The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences building at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was named the “Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building” on 19 Oct 2019. In addition, Nanyang Valley, a road in front of the Chinese Heritage Centre was renamed the “Tan Lark Sye Walk”, to mark the contributions of the pioneers in Singapore’s education journey. Education Minister Ong Ye Kung graced the naming ceremony as the Guest-of-Honour.

In 1953, due to the lack of Chinese-medium institutions of higher learning, the then President of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK), Tan Lark Sye mooted the idea of setting up Nanyang University and personally gave S$5 million as part of the school building fund. Further, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan donated 523 acres of land along Jurong Road for the campus, which is where the Nanyang Technological University is situated today.

On the setting up of Nanyang University, Tan Cheng Gay, SHHK President, said, “The initiative received unprecedented waves of support from communities and individuals across all sectors of society in Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia. It set an impressive record in the development of Singapore’s education system, and united a local cultural identity as a platform for nation building.”

On the naming of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building and Tan Lark Sye Walk, Chua Thian Poh, SHHK Immediate Past President, said, “With the naming, generations of students will be able to remember the true spirit of unity and solidarity of our community towards education. I hope we will remain committed and continue to contribute to the progress and prosperity of Singapore for generations to come.”