Lim Hak Tai (林学大) (b. 28 May 1893, Xiamen, Fujian, China–d. 14 February 1963, Singapore) was one of Singapore’s pioneer artists and art educators. He was one of the main proponents of the Nanyang style of art in terms of technique and subject matter. He was also ...

Subhas Anandan (b. 1947, Kerala, India–d. 7 January 2015, Singapore) was a prominent criminal defence lawyer in Singapore. He took on numerous high-profile cases, including that of “One-Eyed Dragon” Tan Chor Jin, and the kidney trading case involving retail tycoon ...

Tan Teck Soon (b. 1859, Singapore–d. 25 November 1922, Singapore) was a Chinese scholar and writer active in Singapore at the turn of the 20th century. He was a founding member of the influential gentlemen’s debating club known as the Straits Philosophical Society ...

Lee Seng Gee (b. 25 June 1921, Singapore–d. 10 May 2016, Singapore) was the former chairman of Lee Foundation and Lee Rubber Group. He was known for his charitable and philanthropic contributions towards education, the underprivileged and the arts, continuing the ...

Goi Seng Hui (b. 1949, Fuqing, China–) is an entrepreneur and investor nicknamed Singapore’s “Popiah King”. His company, Tee Yih Jia, is reportedly the largest producer of spring-roll skins in the world. Also known as Sam Goi, he is often cited as a role model ...

Richard Eu Yee Ming (b. 29 October 1947, Hong Kong–) is the chairman of Eu Yan Sang International Ltd., a healthcare company that focuses on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He is the man behind the transformation of Eu Yan Sang from a TCM business into a modern ...

Adrin Loi Boon Sim (b. 1955, Singapore–) is the executive chairman of food and beverage chain Ya Kun International. The youngest son of Ya Kun founder, Loi oversaw the expansion of the company from a single outlet to a chain spanning over 50 outlets in Singapore ...

Ng Teng Fong (b. 1928, Fujian, China – d. 2 February 2010, Singapore) rose from humble beginnings to become one of Asia’s richest men due to his property empire comprising Far East Organization (FEO) in Singapore and Sino Group in Hong Kong. Known for his foresight ...

Rahimah Rahim (b. 9 December 1955–) is a veteran performer in the local music scene, and one of the most popular entertainers of the 1970s and 1980s. Rahimah has recorded more than a dozen albums. Following a hiatus from 1989 to 2002, Rahimah returned to show business ...

Eu Tong Sen (b. 23 July 1877, Penang, Malaya –d. 11 May 1941, Hong Kong ) was a businessman and philanthropist who established his fortune in Malaya, and subsequently Hong Kong and southern China. The foundation of his business empire was established through tin ...

Douglas Foo (b. 1969, Singapore–), is the chairman, chief executive officer and founder of Apex-Pal International Ltd., a public listed food and beverage company, which owns and operates Sakae Sushi – one of the leading kaiten (conveyer belt) sushi chains in Singapore. ...

Khoo Teck Puat (b. 13 January 1917, Singapore–d. 21 February 2004, Singapore) was a prominent businessman and investor with interests in banking, hotels, property development and other sectors. He controlled the Goodwood group of hotels and held significant stakes ...

Henn (Henry) Tan (b. 1957, Singapore–) is the chairman, chief executive officer and executive director of Trek 2000 International, the company which invented the “thumb drive”, a USB (universal serial bus) portable data storage device. The company’s revolutionary ...

A collection of 1,000 published books and journals, originally belonging to Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill’s personal library, was donated to the National Library of Singapore on 18 June 1965 by Mrs Loke Yew on behalf of her son, Loke Wan Tho. It was considered as ...

Teresa Hsu Chih (许哲) (b. 1898, Swatow, China–d. 7 December 2011, Singapore) was a prominent social worker and the oldest person in Singapore at the time of her death, aged 113 years. The centenarian, who began devoting her life to helping the poor and destitute ...

William Lim Siew Wai (b. 19 July 1932, Hong Kong–) is an architect, urban theorist and activist. The Singapore citizen has been involved in the design of many iconic buildings in the country, including the former Singapore Conference Hall and Trade Union House ...

Iskandar Shah, also spelt as Iskandar Syah, is closely associated with Singapore and Melaka during the 14th and 15th century. He is also associated with other names in Singapore history such as Parameswara and Sri Tri Buana. His identity remains an enigma – he ...

Thomas Shelford (b. 23 November 1839, Cosford, Suffolk, England–d. 12 January 1900, Guildford, Surrey, England), CMG, was a long serving member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements and a municipal commissioner. Although he often opposed government ...

Tang Choon Keng (b. 12 September 1901, Swatow, China–d. 3 September 2000, Singapore) was a Teochew who established the landmark department store C. K. Tang in Singapore. Popularly known as C. K. Tang, he was also known as Tang Un Tien and nicknamed the “Tin Trunk ...

Nissim Nassim Adis (b. 17 May 1857, Howrah, India–d. 5 September 1927, Mussoorie, India) was a well-known Jewish businessman who arrived in Singapore in 1893. He was the proprietor of Hotel de L’Europe and the head of Adis & Co., a stock broking firm. He was also ...