History and Milestones

 

 

Just $200 - that was the fee received by the founder of Woh Hup, the late Mr Yong Yit Lin (1900-1950), for his company's very first job of building a pair of garden gateposts for the British Resident in Seremban. The job was completed within four days, winning him the respect and confidence of the authorities. As a result, Mr Yong was awarded many construction contracts by the Seremban Government, setting him on the path to becoming one of the pioneer building contractors in Singapore and Malaya.

In 1926, the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, formerly the British Resident of Seremban, invited Mr Yong to Singapore, where he successfully tendered for the construction of the Keppel Chandu Packing Plant labourers' quarters. Mr Yong’s hard work, integrity and philosophy of “small profit margins and construction speed” won his firm, Woh Hup Yit, numerous contracts. The company was incorporated as Woh Hup (Private) Limited in 1940.

Mr Yong also became a very respected member of the community, elected President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, President of the Singapore Chinese Contractors Association, a founder and director of Chung Khiaw Bank Limited and President of the Khek Community Guild, besides holding numerous other appointments in school advisory councils and charitable organisations. In 1950, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.