Contribution

 

a)  Administration

 

After getting degree in legislation, Tun Yew Koh opens a office called 'Yew Koh Advocates and Solicitor’ in Ipoh, Perak. Shortly after that, he served to 'Federal Malay States Bar Comitee’ as a member.

 

In 1932, Tun Yew Koh went to China. Tun Leong Yew Koh's leadership as an outstanding chief and administrator was proven when he was given the opportunity to be an administrator in China. He had been working under various department with China Central Government, one of them was Train Ministry, Yuen Executive Affair Commission, Agreement Commission and Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.

 

He also appointed as Consulate Inspector that responsible for others China consulate which located in Philippines, Dutch East India, Malaya and also in South Africa. Between in the year 1935 and 1937, he was appointed as China Commissioner in Sino-British Commission to investigate the south part of Yunan China's border. A year after that he was appointed as a counselor for Minister Cheng Kung Po, who was a China ambassador in Rome.

 

          He then resigned as an administrator in Central Government at Foo-Hai, because he wants to join China military unit to Burma and hold the position of Colonel.

 

            In his military expedition he is responsible to make information exchange between British and Burma military. He also gives suggestion to China's Military Comander's Chief, Jeneral Hutton to use small same group China military to Siamese to prevent Japan to undertake Malaya. Although that proposal is agreed by Jeneral Hutton, but it was not feasible as his army unit was weak at that moment.

 

            After the war, Tun Leong Yew Koh reverts to Ipoh in year 1945 to continue his career as lawyer and reopen a lawyer firm called 'Yew Koh & Cheng Hock, Advocates & Solicitors '. Then he involves in mining industry with 'Yow Lee Can Mining Joint' company. He also involved in 'The Chinese Mines Industrial Corporation Limited' and 'Choong Sum Can Mining Company'. He has the third-largest mining area in Perak and this makes him more famous among Chinese community.

 

Tun Yew Koh was also involved in association activities ('huay kwan') especially in association member’s welfare matters. He is also active with 'Perak Kwang Tung Wai Kwan'. As an association president and legal advisor, he looks after the welfare of society’s member by giving aid and advice. He also holds the financial fund specifically to help the poor members. Tun Yew Koh and Perak's mine owners set up 'Perak Nam Ahoy Wai Kwan' in intend to carry out welfare works to help mine workforce. He also becomes a honorary member and law advisor of 'The Perak Chinese Mining Association' And Law Consultant To 'Perak Chinese Chamber Of Commerce's (CCC)'.

 

b) Politics

 

In 1946, British introduce Malayan Union which gives citizenship right to anyone. Malays opposed it, but Chinese and Indian people supported it.

 

This motivate Tun Yew Koh to plays his role through CCC and other Chinese associations by holding meetings to claim citizenship right in Malaya. On 8th May 1946, Tan Cheng Lock and Colonel HS Lee call for Chinese community jamboree in Chinese assembly hall Selangor to determine Chinese people's stance of citizenship right allocation in Malayan Union's constitution.

 

Because of UMNOs and Malay King’s pressure and strong opposition, British start negotiating with the Malays. In 25th July 1946, British government, UMNO and Malay Kings form a committee to draft the Malaya ‘s Federation structure.

 

Based on the conditions by Working Committee, citizenship condition has been tightened. These awaken Chinese leaders of their position in Malaya. Tan Cheng Lock has withstood the Working Committee proposal in October 1946 because according to him that Working Committee is established without negotiating with the Chinese.

 

Caused by dissatisfaction, Tun Yew Koh entails in 'All Malayan Council of Joint Action' (AMCJA) to against Federation of Malaya. Tun Yew Koh involvement in ‘Perak Bar Committee’ and ' Bar Council of the Malayan Union' since 1946, gives him the opportunity to submit opinions about the conditions enacted by Working Committee. Malayan Union Consultative Committee has been formed by the British to hear and examine the opinion of other communities. Two representative was appointed, namely Tun Yew Koh and Kolonel H S Lee. They claim ‘jus soli’ citizenship right and citizenship condition (by application) to be loosen as a reward of their contribution in developing economy of Malaysia.

 

Revised Constitutional Proposal was formed on 24th July 1947 but AMCJA still not satisfied with the citizenship right because not successful in obtaining jus soli citizenship. AMCJA cooperates with PUTERA (centre of people's power – combination of few radical Malay politics group of party) to do opposition through ‘hartal’, which is boycott economic activities action in Malaya.

 

All the opposition carried out was a failure. Malaya federal was formed by British administration on 1st February 1948 and Tun Yew Koh was appointed to represent the Chinese traders in Federal Law Event. In July 1948, crisis was declared because of savage action by Parti Malaya Communist (PKM). Chinese community has been suspected by British because mostly support PKM's movement.

 

Hence, Tun Yew Koh aware that it was very important to unite Chinese community through welfare organization. With Chinese leaders help such as Lau Pak Kuan, they set up 'Chinese Welfare Association' in year 1948. British's higher commissioner, Sir Henry Gurney appeals loyal Chinese leader to form one organization to support government in PKM's opposed effort.

 

Tun Yew Koh's and 15 other Chinese leader’s idea, has brought to establishment of 'Malaysian Chinese Association' (MCA) in Malaya on 27th February 1949 at Kuala Lumpur. Tun Yew Koh was appointed as the first Secretary-General from year 1952 – 1957 and Tan Cheng Lock as his president.

 

c) Crisis

 

In January 1949, Tun Yew Koh has been designated as informal member of Perak State Council. On 16th April 1950, Lieutenant Briggs has established Federal War Council and War Working Committee at state and district level. Tun Yew Koh has been appointed to serve in Federal War Council and Perak State War Committee. To oppose communist propaganda, Tun Yew Koh suggests so that new village is established to those Chinese community that help communist. This proposal was approved by Federal Government on 1st December 1951. When 'National Service' 1951 was approved, a call-up was launched; however many Chinese youth returned to China to avoid conscription. Tun Yew Koh has proposed to take 10,000 KMT military forces to 26 Annam, Vietnam North to help against communist. However, his proposal was overruled by Sir Henry Gurney. Apart from that, Tun Yew Koh also recommended the use of armored car and it had been approved by Federal Government on 21st June 1951, to mitigate communist violence sacrifice.

 

Through Perak War Working Committee, Tun Yew Koh suggested child aged between 10-16 years at villages to be placed in 'Boys Town’ camp to control their activities, besides giving education and labor’s skill to avoid those from getting involved in communist activity (to fight 'The Little Devils Corps' activity). Addition to the proposal, the new village at Ipoh town has become the first 'Boys Town'.

 

Tun Yew Koh also proposed to Perak War Committee to formed 'Home Guard' security force where all the members are supplied with arms to care and to provide protection to their accommodation area and their own family. Indirectly Tun Yew Koh had affected Chinese community in care national security. Apart from that, Tun Yew Koh also founded 'Kinta Valley Home Guard' to safeguard security of Chinese miners at Kinta from communist threat on 16th April 1952. He himself has become a grenade attack target by Communist terrorist twice and experience critically injuries and all his agricultural farm, property and building were destroyed.

 

d) Independence

 

Preparatory to allow Malaya self-governed, British party held Municipal Kuala Lumpur's election in the year 1952. This had given opportunities to MCA to contest in that election besides 'Independence of Malaya Party (IMP) and UMNO. Because of this election is very important to political future of Malaya, MCA and UMNO have combined to against IMP which headed by Dato' Onn Jaafar. Alliance party has won 9 of 11 seats. IMP won 1 seat and free candidate won 1 seat.

 

On 23rd August 1953, UMNO-MCA held National Conventions at Kuala Lumpur. Tun Yew Koh has fully supported Dr Ismail Bin Datuk Abdul Rahman's decision so that election is held to choose the representative in Federal Law Council in November 1954. Condition for voting was loosen not only to citizen but also for not citizen. Finally, that National's Conference has decided so that a committee 'Constitutional Reform' is formed. Tun Yew Koh was chosen to be one of the committee members.

 

Resulted from conference, an alliance frameworks plan for Federation of Malaya’s election has been set up. During Federal Council Conference on 14th June 1954, Tun Yew Koh was involved as Election Committee member to debate the 'Federal Election Ordinance'.

 

Federation Election on 27th July 1955 proved that alliance party had managed to obtain great support by winning 51 out of 52 seats. Tun Yew Koh also won Ipoh-Menglembu seat with the majority of 6,438. After Alliance government was formed on month August 1955, Tun Yew Koh has been designated as Health and Welfare Minister.

 

After independence achieved on 31st August 1957, Tun Yew Koh have been designated as the first Tuan Yang Terutama Yang DiPertua Negeri Melaka. He later was appointed as Yang DiPertua Dewan Negara and then as Judicature Minister in the year 1959 till his end of life.

 

        Tun Leong Yew Koh is an active person, who involves in welfare works by helping underprivileged group, fought for freedom rights and defends poor people's fate. He has been attacked twice with grenade and experience critically injuries due to that attack. Agricultural farm, property and building were destroyed when he tried to set up peaceful population and country. Apart from that, he also involved himself in social activity such as be Member to Bar Council in Perak, China Business Hall, State Council and China Mining Organization.

 

            Tun Yew Koh dies on 12th January 1963 when he was 75 years old.