman.
Sadly, Loke Yew passed away just three years later. Loke Cheng Kim was left to raise their three young children by herself. She was especially worried about her oldest child, her son Loke Wan Tho, who had poor health.
To help her children, especially Wan Tho, Loke decided to take them abroad. In 1929, she moved with her children to Switzerland so they could get better education and healthcare.
Life in Switzerland was peaceful and beautiful. The clean air and lovely scenery inspired the Loke children. They grew to love nature. Wan Tho became a keen mountaineer, birdwatcher, and photographer. Her daughter, Yuen Peng, also developed a love for nature. She later became a famous nature conservationist in Singapore and Malaya.
Building a Business Empire
After some time, Loke Cheng Kim returned to Kuala Lumpur. She took charge of her late husband's businesses and properties.
In 1936, she started a company called Associated Theatres Ltd. This company later became known as Cathay Organisation. She made sure her son, Wan Tho, was one of the owners, even though he was still studying at Cambridge University at the time.
Loke then built the family's first big cinema complex, the Pavilion Theatre in Kuala Lumpur. In 1937, she bought land in Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore. There, she built the modern Cathay Building. This building included a cinema, a hotel, and restaurants.
When the Cathay Building was finished in 1939, it was the first skyscraper in Singapore before World War II. It became the most famous building of Cathay Organisation.
During World War II, when Singapore was taken over by the Japanese, Loke moved to India. While there, she even started a Chinese restaurant in Bangalore.
After the war, Loke returned to Singapore in 1946. She was given a special plaque by Lord Louis Mountbatten. This plaque honored his stay at the Cathay Building. She also bought another property in Katong that had been a Japanese hospital during the war. She turned it into the Ocean Park Hotel. This hotel became a popular spot for locals to eat and dance outdoors. She also managed the Cathay Hotel and developed many properties near the Cathay Keris Studios.
Philanthropy and Later Years
Loke Cheng Kim loved art and was a skilled gardener. She especially loved flowers and would often arrange them herself at the Cathay Chinese Restaurant for special events. She was a quiet but strong woman who gave generously to charity throughout her life.
Her mother had always believed that girls should be educated. This belief stayed with Loke. She spent much of her life helping with social welfare and children's education, especially for girls. Her daughter, Yuen Peng, remembered that Loke helped two girls from St. Hilda's School go to university in Australia.
Before the war, Loke was the President of the Singapore Chinese Ladies' Association and the Chinese Women's Athletic Association. When the Second Sino-Japanese War started, she became President of the Chinese Relief Fund Ladies' Section in Kuala Lumpur.
Loke enjoyed food, especially Peranakan dishes, which were part of her heritage from Penang. She also practiced t'ai chi ch'uan every day until she became too ill. Even in her retirement, she stayed active in her businesses and continued to invest in stocks. Her sharp mind and determination greatly influenced her son, Loke Wan Tho. Despite her cleverness, Loke was a very honest and fair woman. She always kept her promises.
Loke Cheng Kim passed away in 1981 at the age of 86. To remember her many acts of kindness, the Loke Cheng Kim Foundation in Singapore continues to help students in need. They offer the Loke Cheng Kim Scholarship to help students study at universities overseas. Saint Andrew's Junior College in Singapore also named one of their halls, Loke Cheng Kim Hall, in her memory.
