Three Zebra Doves perched on my vine plant. Zebra doves (Geopelia striata), are native to Southeast Asia.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: They are small, slender doves known for their distinctive black-and-white zebra-like barring on their neck, sides, and breast. They have a brownish-grey back and a soft pinkish-grey coloration underneath.
Behavior: They are primarily ground-foraging birds that feed extensively on small grass seeds. They are highly social and often seen in pairs or small family groups, well-adapted to urban parks, gardens, and suburban settings.
Vocalization: They are famous for their pleasant, soft, and rhythmic staccato cooing calls. In several Southeast Asian cultures, they are highly prized as pets for their singing abilities.
When Dr. Sun Yat-sen came to Perak seeking support for the
revolutionary movement, he found some of his strongest allies not in China, but
here in Ipoh. Three men in particular played crucial roles in advancing the
cause of the Tongmenghui. They were Teh Lay Seng, Lee Guan Swee, and Dr. Wong I
Ek.
Teh Lay Seng, born in Fujian in 1870, arrived in Malaya as a
young immigrant and began life working as a bullock-cart driver transporting
goods. Through determination and business acumen, he built a successful trading
business with kerosene and rice and became one of Ipoh's respected community
leaders. Beyond business, he established organisations such as the Perak
Hokkien Association and Yuk Choy School, believing that education and community
development were essential to progress. As chairman of the Ipoh Tongmenghui,
Teh donated generously to Dr. Sun's revolutionary efforts and hosted important
meetings at his villa in Jalan Sungai Pari. Under his leadership, substantial
funds were raised in Perak for revolutionary activities in China.
Lee Guan Swee, born in Fujian in 1871, was another prominent
businessman whose interests included rubber trading and tin mining. Operating
from Belfield Street in Ipoh Old Town, he became a key supporter of Dr. Sun.
Dr. Sun stayed at Lee's premises during fundraising visits to Perak. Using his
influence within the business community, Lee helped mobilise donations and
support for the revolution. His efforts demonstrated how the prosperity
generated by Perak's tin and rubber industries could be channelled into
political change for China.
Dr. Wong I Ek brought a different but equally important
contribution. A Western-trained physician and fellow alumnus of the Hong Kong
College of Medicine with Dr. Sun, he shared the revolutionary vision at both an
intellectual and personal level. In 1907, together with Teh Lay Seng and Lee
Guan Swee, he helped establish the Ipoh branch of the Tongmenghui. His medical
practice and social standing provided credibility to the movement, while his
connections helped broaden support among educated Chinese communities in Perak.
These three leaders represented different segments of
society: the entrepreneur, the industrial businessman, and the professional
doctor. Yet they were united by a common belief that China could be transformed.
Dr Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary movement was sustained not only by prominent leaders, but by a broad network of supporters across Malaya. In Perak, the movement was organised through the Tongmenghui, or Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, and later the Kuomintang. Its influence spread through clan associations, schools and branches in towns including Ipoh, Taiping, Kampar, Gopeng and Papan.
These organisations turned familiar community spaces into channels for political mobilisation. Reading clubs introduced revolutionary ideas, while newspapers circulated news and political arguments. Drama and opera performances were especially effective because they could communicate the revolutionary message to audiences with limited literacy. Performances also helped raise money, alongside direct donations from merchants, workers and other members of the community. Historical accounts of Perak describe participation across social classes, from labourers and performers to wealthy community leaders.
Perak’s activity formed part of a wider Southeast Asian movement. Dr Sun considered the overseas Chinese as the “mother of the revolution”. His Nanyang supporters were more than passive sympathisers. They transformed revolutionary ideas into coordinated action.
