Toh Ah Boon

Toh was the son of Toh Kim Swee, who died during his childhood; he lived with his uncle in Arab Street, Singapore and moved to Johor Bahru at age 15 when his uncle began working as a contractor.

After his uncle died, he took over the business. Toh was successful in his business as he invested in the landed property and also purchased a granite quarry at Pulau Nanas to supply granite to the Johor Government and the contractors of the public works in Singapore and Johor, which included the Mole in Singapore Harbour.

He was also involved in tapioca and rubber planting at Gunung Pulai and Jalan Skudai area. He retired in 1915 and his business was taken over and managed by his sons Toh Gim Seng and Toh Ah Moh.

Toh contributed much in Johor Affairs especially in education. He donated $20,000 and founded the Toh Ah Boon Scholarship Fund to enable students born in Johor to continue their study at the College of Medicine or Raffles College.

When the Johor Military Force proposed to expand their rifle range and buy over the adjacent land which belonged to Toh, he donated the land and also $20,000 to build a pavilion at the rifle range.

He also donated $10,000 to the Raffles College for the election in 1919. He also contributed much in the sport sector and donated a cup which bears his name to the Royal Johor Polo Cup.

He was honoured by the Sultan the DPMJ in 1925 and the SPMJ Dato in 1929. He was a member of the State Council and the Anti- Malaria Board for many years. He was also once Chairman of the Johor Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Town Board.

Jalan Dato' Toh Ah Boon near to Tampoi, Johor Bahru is a road named after him.^[1]