Sarawak People : Ling Siu Ing

Uncle Ling Siu Ing, a photo by my father, Chang Ta Kang

Sarawak People : A Foochow Man in the Rajah's Court

I was told by many that Uncle Ling Siu Ing did not like to have his photos taken. probably my father was the only one who took a few good shots of him, both official and unofficial.

Both of t hem passed away in 1965, he of old age, while my father was still in his prime, at age 56. Uncle Ling was born in 1881 in Gutien and was 20 years older than my father. According to my mother, t hey two got along very well. Both of them were scholarly and did not look at money making as the most important thing in life.

In 1912, Uncle Ling left China to teach in Java, where there were many Fuqing and Minhou people who have established themselves in Java. He probably thought he could open a school or do mission work. But Sarawak called him and he arrived in Kuching the following year after gaining a job as a school teacher in the government school. He also doubled as tutor to the Rajah;s family and that probably was an added attraction. His English was impeccable, having been taught by foreign missionaries in Fuzhou. He could have been a degree holder but he never let any one know about that. May he had at least a college diploma.

The Foochow headman, Lau Kah Tii found him a good partner in many endeavours. They set up schools in Sibu and with his close contact with the Rajah, he was a good intermediary. The Reverend James Hoover also was friendly with him. In fact, Uncle Ling also lived in Ah Poh during the Japanese War, and was head of the church there. He was a confidant of Headman Lau Kah Tii. In fact the two of them set up the Chinese Chambers of Commerce together.

He was officially a court interpreter for many years, hence he travelled a bit throughout Sarawak.

But by all accounts, he was a government servant. He was awarded an MBE for his loyal services in 1952.

He helped establish the Sibu Foochow Association and was its chairman for two terms, 1950-54. He was known as a Foochow man who wore the front buttoned Chinese suit for all formal and informal occasions, a tradition he brought from Fujian. It was also rumoured that he never made a western suit.

He wrote two books, "The Chronicles of Sarawak" ( aka A Brief History of Sarawak) and "Foochow Colloquial Phrases in Sibu".

He passed away in 1965. He was well loved, well respected and was an extremely humble person who spoke well and was very eloquent in two languages, Chinese and English. He was also a well know calligrapher and had a great mastery of the Chinese language.