Tan Kah Kee (1874-1961), an entrepreneur in Malaya whose business enterprises included rice trading, pineapple plantations and canning, rubber plantations, shipping and food manufacturing, was a renowned philanthropist who gave millions to charity. A benefactor of schools, Raffles College in Singapore, University of Malaya in Malaysia and University of Xiamen in China had all benefited from his generosity. Born in Fujian, China, the legendary man returned to China in 1950 and after his death, had bequeathed all his assets to a school in his home village of Jimei and the University of Xiamen. Today, his memorial in Fujian is a tourist attraction and scholarships are still awarded under his name.
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