Tan Siak Kew: Going Against the Grain
Fiona Tan
Singapore: World Scientific, 2014
ISBN: 9789814603072

"A scholar by inclination, a businessman by necessity, a diplomat by duty" - — those were the words chosen by a reporter in 1966 to describe Mr Tan Siak Kew. This description still remains relevant today, encompassing the multi-varied nature of Mr Tan's public life, who was a fervent supporter of education, President of the Chinese Chambers of Commerce for multiple terms, Singapore's first ambassador to Thailand, nominated member of the Legislative Assembly, community leader of the Teochew community and notable philanthropist of his time.

Despite his many contributions to Singapore, it is surprising that there has been so little secondary literature written of this trader who defies attempts at stereotyping.

Effectively bilingual, but still conscious of his responsibility to his community and the new nation which was about to be born, Tan was able to bridge between the Chinese-speaking and English-speaking community with his tact and non-partisan political stance.

Tan Siak Kew: Going Against The Grain is a timely biographical sketch which fill this historical lacuna, and tells the story of his public life through historical records, contemporaneous literature, and discussions with his contemporaries.