郭锡逢公传略

捐献堂地先贤

郭锡逢公传略

本堂能有今日的规模，追本溯源，先贤郭锡逢公的功劳，实在永垂不巧。

先贤郭锡逢，广东省潮安县人，诞生於古晋，九岁时返回原乡（凤廓乡）接受教育充份受到固有道德和伦理思想的熏陶。

他在十七岁时重新南来，合创郭瑞合果杂货店，因勤勉发奋，克勤克俭，大有作为，不久就创设瑞发成号，专门经营木材和砖厂业务，历经数年艰苦奋斗，终於有了成就。由於他眼光远大，注意到社会的发展趋势，商业头脑比人高，乃投资地产业，充份发挥他的商业奇才，结交社会精英，使得他的业务蒸蒸日上，大展鸿图。

郭锡逢公做生意赚了钱，发挥【取之於社会，用之於社会】的精神。他宅心仁厚，乐善好施，且笃信佛教，平日捐於贫人或处身困境者，以及每年酬神赛会所捐献的金钱，数目非常多，他从来没有显出吝啬的样子。本堂在创设的初期，他也非常热心地参加筹备工作，并尽心尽力地去策划一切。最先是借出他所拥有的楼房作为开办的处所，然后更献出他的地皮作为建本堂之用。今日本堂堂宇巍峨壮观，规模宏大，堂务已上轨道，在社会上享有崇高声誉，对社会人群作出极大的贡献，郭锡逢公的功德，实在不可或忘。

Biography of late Mr. Kueh Siak Chong

WHO DONATED LAND FOR THE SITE OF THE HOME

That the success of this Home today is mainly attributed to the contributions made by late Mr. Kueh Siak Hong whose name is immortal in our record.

Late Mr. Kueh Siak Hong whose ancestors came from Teo Ann District of Kwangtong Province in China, was born in Kuching, and he went back to China (Fung Lang Village) at the age of 9 years and was educated and brought up there.

When he was 17 years old, he came back to Sarawak and started to open a fruit and grocery shop under the style of Chop Kueh Swee Hap on a joint venture basis.  Because of his diligence and determination, his business ran into big success.  He later opened another shop in the name of Chop Swee Huat Seng which was solely dealing in timber and bricks.  After several years of hard work, he was successful again.  Because of his far-sightedness, he had kept himself abreast with the tempo of trade development; he had invested in landed property thus making tremendous profits in his business.

Late Mr. Kueh Siak Hong had made big money from his business.  As he was by nature a kind-hearted and generous gentleman who firmly believed in Buddhism, he used to donate substantial amounts of money towards the poor and the annual thanksgiving ritual ceremony each year.  He was no miser.  It was recalled that at the beginning of the formation of this Home, he plunged himself enthusiastically into the organising work and had set all out to do all the planning.  First the lent out his building for use as an office and later, he even donated his land for the site of building this Home.  hat Hun Nam Siang Tng can now have its own grand building and enjoy good reputation from its contributions to the society is much attributed to the good work for late Mr. Kueh Siak Hong who would be cherished forever.