Dr Sun Yat Sen's Comrades

When people speak of the 1911 Chinese Revolution, they rarely begin in Perak. Yet across its booming tin towns, Dr Sun Yat-sen’s movement became a connected community network.

The Ipoh–Tronoh Railway, also known as the FMSR Tronoh Branch, opened in 1909.  It served Ipoh, Menglembu, Lahat, Papan, Pusing, Siputeh, and Tronoh. While there is no evidence that it functioned as a revolutionary route, its reach within the Kinta Valley illustrates how closely the Perak mining economy, workers and traders were linked.

In Taiping, Chen Cuifen was Dr Sun’s revolutionary partner and companion who stayed at Changchunpu Villa, while Lu Wenhui and Chen Zhian were remembered as prominent local supporters.

In Kampar, Yang Chaodong was recorded as a financier and supporter. Much of the biographical history survives through local records and community memory.

In Ipoh, Teh Lay Seng, Lee Guan Swee, Dr Wong I Ek, and Li Hau Cheong raised funds, rallied supporters, and opened their homes as meeting places. Mrs Wong I Ek is also remembered as a committed supporter, reflecting women’s contributions despite the limited documentation of their roles. Yet the movement extended far beyond prominent leaders.  Teachers, students, tin-mine labourers, rickshaw pullers, food sellers, traders, and performers all contributed their wages, skills, hospitality, or time.

Revolutionary support also required sacrifice. Yu Dongxiong and Guo Ji Mei, both reportedly teenagers from Gopeng, travelled to China, joined the 1911 uprising, and lost their lives. Li Binghui, an educated youth and martial arts practitioner from Kinta, also died after leading the vanguard unit. All three were among the 30 Nanyang revolutionaries commemorated at the Tomb of the 72 Martyrs of Huanghuagang.

Another Perak figure who showed extreme courage shortly before the 1911 uprising was Wen Sheng-Cai, a Hakka mine worker from Gopeng.  He single handedly assassinated a Manchu general in Guangzhou with a handgun.  He was captured on the spot and executed a week later.

Perak’s revolutionary legacy extends beyond a few prominent figures. Through the Perak Tongmenghui network, people from all social classes combined their resources, turning wealth from the state’s mines into vital funding for a revolution abroad. The Chinese Revolution was therefore not China’s story alone, but Perak’s as well.

Zebra Doves perched on my vine.

 

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.

Dr Sun Yat Sen and Tongmenghui in Ipoh

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.