The Honourable Pehin Datu Temenggong Dato Seri Paduka

Lim Cheng Choo

SPMB SNB
林清注
Born
Lim Cheng Choo

1906
Fujian, Qing Empire
Died1993 (aged 86–87)
Brunei
Occupation(s)Businessman and politician
Known forMember of Privy Council for Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III
Spouse
Ong Ming Xuan
​
(m. 1932)​
Parent
  • Lim Wen Ji (father)
Signature
Lim Cheng Choo
Simplified Chinese林清注
Traditional Chinese林清注

Lim Cheng Choo (Chinese: 林清注; pinyin: Lín Qīngzhù; 1906–1993)[1] or also known as Pehin Lim, was a prominent Brunei nobleman and politician of Chinese descent who was a member of the Privy Council,[2] and among the signatories in the 1959 Constitution of Brunei.

Early life

When Pehin Lim and Lim Wen Ji, his father came in Brunei from the Republic of China in 1915, they had no idea where the country was. Pehin Lim is arguably the most renowned Chinese leader in Brunei. His father, a hawker in Kampong Ayer, took him back to China after his mother passed away when he was a little child. The two continued their trek to Muara from there, where they boarded a tiny wooden boat to take them the last few miles to Brunei Town. He had previously attended school in China, continued his education there before leaving to work for Ong Boon Pang's Teck Guan Company. He was only 16 at the time, but Ong allowed him to handle his pawnbroker's firm because he was already demonstrating commercial acumen.[3][4]

Lim fully entered the business ten years later in 1932, when he married Ong's daughter, Ong Ming Xuan. He was one of four candidates to carry on the Teck Guan interests after Ong passed away in 1940. When the Japanese occupied Brunei during World War II, he irritated them by refusing to discuss the company or provide any information. This resulted in him being beaten and imprisoned for three days before being released and returning to his house after obtaining help from a friend in learning his name.[3][4]

Political career

According to Pehin Lim, it is customary for the Brunei Royalty to appoint three Chinese officials. He listed Hong Kok Tin, who plays Pehin Bendahara, and Lim Teck Hoo, who plays Kapitan Cina, as the other two. He holds the highest rank of the three—Pehin Datu Temenggong—but it took two requests for him to agree to it. In addition to this, he was a part of the committee sent by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III to London to talk about the ratification of Brunei's 1959 Constitution. He was the lone Chinese among the 16 individuals who signed the Constitution of Brunei on 29 September 1959.[5] His name was once again on the list when the Privy Council was established in the following year. Despite not being paid, he claimed to be happy to assist the Sultan of Brunei.[3] From 6 to 8 January 1962, he was among the five state dignitaries to attend the Melayu Raya Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.[6][4] As well as the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation that followed in 1979 and resulted in Brunei's independence five years later.[5]

Political positions

According to Pehin Lim, if Chinese citizens want a happy, stable life, they should learn more Malay. He expressed his desire for more youths to learn the local tongue in 1972. He claimed that while most Chinese could understand a little Malay, very few were fluent speakers. In an hour-long conversation, he also expressed his desire for the country to place more attention on agriculture and the expansion or modernization of the capital's commercial district. He claimed that a capital should have at least 100 stores, but he didn't want a cluster of skyscrapers either. He believed that there was lots of open farmland that could be used to grow fruits and vegetables, and thus the country should lessen its reliance on foreign nations for its food supplies.[3]

Honours

On 1 March 1951, he was bestowed the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Datu Temenggong Kurnia Diraja (later Pehin Datu Temenggong).[7][5] Lim has earned the following honours;[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Pehin Hong Kok Tin 方国珍 – Biography". Memories of The Way We Were. 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. ↑ Office, Great Britain Colonial (1962). Brunei. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 205.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Pehin Lim: Learn Malay for a happier life". Borneo Bulletin. 1972-12-16. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Suryadinata, Leo (2012). Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume I & II. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 597. ISBN 978-981-4345-21-7.
  5. 1 2 3 Li Li, Pang (2015). Minority Participation in an Islamic Negara (PDF). Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam. p. 54.
  6. ↑ "Menghadhiri Meshuarat Melayu Raya" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1962-01-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  7. 1 2 Brunei Government Gazette (PDF). Brunei History Centre. 1951-02-01. pp. 10, 14.
  8. ↑ Brunei (1976). Brunei. on behalf of the Information section, Department of State Secretariat, Brunei. p. 477.
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