Today's Lianhe Zaobao, what a pity!
The current state of Lianhe Zaobao is truly regrettable. Many people may not know its origins: it was formed in 1983 through the merger of Nanyang Business News and Sin Chew Daily.
Why such regret? Because the founders of both newspapers were patriotic overseas Chinese leaders who devoted their lives to China, making tremendous contributions to the War of Resistance and national development.
Let’s start with Nanyang Business News. Its founder was the renowned Chen Jia Cai from Jimei District, Xiamen, Fujian Province. At age 17, he moved to Singapore with his father to pursue commerce, eventually building a vast business empire and earning the title “Rubber King.” In 1910, he joined the Tongmenghui (Revolutionary Alliance), donating over 50,000 yuan to build school buildings. During the War of Resistance, Chen Jia Cai conducted prolonged and extensive fundraising campaigns across Southeast Asia, raising substantial funds to support the anti-Japanese cause.
In 1924, Chen Jia Cai founded Nanyang Business News. In education, he also spared no effort—founding Xiamen University, Jimei University, and numerous primary and secondary schools. After the founding of New China, Chen returned to China to settle down and contribute to national reconstruction.
Now let’s turn to Sin Chew Daily. Its founder was the legendary overseas Chinese figure Hu Wenhu. Born in Yangon, Myanmar, Hu Wenhu was from Yongding County, Fujian Province. He established a massive commercial empire throughout Southeast Asia. His famous product, Hu Biao Wan Jin You (Tiger Balm), was produced by his company. In addition, Hu Wenhu was also a media magnate—he founded Sin Chew Daily in 1929 and later launched 13 more Chinese and English-language newspapers.
Hu Wenhu tirelessly promoted the war of resistance, using all his wealth to support it and donating enormous amounts of resources. He once declared: “Patriotism is my sacred duty.”
Undoubtedly, influenced by their founders, both newspapers were originally deeply patriotic. However, after merging into Lianhe Zaobao, they became semi-official media, heavily guided by the Singapore government, prioritizing Singapore’s national interests and multicultural identity above all else.
Yet ironically, Singapore is predominantly Chinese in population, yet fiercely criticizes a film depicting the story of Chinese people migrating to Southeast Asia and working hard to build new lives. Is this true multiculturalism? In reality, it’s simply forgetting one’s roots and heritage. It’s as if no one else cares about your country. At heart, it reveals the inferiority complex and hypersensitivity typical of a tiny nation—afraid even of a single movie.
What a tragedy. Back then, two patriotic overseas Chinese leaders—Chen Jia Cai and Hu Wenhu—devoted their entire lives to serving their homeland. Without their efforts in establishing these newspapers, none of you would have had jobs or livelihoods today, let alone the audacity to speak so freely.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868573847200836/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.