Hanging Out with Uncle Robin Lye: Stories of Legacy, Resilience, and Reflection

Hanging Out with Uncle Robin Lye: Stories of Legacy, Resilience, and Reflection

It was one of those afternoons that linger in your mind—a simple day transformed by stories and wisdom from someone who has seen the rise and fall of empires, both business and political.

I had the pleasure of spending time with my dear friend, Uncle Robin Lye (赖)—a very active member of the Eng Teng (永定) Association, now in his eighties but as sharp and insightful as ever. In his younger days, he was an avid golfer, though today, his pace is gentler. Yet his mind? Still razor-sharp.

Uncle Robin reached out to me after reading my articles about the Haw Par (虎豹) family’s history. Over coffee, he shared fascinating snippets that connected the past to the present—linking names we know today, like Ong Beng Seng （王明星）, the renowned hotelier and owner of Hotel Properties Ltd, with the dramatic corporate stories of the past and of recent times with the corruption scandal with Iswaran, former Minister of Transport in Singapore.

What many may not know is that Ong Beng Seng got his early break in the corporate world at Slater Walker, a British investment firm infamous for its aggressive corporate raids and asset-stripping manoeuvres in the 1970s. Ong cut his teeth under this high-stakes environment, where the firm orchestrated takeovers that reverberated across Asia. It was during his time with Slater Walker that he built the network and skills that would later define his success as a hotelier and property magnate. His journey offers a glimpse into a fascinating era of deal-making, where fortunes were made—and lost—almost overnight.

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A Geologist Turned Tin Mining Pioneer

Robin trained as a geologist in the UK before returning to Southeast Asia in the 1960s, during a time when tin mining was booming. He was deeply involved in ventures like Pahang Consolidated and later Faber Union, which was owned by a British group. He spoke about descending into tin mines that went hundreds of meters deep—work that demanded courage, precision, and expertise.

But Robin’s career in geology came to an abrupt end in 1974. That was the year Jim Slater and his investment firm Slater Walker, where Ong Beng Seng was once a key player, executed one of their notorious corporate raids. They took over Faber Union in a style eerily similar to what happened to Haw Par, whose prized assets included Chung Khiaw Bank and Sin Poh (Star News). Robin remarked that even their own British counterparts weren’t spared from such predatory practices. “Bad actors are everywhere.”” “And power can turn on its own.”

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The Asia Insurance Building: A Lesson in Persistence

Over lunch, Uncle Robin reminisced about the Asia Insurance Building along Collyer Quay—once the tallest building in Singapore. The construction was no easy feat. The first two contractors went bust, unable to complete the foundation piling. It wasn’t until the third contractor took over that they finally succeeded in anchoring the structure to bedrock. Robin chuckled as he recounted the story, a testament to resilience and the will to see a vision through, no matter how daunting.

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A Sustainable Touch and a Taste of Nostalgia

We collected Uncle Robin’s newly refitted lenses—giving his old frames new life. I admired his sustainable approach, preferring to reuse what still served him well. From there, we made our way to Keong Saik Road, once a red-light district and now transformed into a vibrant area full of energy and heritage.

Dinner was at Kok Sen (国成) Restaurant, a Michelin Bib Gourmand establishment. Uncle Robin shared how he had dined there in the early days—on a first date with his beloved wife. Back then, it was a humble eatery, but the memories remained rich and vivid.

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Reflecting on Family, China, and Asian Innovation

Our conversation over dinner covered many topics: family, public speaking in Mandarin (I shared my Toastmasters journey), and the misconceptions some of the younger generation hold about China. Uncle Robin agreed—China is now far ahead in many ways. I shared how I supported the rise of Asian tech enterprises like Huawei, buying their first-generation tablets in Year 2011 for myself, my father, and even as a prize for a roadshow during my days in a regional software firm. Note: This was way ahead of anyone who heard of Huawei as a consumer brand.

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Heritage and the Haw Par Legacy

As we strolled past heritage shophouses, Uncle Robin pointed out buildings once owned by the Aw family (胡氏, Hu) behind Haw Par International, including the beautiful three-story building where Shake Shack now stands. The Aw brothers were also benefactors of the Eng Teng Association, donating three shophouses that helped sustain the community.

But he also reflected on how their fortunes changed when the People’s Action Party (PAP) came to power. Policies around land zoning forced many Eng Teng members and the Aw family to relinquish properties. Not to mention the controlling stake of Haw Par was eventually acquired by 黄祖耀 , Wee Cho Yaw (A Huang) family under the behest of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, who wanted to get Haw Par back into Singapore’s hands from Slater Walker. It was a sobering reminder of how swiftly power and policy can alter the fate of entire business empires even as we collectively fend off foreign interferences.

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Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future

Our day ended on a high note as we attended a special event commemorating the 100th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s passing. It was a moving occasion and inspired another article I’m working on—one that will shine a light on unsung heroes and their families who helped unify the Chinese community during the tumultuous 1930s.

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By the way, can you guess who Uncle Robin’s son is? He’s a successful, famous investment banker—and yes, his surname is Lye (赖).

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P.S.

These are all histories that should be recorded and accorded respect. We now look back at the rich colors and characters that stirred the storm in the Singapore landscape; we also now look at each other and remind ourselves that these are all yesteryears or feuds from earlier generations.

Now that we are the younger generation, let’s put aside our differences and embrace each other—because there are more pressing issues like the climate crisis and plastic waste pollution plaguing us and our children.

I love everyone, as mentioned before, and would love to close the chapter with anyone who is willing to come forward to have a chat with me—despite history making it awkward.

We all need to move on from the past. The present is a present; and our future is still a collective one.

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