About Loh Boon Siew
Lived 1915 – 1995 (aged 79–80). Loh Boon Siew was a Malaysian businessperson.
Loh Boon Siew (; 1915 – 1995) also known by locals as "Mr Honda", was a Penangite tycoon and the first sole distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia.
Early life Loh Boon Siew was born in Hui'an County, Fujian, China. He spent his childhood collecting pig dung (used as fuel) to make a living. At the age of 12, he arrived in Penang with five friends, among them Loh Poh Heng and Loh Say Bee. He had no formal education and could only speak in his mother tongue of Hokkien.
Business Boon Siew first worked at his father's mechanic shop, sending money back to family in China. At night, Boon Siew also worked as a bus washer. At age 18, Boon Siew purchased 8 buses using his $2,000 in savings and ran a bus service. Within the next seven years, his bus fleet grew to 40 vehicles, allowing him to also open a spare vehicle parts shop. In 1942, during World War II, his money was confiscated by the invading Japanese army. After World War II, he started selling bicycles, tires and motorcycle accessories, and soon he expanded his business to used cars, transports and buses.
According to police, Loh Kah Kheng had spent the prior day with his wife Shirley Yeap and brother-in-law Jeffrey Yeap, the latter of whom was initially detained since he was the only other known person at the house at the time. He was released for lack of evidence and accused responding officers of tampering with the deceased's remains. The death is believed to have been a murder, although the possibility of suicide was also rumored. Boon Siew issued a RM 500,000 reward for information, but the case remains unsolved.
Honours
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Loh Boon Siew's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Loh Boon Siew?
Malaysian businessman
When was Loh Boon Siew born?
Loh Boon Siew was born in 1915 in Hui'an County.
When did Loh Boon Siew die?
Loh Boon Siew died on 16 February 1995 in Malaysia.
What was Loh Boon Siew's occupation?
Loh Boon Siew was a businessperson.
What nationality was Loh Boon Siew?
Loh Boon Siew was Malaysian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Loh Boon Siew. https://biography.guide/loh-boon-siew/
MLA: "Loh Boon Siew." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/loh-boon-siew/.
Chicago: "Loh Boon Siew." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/loh-boon-siew/.
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