Research on Aw Boon Haw

Paul Tye, Central Library TSD Serials Dept

Mr John Chan, a professional librarian with the Chinese Library, published an article on the controversial business entrepreneur, Mr Aw Boon Haw (better known to the present generation as the mastermind behind Haw Par Villa). It appeared in the well-known Journal of the South Seas Society, Vol. 52, August 1998:22-57. Entitled An Exploratory Study of Aw Boon Haw's Thought, it is John Chan's first-time contribution to local Singapore/Malaysia research. The article attempts to shed light on a period during the Second World War, when the Tiger Balm King, as Aw was known then, got involved in close political dealings with the Japanese government.

Because of the scarcity of primary sources on the man himself, the author scanned through many issues of old Chinese newspapers on microfilm after work to puzzle out the mystery surrounding Aw Boon Haw. A by-product of his research is a bibliography listing sources on Aw Boon Haw which is included in his article.