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.

Perak Nanyangs

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.

 

Dr Sun Yat Sen in Perak.

 Dr. Sun Yat-sen made several visits to Ipoh between 1906 and 1911. His primary objectives were to strengthen branches of the Tongmenghui, spread revolutionary ideas among overseas Chinese, mobilize support, and raise funds to finance uprisings against the Qing Dynasty.

Perak, particularly Ipoh, was a prosperous tin mining town with a large and influential Chinese population. This made it an ideal location for Dr. Sun to gain both financial backing and committed supporters for the revolutionary cause. During his visits, he delivered speeches and met with community leaders.

During Dr. Sun’s 1910 and 1911 visits, he intensified efforts for the final push toward revolution. Meetings were held at the villa of Teh Lay Seng, a prominent local supporter, along with several others.

Dr. Sun’s activities in Perak were not without risks. Qing loyalists and reformists opposed his revolutionary agenda, making his visits potentially dangerous. Despite these challenges, the support he received in Perak became a valuable contribution to the success of the 1911 Revolution, which led to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.