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The Immigrants The Cheong Whye Wee family traces it roots to Cheong Soo Keng (钟 仕 经), the first known ancestor from China of the extended Cheong family. Oral history has it that sometime in the 1700s, Soo Keng, together with his wife (Md. Chan) and their five children, set sail from Zhangzhou (獐 州), a prefecture-level city in China’s Fujian province, for the then Malaya. In the event they eventually reached Melaka, more specifically, at the mouth of the Duyong river (some 3 miles from the town center). There they set up home and business as traders. Both Soo Keng (in1799) and his wife died in Melaka and were buried at Semabok, 2 ½ miles away from the town. Their remains have since been exhumed and re-interred in the burial ground located at 8^th. mile Ayer Molek road, Melaka Of Soo Keng’s four sons, Tian Hor , Kim Chuan (金 泉) and Teow Yong (调 阳)] were said to have either moved on to Indonesia or returned to China. Koh Boon (许 文), the youngest son, together with his younger sister Cheng Neo (渍 娘) remained in Melaka with their parents. The Local Born Like his father, Cheong Koh Boon was also involved in trading. He subsequently married Yeo Cheng Neo and from this union arrived the first generation of Melaka

born Cheongs, five to be exact - Ann Jian (安然), Ann Guan (安源), Ann Bee(安美), Ann Seng(安成) and their only sister. Koh Boon died in Melaka and was buried at the same place with his parents (Semabok). His wife, Cheng Neo, however died in Singapore and was laid to rest at a cemetery in Thompson Road. She had earlier travelled to Singapore to attend a gathering hosted by her eldest son, Ann Jian, to celebrate her birthday. The family continued to be Melaka-based until 1844, when at the age of 26, Ann Jian decided to move to Singapore and was followed by his younger brothers Ann Bee and Ann Seng. Ann Guan, the second son, chose to remain in Melaka. Thus began the Singapore and Melaka lines of the Cheong Koh Boon family. References: 1.Oral History. 2.Cheong Tiong Hak’s notes. 3.“The Baba of Melaka” – Tan Chee Beng. Pelanduk Publications (M) Sdn. Bhd.1988. 4.“One hundred years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore” – Song Ong Siang (1923). Oxford University Press Pte. Ltd. Singapore. 1984 edition 2^nd. Impression 1985.