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| Picture 1: Shophouses that existed prior to the construction of the Kuala Lumpur General Post Office. (Source: G.R Lambert & Co., c. 1897) |
In terms of ownership, James Henry Matthews Robson (1870-1945) has always been dubbed as the founder of Malay Mail (Picture 2). Robson Heights and Jalan Robson, an upscale area in the Seputeh neighbourhood of present-day Kuala Lumpur were named after him in honour of his role in the first daily newspaper, as well as his subsequent role as a member of the Federal Council of FMS.
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| Picture 2: James Henry Matthews Robson, c. 1907. |
In 1900, Malay Mail changed its legal entity to a private limited company. In 1903, editorship was taken over by S.C. Yeomans, a Cambridge graduate, wherein the publishing office moved to Java Street (now Jalan Tun Perak). Robson held the post of a managing director. In 1906, the paper employed F.M. Price, another Cambridge graduate, as an assistant to S.C. Yeomans.
Sometime in 1907, as readership grew, the company moved into four units of newly built shophouses along Java Street (Picture 3). Simultaneously, a new and larger printing machine was procured from England.
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| Picture 3: Malay Mail Office at Java Street (Jalan Tun Perak) c. 1907. |
It is interesting to note that according to an article by Walter Makepeace published in a 1908 book titled '20th Century Impressions of British Malaya', Malay Mail had a co-founder. A passage from the 1908 article states as follows:-
"The first editor was Mr. J.H.M. Robson, who was also part proprietor. His partner was a government official, who was so conscientious that he never either supplied an item of news or offered an opinion."
There is no direct evidence as to the identity of this conscientious and principled co-founder of Malay Mail. Nevertheless, the content of the 1908 article with regards to Robson's background and social circle gives some hint as to how the founders could have met:-
" Mr. James Henry Matthews Robson, formerly editor now managing director of the Malay Mail Press Company, is the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Robson, of Guildford, Surrey, and was born on May 8, 1870. In 1889 he went to Ceylon as a premium pupil on a tea estate, and later in the same year entered the service of the Selangor Government. During the succeeding seven years he was in charge of the sub-districts of Rawang and Sepang, acted as District Officer of Klang and Ulu Langat Districts, and in 1896, when he left the service, was Acting Collector of Land Revenue at Kuala Lumpur and Registrar of Titles for the whole State. He resigned his Government appointment in order to start the Malay Mail. He now carries on business as a land investment agent, chiefly on behalf of Towkay Loke Yew, the well-known Chinese millionaire. He has been a trustee of the Victoria Institution, a Visiting Justice at the gaol, and from 1905 to 1907 an unofficial member of the Kuala Lumpur Sanitary Board. He is a committee member of the Hare School Endowment Fund and of the Lake Club. His name appears on two publications - "Selangor Laws, 1896," and "People in a Native State." He is an ardent motorist, and, socially, is a charming man to meet."
I believe that both of them may have served as trustees of Victoria Institution. It could not have been Sir William Hood Treacher or Sir John Picketsgill Rodger, as although both officials were instrumental in setting up Victoria Institution, they were still in the government service when Malay Mail was established in 1896.
To my mind, the only Selangor ex-government servant in 1896, with links to the supply of printing machines from Singapore, affiliation with the trustees of Victoria Institution, and direct connection to Towkay Loke Yew is none other than K. Thamboosamy Pillay (Picture 4). I have written an earlier article on him [See: Kayaroganam Thamboosamy Pillay (1850-1902)].
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| Picture 4: Kayaroganam Thamboosamy Pillay, c. 1900s. |
Based on their respective career path, Robson was in charge of the district of Rawang when Thamboosamy resigned from the Selangor government and went into partnership with Towkay Loke Yew in the Rawang Mining Concession in 1890. Robson also subsequently became a land investment agent for Towkay Loke Yew.
I believe that Malay Mail could probably be one of Thamboosamy's many ventures. Alternatively perhaps, as a moneylender, Thamboosamy could have provided the paper's initial funding entitling him to some form of lien or ownership claim over its shares. High initial capital would have been required as Malay Mail operated as a free lunchtime paper during its early years.
Further, besides Cambridge graduates Yeomans and Price, the remaining employees of the paper were mainly of Tamil origin. Specific mention is made by the 1908 article to a Tamil foreman by the name of T. Patmanabha Mudaliar who is recorded to be an exemplary employee who regarded the paper business as "a pet child of his own".
As readership grew, the paper was able to finance its own operations. Due to its influential ownership, full support was obtained from the officials with regards to its journalistic independence. The 1908 article further states as follows:-
"It is interesting to note that although Malay Mail gives free utterance to criticism of the Government, the leading officials have always given the journal their support and maintained friendly relations with the gentlemen responsible for its production."
I believe such support would have been impossible without the great tact and judgment of Malay Mail's founders in dealing with the authorities. It is recorded that Thamboosamy regularly entertained officials and industry players at social functions held at his Batu Road residence (now Sekolah Kebangsaan (Lelaki) Jalan Batu) (Picture 5).
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| Picture 5: Luncheon party at K. Thamboosamy Pillay's residence at Batu Road (c. 1899). |
I also believe that the reason why the 1908 article referred to the co-founder of Malay Mail in the past tense was because he had passed on at that stage. This suits the timeline of Thamboosamy's passing in 1902.
Robson never reveal the existence of any other founder of Malay Mail but himself. In his 1934 book titled 'Records and Recollections 1889-1934', Robson disclosed A.K.E. Hampshire and later D.E. Hampshire as his subsequent co-directors, each with minimal financial interest in the company.
Nevertheless it is interesting to note that in his 1934 book, Robson describes Thamboosamy's exemplary character with high degree of personal affinity, especially on the issue of his generosity in granting financial help to his friends:-
" Socially Thamboosamy was a leading light at the Selangor Club. He was almost an institution in himself. In later years he was keenly involved in racing : an interest inherited by his sons, one of whom is still with us. Thamboosamy's bank account must have been depleted more than once to help a friend in difficulties. A curry tiffin at his house on the Batu Road was something to remember. Racial distinctions were unknown in the early days. Thamboosamy was just as popular with Europeans as with other races. His position in the community was at the top of the ladder."
Perhaps the only way to be certain of this supposition is if we are able to locate and examine the company's records as it stood in 1900. This would reveal the co-founder's interest which would be represented in a form of share ownership or a charge over its assets. Be that as it may, such endeavour would probably be an uphill task as most of the company's records were destroyed during World War II and during the Japanese management of the paper under their own title "Malai Sinpo". Robson himself was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army and died sometime in 1945 as a prisoner of war in Singapore.
Sources:
1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malay_Mail
2. http://epaper.mmail.com.my/2016/12/16/it-began-with-robson/
3. Bygone Selangor: A Souvenir (1922), Rimba.
4. 'Records and Recollections 1889-1934' (1934), J.H.M. Robson.
5. "Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources" Arnold Wright & H. A. Cartwright, Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co. Ltd., 1908.
5. "Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources" Arnold Wright & H. A. Cartwright, Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Co. Ltd., 1908.
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