王叔金
ONG SEOK KIM JP, KMN
(1884 - 1964)
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”
Winston Churchill
A Malaysian Chinese Educationist, Social Worker and Philanthropist
May 31, 1964 saw the passing of an extraordinary man, at the age approaching 80. In recognition of his deeds and achievements during his illustrious lifetime of self-giving and sacrifice, many Chinese community leaders from the districts and states in Malaya (now Malaysia) and South-East Asian countries laid their wreaths and sent their condolences to the 王叔金 Ong Seok Kim family. Hordes of mourners, including students from the many schools he founded, lined the roads to pay their last respects. For this was the big-hearted man who dedicated 50 years of his life selflessly for the improvement and betterment of the welfare of the Chinese community in Sitiawan town in particular and the Dindings District (now known as Manjung District) in general. Among his major contributions was the pioneering of four Chinese schools in the district and he was also a patron to many other schools, and prime mover in social and charity organisations in the locality.
Ancestry
Born in Gehou, Jindou, Yongchun County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province in China in 1884, written records show that 王叔金 Ong Seok Kim (Wang Shujin), also known as 王荣簪 Wang Rongzan and 王丽生 Wang Lisheng, was the 29th generation Wang/Ong which originated from 三王 three Wangs/Ongs who migrated to Fujian Province in AD 825, more than 1,150 years ago. One of the three Wangs/Ongs was 王审知 Wang Shengzhi. He was the first king of Fujian Province and a direct ancestor of Seok Kim and his descendants. He was, therefore, the great (x 27 times) grandfather of Seok Kim. The ancestry of the three Wangs/Ongs of Fujian Province can be traced back to the 44th generation of the Wang/Ong surname which originated from 周灵王Emperor Zhou (or Chou) Ling (his name was 姬泄心 Xie Sing, which means that the original Wang/Ong surname was 姬) over 2,500 years ago.
Seok Kim's father was 王春耻 Wang Chunchi and his mother was 章珠 Zhang Zhu. Chuchi was the eldest of seven sons. He passed away in 1925 while Zhang Zhu passed away five years earlier in 1920. They had six daughters and two sons - one being Seok Kim and the other, 荣朝 Rongchao, who passed away in 1928 at the age of 29.
Early Life
As a young man in China in the late 19th century, Seok Kim had to face the socio-political and economic disasters that were taking place in China at that time.(2) Seok Kim started working at the age of 15 in Wulijae, Yongchun County, as a shop assistant and kitchen hand, and life for his family was full of hardship. With the economy in South-East Asian colonial countries in the early 20th century flourishing, he decided to leave China for Malaya (part of what was known as Nanyang at that time) in 1903, at the age of 19. He first landed in Teluk Anson (now Teluk Intan), in the state of Perak. He worked as a shop assistant, fetching local fruits such as durian and langsat in baskets, hanging on both ends of a pole balanced over his shoulder, from the surrounding villages and carrying them all the way to Teluk Anson town. For every picul (60kg) of fruit, he was paid 10 cents.
In 1905, he moved to Ipoh, also in Perak. Taking advantage of the tin-mining boom in the state, he started his own business of peddling clothes, shoes, and other knick-knacks which the tin-mining community would need both in Ipoh and its surrounding areas of Lahat, Menglembu and Tronoh. In 1908, he moved to Sitiawan, a town in the Manjung District. Due to his hard work and business acumen, he made it big and was able to invest in retail shops and rubber estates in Segari, Kampung Koh, Ayer Tawar and Changkat Jering in the Manjung District and even estates as far as Betong, Thailand. He was a wealthy man before he was 30.
Aik Tee Soo Poh Seah (Aik Tee Recreation Association), Sitiawan
Seok Kim, together with the help of Quah Cheau Hui, established Aik Tee Recreation Association (Aik Tee Soo Poh Seah) in Sitiawan in 1912, when he was 28. The establishment of the Association was for the purpose of creating a meeting place for the community to socialise, exchange news, read books and newspapers, to take care of the welfare of the local Chinese community and for the youth to take part in sporting activities such as table tennis and basketball. When the Japanese occupied Malaya during World War II, Aik Tee's (short for Aik Tee Recreation Association) building was destroyed. In the mid-1940s, as soon as the Occupation was over, he made haste and was the main driver in getting it rebuilt and restored, so that the community could enjoy its previous facilities again. The building was completed in 1951. Aik Tee operated in this building for almost 60 years, till 2010.
Seok Kim was Chairman of the Association for 40 years, until 1955. In 1966, two years after his passing, the Association recognised his huge and long-term contributions to the community with a lifetime achievement award. The Association, presently led by Soo Swee Lim, Mah Sun Fatt and other local community leaders, celebrated its 100th anniversary in April, 2012.
Chung Cheng Primary School, Sitiawan
In 1920, at the age of 36, Seok Kim and a few local community leaders founded Chung Cheng Primary School (commonly known as the Hokkien School)(3) in Sitiawan. He donated $1,000(4) towards the construction and development of the school. A highly persuasive man, he persuaded wealthy landowner Lim Nya alias Hup Choon Ma(5) to donate a piece of land for the school. Seok Kim himself was a member of the School Board for 30 years. During this period, he was the Chairman for 20 years - 1927 to 1934; 1936 to 1939 and 1945 to 1955. Thus, he was instrumental in the development of Chung Cheng in the first 35 years of its founding.
In an account written by Kong Kar Hin, Principal of Chung Cheng Primary School from 1949 to 1977, he paid tribute to Seok Kim for tirelessly dedicating almost half a century of his life to the service of education and welfare of the community. Kar Hin noted that Seok Kim worked hard without complaining. The establishment and development of Chung Cheng Primary School was one of his contributions to the community. Seok Kim had realised the need for education for the community's children as early as 1919 and he was the prime mover for the development of Chung Cheng - the hostels, the school hall, and then the high school section. On his own initiative, he raised funds, from the public in over 70 towns in Malaysia and Singapore, for the various stages of development of the school.
Sitiawan Rubber Traders Association
In 1922, Seok Kim established the Sitiawan Rubber Traders Association. With the support of the business community, particularly rubber estates owners and traders, the Association levied 50 cents on every ton of rubber sold in the Sitiawan area, to fund the building of classrooms and school facilities of Chinese primary schools in the Sitiawan and Ayer Tawar areas. He was the Association's key driver who collected, managed and disbursed the levies. He distributed the money collected to more than 10 Chinese primary schools.
Sitiawan Chinese Cemetery
Sensing the lack of proper burial plots for the local Chinese community, in 1927 Seok Kim made donations and initiated the acquisition of a piece of land for a Chinese cemetery located along Lumut Road, Pundut. Affordable burial plots were offered to the local community to bury their loved ones. The project was carried out under the auspice of Aik Tee Recreation Association. He and his 2nd and 3rd wives are buried there.
Sitiawan Chinese Maternity Hospital
With empathy towards the high mortality rates of mothers and their newborn, Seok Kim envisioned a professional pre-natal and neo-natal care for women in the district. In 1930, he established the Sitiawan Chinese Maternity Hospital. In 1936, he purchased and donated six acres (2.4 hectares) of land, where the European's Club once stood at Cross Street, for the construction of the Sitiawan Chinese Maternity Hospital. Construction of the hospital building was completed in 1938 and it began operations the same year with six beds. He was a trustee and committee member for over 20 years.
The hospital changed its name to Sitiawan Maternity Hospital in 1960 to reflect the ethnic mix in the community it was servicing. The hospital has been now converted to a home for senior citizens.
Nan Hwa High School, Sitiawan
In 1931, Seok Kim initiated the establishment of a high school section of Chung Cheng Primary School. In 1935, this section of the school was amalgamated with the high school sections of three other Chinese dialect primary schools(6) in the Sitiawan area to form Nan Hwa High School.(7) Seok Kim was elected the first Chairman of the School Board in 1936, and again in 1946 and 1947, a period immediately after the Japanese occupation. He was also the Chairman of the School Fundraising and Building Committee.
He personally donated $3,000(8) in 1935 to purchase six acres (2.4 hectares) of land for the school. He also contributed to the construction of three classrooms, one each in the name of his father, Chunchi; his wife, 邱素枝 Khoo Saw Kee; and his mother-in-law, 杜菜燕 Toh Chai Yean.
As Chairman of the School Fundraising and Building Committee, he led committee members to seek and collect donations from businesses throughout Malaya and Singapore, to build classrooms and school facilities; and to reconstruct the school destroyed during the Japanese occupation. Seok Kim personally approached Aw Boon Haw(9) of Singapore (aka Mr Tiger Balm) to donate to the school building fund. The school assembly hall was named the Haw Par Assembly Hall, after the major donor of the fund. The Hall was completed in 1940. The opening ceremony was attended by Boon Haw who made headlines when he flew to Sitiawan in an aeroplane.
Other Schools in Dindings District and Betong, Thailand
In 1940, Seok Kim was elected the Vice-Chairman of the School Board of Pei Ching Primary School in Beruas, Manjung District. In 1946, he established Betong Primary School in Thailand where he had some rubber land. He was also Chairman of the School Board of Pooi Ming Primary School in Segari and Eng Ling Primary School in Lumut and an Honorary Member of the School Board of Ching Sean (now SRJK (C) Khuen Hean) Primary School in Changkat Kruing, all located in the Manjung District. He was also a member of the School Board of the former Simpang Empat English School (aka Gandhi School) in Sitiawan.
Seok Kim's drive for education for the community was not limited to the schools he founded but also spread to other schools in the Manjung District such as Kuok Min Primary School in Kampung Koh, Sitiawan and Khuen Hean Primary School, where he help to raise funds to finance the development of school buildings and their facilities.
Ping Min Free School, Lumut
In 1951, together with Saw Seng Chor, Seok Kim established Ping Min Free School(10) in Pundut, Lumut, a coastal town in Manjung District. He wanted to provide Chinese education for children in the Pundut/Lumut area. Seok Kim raised funds, planned the school layout, managed its construction and appointed its headmaster and teachers. He was the first Chairman of the School Board, serving between 1951 and 1956, and a member of the School Board till 1962, two years before his passing.
Dindings High School, Lumut
In 1954, Seok Kim, with Ng Kuok Thai and Saw Seng Chor, founded Dindings High School,(11) located adjoining Ping Min. Similar to his efforts on Ping Min, he raised funds, planned the school layout, managed its construction and appointed its headmaster and teachers. He was the first Chairman of the School Board, serving between 1954 and 1958. He relinquished the Chairmanship position at end of 1958 but sat as a member of the School Board and remained Chairman of the School Fundraising Committee until 1962 when he officially retired from public life.
Within seven years of its establishment, Dindings High School produced a total of five batches comprising 300 students who graduated from junior middle school. The graduating students were unable to continue their studies to senior middle level and thus had to leave the school and the area, to go to others schools such as Nan Hwa High School in Sitiawan. In 1958-59, parents in the local area petitioned the school for the establishment of senior middle classes.
As Chairman of the School Board and in particular as Chairman of the School Fundraising Committee for nine years since the start of the school, Seok Kim then led a large campaign to raise funds to upgrade and expand the school to accommodate senior middle classes. In his diary, Seok Kim recounted the fundraising activity as “full of painfully hard work”. Seok Kim recorded that the Committee went through three fundraising trips to Ipoh, Telok Intan, Sabak Bernam, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban and the Klang Valley, and five trips to the northern part of the country covering towns such as Taiping, Bukit Mertajam, Prai/Butterworth, Penang, Alor Setar, Kangar, Lenggong, Grik, Sungai Petani and Kuala Kangsar. They even went south, to Malacca, Port Dickson, Muar, Yong Peng, Mersing and even as far as Singapore. More than $200,000 was collected in donation from the local community and donors from 70 towns located outside of Manjung District. Over that period, from September 8, 1959 to October 18, 1960, Seok Kim recounted that a total of 213 days were spent in fundraising activities.
With the donation, senior Middle classes were established. In total, the school had 15 classrooms, 13 hostel rooms, a library, science laboratories, an administration office, two toilet blocks, a playing field, a new canteen, two school buses, and a school hall named after Lee Kong Chean, its main donor. The school also has its own generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Other Charity Organisations
Despite running his own business, establishing and overseeing the running of schools and other social responsibilities, Seok Kim was also involved in a large number of other charity organisations, most of them in leadership positions.
Listed below are the organisations:
- Committee Member, local public hospital, 1928-50
- Chairman, Sitiawan Retail Shop Traders Association, 1937
- Chairman, Perak Chinese Disadvantaged Persons Association, Sitiawan Branch, 1937-41
- First Chairman, Malayan Chinese Association, Sitiawan Branch, 1950
- Chairman, Chinese Chin Woo Sports Club, Sitiawan Branch
- Chairman, Ayer Tawar Hokkien Association for two years
- Member, Perak Hokkien Association from 1946-1964, and
- Chairman, Founding Committee, Nanyang University Association of Dindings District
A Loyal Nationalist
Like other Chinese immigrants of his time, Seok Kim continued to look to China for inspiration. He was a staunch nationalist, fetishly loyal to the motherland and had provided her with unflagging support. In 1911, he joined Dr Sun Yat-sen-led Kuomintang Nationalist Party (KMT), Penang Branch.
Seok Kim initiated fundraising activities in Malaya when his homeland was in need of help. On one such occasion when the North China provinces of Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Hebei experienced severe drought, followed by famine in 1920 and 1921 in which half a million Chinese died, Seok Kim served as director of the Sitiawan Disaster Relief Committee, actively carrying out disaster relief fundraising activities to aid the victims.
In 1922, Sun Yat-sen appointed Seok Kim as Director of the Kuomintang Sitiawan sub-division in recognition of his contributions. In 1923, he was appointed the local Publicity Officer to promote the revolutionary movement under Sun Yat-sen. He developed membership, and organised overseas Chinese support, in finance and other kinds of materials and resources, for revolutionary activities in China. He was subsequently elected Chairman of the “Sitiawan Purchasing Committee”.
In 1931, after years of drought followed by severe flooding in Central China leading to widespread destruction of crops, five million Chinese lost their lives. Seok Kim was at the forefront of aid relief, as Chairman of Fundraising and Disaster Relief Committee in the Sitiawan area, raising money and materials in aid of victims of the natural disaster. Again, in 1936 natural disaster struck China. During this period, widespread flooding hit Central China affecting Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Wuhan and Chongqing caused by the Yangtze and Huai rivers bursting their banks. Up to four million people died. Again Seok Kim was at the forefront, as Chairman of Fundraising and Disaster Relief Committee, raising money and materials in support of the victims.
In 1937, the Sino-Japanese War, also known as the Eight-Year War of Resistance, broke out between China and Japan. As a leader in the Sitiawan area, Seok Kim organised a boycott of Japanese goods and activities to raise funds to defend China against the Japanese. He personally purchased a $1,000 “Save China Bond”.
On March 12 1940, Seok Kim joined other South-East Asian Chinese leaders, as part of the “Malayan Comfort Mission” led by Tan Kah Kee,(12) to visit Chungking (now known as Chongqing) and other parts of China to hold talks with Chinese leaders, disburse funds to war refugees and wounded Chinese soldiers, and to comfort those at the frontline in the Sino-Japanese War. The tour lasted four months. A photo of Seok Kim, standing next to Kah Kee, and other South-East Asian Chinese leaders, adorns the Tan Kah Kee museum and mausoleum in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
In 1940, Seok Kim was appointed a member of the Hokkien Economic Planning and Development Council. The aim of the Council was to promote the economic development of Fujian Province.
Of his projects and involvement with China, he likens the relationship to one between parents and children. He is said to have said, transliterated, “Parents belong to children; who would not be loyal to their parents?” He had always felt proud of his cultural heritage and was loyal to the country and the parents he left behind.
Awards and Passing
In recognition of his huge contributions to the community, Seok Kim was bestowed a Justice of Peace (JP) award in the early 1960s by the Sultan of Perak and the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) in 1964, a few months before his passing, by King of Malaysia. In 1962, at the age of 78, citing poor health, Seok Kim announced his withdrawal from public life after 50 years of services to the community. He passed away two years later, on May 31, 1964. He was approaching 80 years.
Legacy - Ong Seok Kim Memorial Education Fund; Manjung Haemodialysis Centre
After the passing of Seok Kim, local community leaders led by Ng Kuok Thai, Saw Cheng Chor and Ong Boon Tee, among others, established the Ong Seok Kim Memorial Education Fund in 1965 in his honour to provide bursaries and scholarships to the less fortunate local students, irrespective of race, for further their studies. From a humble beginning of providing a paltry sum of $2,840 as financial aid to a few students in 1966, the Fund, over the last decade, provided, on average, $64,000 per annum of financial aid to students of schools in Manjung District, which included student adoption programme, meritocracy awards in public examinations and incentive awards to university students. For many decades, the Fund was managed tirelessly by local leaders and Chinese educationists, such as Quah Gim Choo, Mah Sun Fatt and Lim Ming Teng, who shared the same vision as Seok Kim.
Descendants of Seok Kim fully supported the Ong Seok Kim Memorial Education Fund. In the 1990s It Shaw (David), the 28th and 2nd youngest son, was instrumental in raising one million Ringgit for the Fund. Siew Mei (Siew Bee), a granddaughter, had for a number of years made substantial annual monetary contribution. It Shaw (David) had also raised funds, managed the construction and established the Manjung Haemodialysis Centre, a non-profit organisation, for kidney dialysis. The Centre, dedicated to servicing the less fortunate in the local community, is in accord with the vision of his father.
Personal Data and Descendants
Seok Kim visited China nine times between 1907 and 1923. He did not visit his family in China again following the passing of his father in 1925. However, he visited China for the 10th time in March 1940, with other Chinese leaders of South-East Asia, under the “Malayan Comfort Mission”.
Like many other Chinese immigrants of his time, Seok Kim, who had a family in China, started another in Malaysia. His wife in China was 林月 Lin Yue (1885-1923) and his two Malaysian wives were 邱素枝 Khoo Saw Kee (1901-1974) and 彭亚荫 Phie Ah Im (1915-1993). Together they had 44 children, comprising 29 sons and 15 daughters including five adopted ones. Altogether, there are more than 780 descendants, the majority of whom reside in Malaysia, Singapore and China, although descendants are living in Australia, Indonesia, Canada, the United States and Hong Kong.
50 Years of Service to Sitiawan and Manjung District Community
Seok Kim was a successful and wealthy businessman by the early 1920s. He built up his fortune through rubber plantation and trading. He made an early decision to commit a significant part of his life and wealth in service of the community. Whether it was education, health, a place for the community to gather to read and socialise or the establishment of a burial ground, Seok Kim was always at the forefront in offering his services to the Sitiawan community in particular, and the Manjung District community in general. For five decades, he provided leadership, made generous donations, and personally solicited for funds on behalf of the community to finance the building of schools and the provision of social services, and oversaw their implementation. He was passionate in his service to the community. His selfless and relentless drive has made him a true pioneer in the early development of Sitiawan and Manjung District, in particular the development of Chinese education.
Seok Kim readily upheld the words of prominent community leader, Tan Kah Kee, that “…one must establish enterprises before being capable of serving the society…” to the extent that he neglected his business. This led to a significant diminution of his wealth. In his last years, lands and properties were sold to sustain his large family. In paying tribute to Seok Kim, the late Ng Kuok Thai, a prominent local businessman, said:
“Ong Seok Kim was a unique person, making voluntary and devoted contributions to society and education that he neglected his own welfare; it will be difficult to find another person like him.”
“Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It's the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.”
Steve Saint
Notes
(1) Emperor Zhou (or Chou) Ling's reign was between BC 571 and BC 545. His Dynasty was the 3rd Dynasty of China, whose reign spanned 800 years, including the “Warring” period of 300 years.
(2) China was ruled by an ineffective and corrupt government and was slowly being partitioned by foreign powers. A series of political unrest and rebellions (among others The Taiping and Boxer rebellions) occurred across China, together with a population boom and a series of natural catastrophes left China incapacitated in providing for its huge population.
(3) The School has been converted to Government-aided SJK(C) Chung Cheng.
(4) Based on the Rule of 72 in Finance, investing $1000 in 1920, with compounding interest rate or rate of return of 5% per annum, the value in 2012 will be $83,200.
(5) She was the grandmother of Ong Seok Kim's daughter-in-law - Chew Kim Liew who was married to Ong Kean Keok, his 11th son.
(6) The other three Chinese schools were Kuok Min (Kutian School), Uk Dih (Hockchiew School) and Min Te (Hockchiang School).
(7) The School has been converted to Government-aided SMJK Nan Hwa. The private section of the school, known as Nan Hwa High School (Private), was relocated to a site along Ayer Tawar Road.
(8) Based on the Rule of 72 in Finance, investing $3000 in 1935, with compounding interest rate or rate of return of 5% per annum, the value in 2012 will be $134,400.
(9) Aw Boon Haw and his brother Aw Boon Par were developers of Haw Par Villa, a Chinese mythological theme park in Singapore, and manufacturer of Tiger Balm products.
(10) The School has been converted to Government-aided SJK(C) Ping Min.
(11) The School has been converted to Government-aided SMJK Dindings.
(12) Tan Kah Kee was an influential overseas Chinese community leader with important historical legacies in the history of modern China and South-East Asia. He was Chairman of the China Relief Fund established in 1937 to collect funds for war refugees and wounded Chinese soldie.ino-Japanese War. A Tan Kah Kee Park, incorporating a museum in his name and his mausoleum, has been established in his honour in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
Writer: Ong Eng-Joo
Editors: Lena Khaw and Freddie Cheah
王叔金
ONG SEOK KIM JP, KMN
(1884 - 1964)
“索取是为了生存，但生命在于奉献”
温斯顿•丘吉尔
马来西亚华人教育家、 社会工作者和慈善家
1964年5月31日，80岁的王叔金与世长辞，以受人敬仰的姿态，走完了光辉的一生。 马来西亚和其它东南亚国家华人领袖送来了花圈，对其家属的慰问函电亦纷来沓至，道路两旁尽是成群结队的送殡者，包括他创办学校的师生们，纷纷表达了至深的敬意。投入社会工作超过50载，王叔金将自己的大半生，无私地奉献给天定区 (现为曼绒区) ，特别是实兆远地区的居民，有效地提高及改善了华人社区的教育水准及福利。 他创办了四所华文学校，并帮助与赞助了不计其数的华校。 同时，他也是当地许多慈善机构的创始人。然而，他也从不忘记自己的祖国，始终保持一颗赤诚的中国心，并为此作出了相应的贡献。
先祖
公元942年，王审知的曾孙王承信，因内讧逃难至内陆山村—永春锦斗，成为锦斗王氏的开山祖。 王叔金是锦斗王氏的第29代孙，是王审知的第32代孙。 王审知于公元825年，与他的两位长兄王潮和王审邽，从河南省固始县起义，进军福建，后被梁太祖册封为闽王。 他是福建王姓的始祖。 王姓最早起源于周朝的周灵王姬泄心(前571－545年)的太子—晋，至今已超过2500年(1)。
身世
王叔金，又名王荣簪和王丽生，1884年出生于中国福建省、泉州市、永春县、锦斗镇、隔后村。小时接受孔孟之道教育，就读乡村私塾7年。
王叔金的父亲王春耻，字王仲节，母亲名章珠。 王春耻有7兄弟，其为长兄，也是唯一务农者。 他于1925年去世；而章珠则在1920年就离世。 他们育有6个女儿和2个儿子， 王叔金为长子，排行第三，王荣朝排行最后，于1928年去世，时年29岁。
早年生活
为了生活，王叔金13岁起就到永春县五里街的一家商铺，出任厨工和店员(2)。19世纪后期，年纪尚轻的王叔金，就得面对中国社会政治腐败与经济落后所招致的连带影响，家庭经济状况十分艰难，粮食严重短缺，生活难以为继。 20世纪初，正值东南亚殖民地国家，因矿业开发及发展橡胶种植，经济蓬勃发展， 需要大量劳工；迫于生计，1年仅19岁的王叔金于1903年12月，决定离开中国，前往当时被称作“南洋”的马来亚谋生。
最初，他在霹雳州的安顺 (Teluk Intan) 落脚，并到一家水果店打工，每天肩挑榴梿、兰撒等本地水果，从十八丁等周边村落一路担到安顺镇上。 他们使用扁担挑水果，一担约60公斤，每挑上一担，可获10仙作为酬劳。
1905年，他搬到同在霹雳州的怡保 (Ipoh)，并趁着矿场如雨后春笋般涌现的契机，开始了小贩生意。 他以扁担挑布匹、鞋子和其他小东西，挨家挨户到矿场围绕的城镇如拿哈 (Lahat)、 万里望 (Menglembu)、 端洛(Tronoh) 等地兜售。
1908年，他迁至实兆远，曼绒县上的一个城镇，凭着商业头脑和辛勤工作，积累了不少资金。 为了进一步开拓事业，他决定投资开办更多商店，同时经营杂货及橡胶买卖生意，橡胶园分布在曼绒县内的爱大华 (Ayer Tawar)、甘文阁(Kampung Koh)、 昔加里 (Segari) 和章卡遮令(Changkat Jering)，甚至远达泰国勿洞(Betong)。
经过若干年的艰苦奋斗，王叔金在30岁前，已是一名富有的成功商人。
实兆远益智书报社
1913年，29岁的王叔金，与柯教诲合作，在实兆远创立了益智书报社，作为社区民众，休闲放松、沟通交流、 读书阅报的场所。同时，成为青年人集聚和开展文娱、体育活动的基地。如组织乐队，唱歌跳舞，开展乒乓球、篮球活动等。
日军侵占马来亚后，该会所被毁。 20世纪40年代中期，日本投降后，王叔金发起重建工作，并担任主要推动人的角色，以期书报社服务社会的功能得以尽早恢复。 重建工作于1951年完成，在长达60年的漫长时间里，益智书报社均以该建筑作为活动基地，直至2010年。
王叔金担任该社主席40年，直至1955年方才卸任。 有鉴于他的长期贡献，1966年，该书报社追授他终身成就奖，以资表彰。 在负责人苏瑞霖 (Soo Swee Lim)、 马胜发 (Mah Sun Fatt) 和其他当地社区领袖的带领下，益智书报社在2012年4月，举办了成立100周年纪念会。
实兆远中正小学
1920年，36岁的王叔金与当地社区领袖合作，共同创办了实兆远中正小学 (俗称福建学校)(3)。 他首先为学校的建设和发展捐献了 1,000元(4)，还说服了富有的地主林迎(别名Hup Choon Ma)(5)，捐献一片土地作为建设校舍用地。 王叔金在学校董事会工作了30余年，其中，任董事会主席长达20年（(1927－1934年、1936－1939年及1945－1955年)。 任职期间，从办学资金的筹募到校舍的建设，从学校的管理到校长、教师的聘任，他无不亲力亲为。他还亲自了解学生的学习、评比情况，检查学校的开支状况，帮助学校解决实际问题等。 在中正小学成立的最初35年里，王叔金为中正小学的成长、壮大，可谓呕心沥血，竭尽全力，扮演着关键的角色。
1949年至1977年担任华侨公立中正小学校长的江家兴曾撰文表达对王叔金的敬意，他指：“王叔金不言倦地把自己的大半生贡献在推动社会福利及教育领域上，从无半句怨言。 中正小学的成立，王叔金功不可没，他早在1919年便觉察到教育的重要性，因此主动担起创建和协助发展的责任。 学校宿舍、礼堂和中学部皆由他发起。 在学校各个阶段的发展中，他亦主动向马来西亚及新加坡超过70个城市的公众筹募基金，是重要功臣之一。”
实兆远橡胶贸易商协会
1922年，王叔金创立了实兆远橡胶贸易商协会。 在橡胶商及橡胶园主的支持下，制定了每生产一吨橡胶，协会便征收50仙的条规。 所得款项，用于资助实兆远和爱大华地区的华文小学建设教室、校舍和其他设施之用。 他是该协会的关键推动者，他是该协会的关键推动者，也是征收款项的管理者。他负责把所征税款，公平分配予10余所华文小学。
实兆远华人公墓
有感于华人社区缺乏正式的安葬墓地，王叔金在1936年主动捐款及发起筹款活动，以便在本律红土坎路购买一块地，作为华人公墓。 墓地以实惠的价格出售予当地居民，作为他们亲人离世后的安身之所。 这项计划由益智书报社负责执行。 王叔金与他的第二任及第三任妻子皆安葬于此公墓。
实兆远华人妇产医院
有鉴于妇女在生产过程中的高死亡风险，王叔金认为有必要为社区内的妇女提供专业的产前及产后服务。 他在1936年，发动民众开展募捐工作，并买下了位于交叉路，曾是欧洲俱乐部的6英亩地，建立实兆远华人妇产医院。
该建设在1938年落成，并于同年以6个床位开始运作。 王叔金担任该妇产医院的管理者及委员会成员长达20年。
1960年，随着社区各种族人群的增多，实兆远华人妇产医院易名为实兆远妇产医院，为更广泛的族群的妇女服务。 如今，这家妇产医院已转型为老人院。
实兆远南华中学
1931年，为适应小学毕业生继续升学的要求，王叔金发起建立中正小学中学部。 1935年，为扩大中学规模，王叔金组织各小学领导开会，决定把中正小学中学部与实兆远地区的另外三所华文小学(6) 中学部，合并成统一的中学，取名南华中学(7)。1936年，王叔金当选为南华中学董事会第一任董事长。
1942年12月日军侵占马来亚后，南华中学被迫停办。 抗日战争胜利后，他积极推动南华中学的重建工作。他在1946年, 1947年和1948年，连续三年蝉联董事长一职。1949年以后，让贤年青人，改任副董事长、常务董事职，同时继续担任南华中学建设委员会主席及募捐部主任。 他为南华中学服务超过20年。是南华中学早期的主要领导人。
1935年，他出资3,000元，为南华中学购买土地，同时为学校捐献 3,000元款项(8)，并分别以其父亲王春耻、 妻子邱素枝、岳母杜菜燕的名义，为学校增建三间教室。
作为建设委员会主席和募捐委员会的主任，王叔金为南华中学的创办及复办，开展广泛而持久的募捐工作他不辞辛苦地走遍马来西亚和新加坡的八十余区，埃家逐户耐心劝说商家及民众，为南华中学修建教室、宿舍，增补设施，以及重建被日军摧毁的校园，奉献爱心，捐资出力。王叔金还亲自拜访新加坡的胡文虎(9)，劝其为学校建设捐款，胡文虎兄弟也因此成为主要赞助人。 在1940年竣工的学校礼堂，就以兄弟俩的名字命名，称作虎豹礼堂， 胡文虎亲自莅临实兆远出席剪彩仪式，成了当时报章的头条新闻。
天定区和泰国勿洞的其他学校
1940年，王叔金被推选为木威培青小学的副董事长。 1946年，他在泰国勿洞，也就是他拥有橡胶园的区域创建了勿洞小学。 他同时也是昔加里培民小学、红土坎永宁小学的董事会成员、木珍歪 (Changkat Kruing) 群贤小学董事会的名誉董事及实兆远 Simpang Empat 英语学校(又名甘地学校)的董事会成员。
王叔金对教育的推动，并不局限于他创立的学校，还延伸到曼绒县内其他的学校，如甘文阁的国民小学、 木珍歪的群贤小学等，帮助他们规划学校，协助他们筹募建校基金。
红土坎平民义学
1951年， 王叔金联合苏清楚，在曼绒县的沿海城镇，红土坎的本律区 (Pundut) 筹办了平民义学(10)。 他希望为红土坎的贫困儿童，提供华文教育。 王叔金为建校筹募资金、 主导规划、主持建设，以及任命校长与教师等。他是第一任学校董事长，任期为1951－1956年。此后，他仍是该校董事会成员，直到他去世前2年的1962年止。
红土坎天定中学
1954年，王叔金联合黄国泰和苏清楚，在红土坎平民义学的毗邻地段，创建了天定中学(11)。 他同样是亲自筹集资金，规划学校，主持建设和管理，并亲自任命校长与教师。 他是该校第一任学校董事长，任期为1954－1958年。
他在1958年退位让贤，卸下董事会主席一职，但留任董事会成员，也继续担任建校基金筹募委员会主席，直到1962年，他正式退休。
天定中学创立7年后，共有5批约300名学生从初中部毕业，却因该校未设有高中部而必须到实兆远的南华中学继续升学。 在1958年至1959年间，家长们向天定中学请愿，希望能开设高中部。 从建校以来，担任了9年建校基金筹募委员会主席的王叔金，为此领导了一项大型的筹款活动，以扩充能够容纳高中班级的校舍与设备。
王叔金在他的日记里，称这项筹款活动充满了艰辛的挑战，委员会成员三次到访怡保 (Ipoh)、 安顺 (Teluk Intan)、沙白安南 (Sabak Bernam)、 吉隆坡 (Kuala Lumpur)、芙蓉 (Seremban) 和巴生谷一带；也北上到太平 (Taiping)、大山脚 (Bukit Mertajam)、 北海 (Butterworth)、 槟城 (Penang)、 亚罗士打(Alor Setar)、加央 (Kangar)、 玲珑 (Lenggong)、宜力 (Grik)、 双溪大年 (Sungai Petani) 和瓜拉江沙 (Kuala Kangsar)。
他们也南下到马六甲 (Malacca)、波德申 (Port Dickson)、 麻坡 (Muar)、 永平 (Yong Peng)、丰盛港 (Mersing)，甚至远至新加坡。 努力总算有结果，曼绒县居民的捐献加上委员会从全国70个城镇筹得的款项高达20万元。 根据王叔金的记录，整个筹款活动，从1959年9月8日至1960年10月18日落幕，一共花时213天。王叔金每天都写有日记，共约五万多字。
筹款活动顺利达成目标，高中部也随之成立。 学校总计有15间课室、 13间宿舍房间、 一座图书馆、 一间科学实验室、 一间执行办公室、两座厕所、 一个操场、一个全新的食堂、 两辆校巴，和一座以最大捐献人李光前的名义建设的礼堂。 学校也备有发电机，以确保电源的稳定供应。
其他慈善组织
除了经营生意、 创建和监督学校的运作，王叔金也参与为数不少的慈善团体，并且皆位居领导层。 以下是他参与的组织及担任的职务：
- 当地公立医院委员会成员，1928至1950年 。
- 实兆远零售商会董事长，1937年。
- 霹雳华人弱势群体协会，实兆远分会主席，1937 － 1941年。
- 马来西亚华人协会(马华公会)，实兆远分会首任主席，1950－1951年。
- 马来西亚中国精武体育会，实兆远分会 会长。
- 爱大华福建会馆主席，2年。
- 霹雳福建公会委员，1946年至1964年。
- 天定县南洋大学理事会创校委员会主席。
忠贞的爱国者
与其他中国移民一样，王叔金强烈期待中国的富强。他是一个坚定的爱国主义者，他对祖国忠诚，为其提供不懈的支持。 1911年，他加入了分部设在槟城的孙中山国民党同盟会。 孙中山在1912年推翻满清政府，成立中华民国，王叔金当众把满洲时代蓄留的长辫子剪掉，以此宣示效忠新中国。
另一方面，每每祖国急需援助，王叔金便在马来亚发起筹款运动。 曾有一次，中国北部的河南、 陕东、陕西和河北遭遇严重的干旱，紧接着引发1920年和1921年造成50万人死亡的大饥荒，王叔金在此事件中担任实兆远救灾委员会的总监，积极地推动筹款项目，协助舒缓受灾地的苦难。
1922年，在同盟会改称国民党后，孙中山委任王叔金担任实兆远中国国民党分部党务科主任。1924年，他受委担任宣传主任，宣传孙中山的革命思想， 并协助招募会员。与此同时，他积极组织海外华侨，在经济上为孙中山的革命活动提供帮助。 他被推举为“实兆远采购委员会”主席，实际负责革命活动的物资采购。
1931年，旱灾过去几年后，严重的水灾导致广泛的农作物被毁坏，5百万中国人丧生。 时任实兆远区筹款及救灾委员会主席的王叔金站在援助的前线，为天灾的受难者筹集物资和款项。 1936年，天灾再次降临中国，杨子江与淮河河水暴涨，冲破河床，导致洪灾，中国中部的湖北、 湖南、江西、武汉和重庆等地受灾，多达4百万人死亡。 王叔金再次担起重责，负责筹款事宜。
1937年，日本制造“七七卢沟桥事件”，中日战争爆发。作为实兆远地区的华侨领袖，王叔金被推举为“抵制日货委员会”主席，他积极组织民众抵制日货，同时努力筹募资金，支援祖国抗战。 他个人带头出资千元，购买“拯救中国债券”。
1940年3月12日，王叔金随同以陈嘉庚(12)为首的马来亚华侨回国慰劳团到访重庆、昆明、成都、九江等城市，与华人领袖对话， 移交体恤金予战争难民和受伤的士兵，并慰问前线战士，历时4个月。 王叔金与陈嘉庚及其他东南亚华人领袖的合影现展示于中国、福建、厦门的陈嘉庚纪念博物馆及墓园。
同一年，王叔金被委任为福建省经济建设委员会招股委员，协助福建在马来亚招股。他出色的完成了全部指定的任务。
王叔金对祖国的无限深情和热爱，溢于言表。他说：“祖国是自已的，哪一个人不爱自己的祖国。父母是子女的，谁不仰慕自己的父母。”他为自己炎黄子孙的身份感到自豪，也始终效忠于祖国与家人。
勋章
为了表彰王叔金对社会的重大贡献，霹雳州苏丹授予王叔金“正义和平”勋章(JP)。 1964年，在他逝世数月，马来西亚最高元首授予王叔金 Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) 勋章。
1962年，年届78岁的王叔金，因健康原因，宣布辞去一切社会职务。 此时，他已义务服务社会50多年。 两年后，1964年5月31日，王叔金逝世，享年80岁。
纪念王叔金教育基金会及血液透析中心
王叔金逝世后的隔年，即1966年，当地社会名流黄国泰 (Ng Kuok Thye)、 苏清楚 (Saw Seng Chor) 和 王文池 (Ong Boon Tee) 等社区领袖，为纪念和弘扬王叔金无私奉献华文教育与慈善事业的精神，决定成立曼绒《纪念王叔金教育基金会》，以王叔金的名义，为当地各民族学生，提供助学金和奖学金，帮助他们完成学业。 基金会从小做起，最初以微不足道的金额 2,840元，提供给各中小学校。
该基金会在过去十年中，平均每年为各学校提供约 6万4000元，所进行的项目包括学生领养计划、颁发奖学金予在政府考试中成绩标青的学生及大学生资助及奖励计划等。 几十年来，当地华人领袖和教育家，如柯锦取 (Quah Gim Choo)、 马胜发 (Mah Sun Fatt) 和林明亭 (Lim Ming Teng) 等，孜孜不倦地管理基金会。他们与王叔金怀抱相同的愿景。
王叔金的后代亦全力支持《纪念王叔金教育基金会》。 在过去的十年，王叔金的第28儿子王一少 [Ong It Shaw (David)]，屡次大手笔给基金会捐款， 其中一名孙女王秀美（Ong Siew Bee）亦每年捐献可观金额。
为了继承和弘扬王叔金无私奉献的精神，王一少还筹集大量资金，建立了曼绒血液透析中心，并亲自管理。随后，又与人合作，筹募了更多资金，在吉隆坡、怡保、沙巴等地，建立了四家新的血液透析中心。 透析中心是一个非营利性的肾病医疗机构，它致力于无偿地为当地肾病患者，提供医疗服务。
亲情、家室与后代
从1907年到1923年的16年间，王叔金共返回中国家乡探亲9次。 在1925年其父亲去世后，便再也没回过中国。 然而，1940年3月，为支援中国的抗日战争，他随同“南洋华侨慰劳团”，同东南亚其他国家的华人领袖一起，第10次回到了中国。
与其他中国移民一样，王叔金在中国已有一个家庭，到马来亚定居后，又建立起另一个家庭。他的中国妻子林月(1885－1923年)和两名马来西亚华人妻子：邱素枝(1901－1974年)和彭亚荫(1915 －1993年)，共为王叔金生、养子女44人。 其中，儿子29人，女儿15人(包括领养子女5人、义子1人)。 历经百余年的繁衍生息， 王叔金现有子孙后代， 共计六代783人，大部分居住在马来西亚、新加坡和中国。 部分则移居澳大利亚、 印度尼西亚、加拿大、美国和中国香港
无悔的一生
王叔金是一位成功的商人。20世纪20年代初，他通过橡胶种植及买卖，建立了自己的产业。 他很早就下定决心，要将自己的生命和财富，用作服务社会、 造福人民。他在教育、 卫生、 阅读和社交活动场所，乃至墓地等涉及民生的领域，始终走在前列，为曼绒区，特别是实兆远地区的民众，真诚服务。 五十多年来，他不仅慷慨解囊，出钱出力，且亲自走遍马来西亚和新加坡80余个地区的各个角落，挨家挨户地募集款项，为建设学校和发展慈善事业，提供了数额可观的资金，并监督这些资金有效地被使用。
他服务社会的热情，使他在实兆远和曼绒区的早期发展中，成为一名真正的先驱者，特别是在华文教育的事业上。
王叔金是一位成就显著的社区领袖和爱国主义者。陈嘉庚说：“….有能力服务于社会前，必须建立一个企业。” 丛这一点上说，后期的王叔金，确实忽略了商业经营和种植活动。 这导致他的财富日渐缩减。以致晚年时期，为了维持大家庭的生计，他出售了大部分土地与财产，甚至造成家庭经济的某种拮据。
已故当地社会名流黄国泰 ，在表达对王叔金的敬意时说：
“像王叔金先生这样，数十年如一日，潜心义务社会教育而忘我者，至今尚无第二人。”
“你的故事，是你留给朋友的最大财富。也是你留给后人的永恒遗产。”
史蒂夫．圣
注释
- 从公元前571年至公元前545年，是周灵王统治时期。周灵王是周朝的统治者。而周朝是中国历史上的第三个王朝，有800多年历史，包括“战国”时期的300年统治。周灵王的太子晋，其子名宗敬，为周朝司徒，人称其为“王家”, 故其父晋被认为是中华民族王姓的始祖。
- 那时的中国被无能的、腐败的政府统治，并慢慢地被列强分割。一系列的政治动乱和叛乱(其中包括太平天国和义和团起义)，都发生在中国。 人口的爆发增长和一连串的自然灾害，让中国无能力使其庞大的人口安居乐业。
- 学校后来成为政府资助的中正国民型小学。
- 根据金融法则第72条，1920年投资 1,000元，复利利率或回报率每年5％，2012年将是 8万3千200令吉。
- 王叔金的儿媳，林迎的奶奶—周金柳是王建国(王叔金的第11子)的妻子。
- 其他三所华人学校是：国民(古田学校)、 益智(福州学校)和民德(福清学校)。
- 学校后转为政府资助的南华国民型中学，，以马来语教学为主。 原私立南华（华文）中学，被称为南华独中，后迁至爱大华路上的一个新地点。
- 根据金融法则第72条，1935年投资 3,000元，复利利率或回报率每年5％，在2012年，将是 13万4千400令吉。
- 胡文虎和他的弟弟胡文豹是别墅开发商，在新加坡建有一座中国神话主题公园，也是虎豹产品的制造商。
- 学校已成政府资助的平民国民型小学，以马来语教学为主，SJK(C)。
- 学校已成政府资助的天定国民型中学，以马来语教学为主，SMJK。
- 陈嘉庚先生是一位极具影响力的海外华人领袖， 他对中国和东南亚国家，有着重要贡献。他曾担任成立于1937年的“中国赈灾基金会”主席，为抗日战争中的难民及受伤的中国军人募集资金。在中国福建厦门，建有以他名字命名的公园、纪念馆及墓园。
原文作者 : 王永裕 Ong Eng-Joo
中文翻译 : 郑海波 Zheng Haibo、陈昆峰 Tan Kuan Hong
顾问/编辑 : 刘思敏 Liew Si Min
