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Daily Express
22-06-2025
- Daily Express
Vintage photos – ‘frozen' moments of North Borneo
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: This is the famous iconic panoramic picture of a very beautiful and neat-looking pre-war Sandakan taken in 1941 by Kwan Yau Mui, assisted by brother Kwan Dick Fook. Readers should note the photo is printed by surgically joining four negatives (below) together, giving an impression that it comes from one single wide angle shot. The Kwan brothers deserve a tribute for this heritage picture. MY fascination with North Borneo stamps initially sparked my interest in collecting postcards and real picture postcards (RPPC). As my collection grew, I realised I had amassed a substantial number of vintage images from the region. These photographs, often taken by professional local photographers, serve as windows into a society experiencing rapid societal and cultural change. Intrigued by their stories, I began researching the photographers, when and where the images were taken and who captured them. Advertisement These local photographers, I believe, were the region's earliest 'ambassadors' of tourism, culture, and history. The earliest of these ambassadors was Philippe B. Funk. With Dr PK Lim, we authored a book in 2014 titled 'Prewar Images of North Borneo', which shed light on Funk's contributions. The work was featured in the Daily Express as a weekly article in 2015. The Kwan brothers – pioneer lens men But perhaps even more fascinating are the Kwan Brothers – Kwan Kai Fook, Kwan Yau Mui, and Kwan Dick Fook, whose extensive collection of photographs remains influential today. Their images, many of which are traded online, serve as a lasting testament to their significant role in documenting the history of North Borneo. The Kwan Brothers played a pivotal role in pioneering photography in North Borneo during the early 20th century. They produced a vast array of historical photographs, greeting cards, and postcards depicting the region's architecture, landscapes, and indigenous populations. Their work captured the essence of life in North Borneo - its people, its society, and its environment, serving as a visual archive of a society on the verge of monumental change. Journey began in 1928 The journey of these photographers began before 1928 with Lee Nam Keng Kee & Sons, which produced five postcards during that period. Kwan Yau Mui, an avid photographer, established Sunshinewood Photo Service in 1928, operating from the first floor of Lee Nam Keng Kee at 69 Jalan Tiga, Sandakan. Many of the iconic pre-war images from Sandakan originate from his camera. As business flourished, the brothers founded The Flower Studio in 1938, located above Funk & Sons – a Western sundry shop on Jalan Tiga near North Borneo Trading. These studios became renowned for their ability to capture and preserve the spirit of life during the pre-war years. Their photographic work, especially the postcards adorned with typewritten captions, stands out for their clarity and subtle insights into daily life. These images encapsulate a society on the brink of monumental change, a culture that was both proud of its traditions and eager for progress. Famous panorama of pre-war Sandakan One of the most remarkable contributions of the Kwan Brothers was their pioneering work in panoramic photography. In 1941, Kwan Yau Mui and Kwan Dick Fook captured a famous panoramic view of pre-war Sandakan (Top picture). This masterpiece involved four carefully taken frames from strategic vantage points, maintaining a consistent focal point. The negatives were developed and pieced together with precision, preserving proportions and detail. Readers, especially Sandakan folks, should appreciate what a special effort or feat this really is, because although the world's first wide angle lens – Harison & Schnitza Globe (USA), was invented in 1862, professional photographers of North Borneo like the Kwan brothers, definitely were not equipped with such means or luxuries. So they resorted to joining up what looks like four 126-size negatives, incised and knitted so carefully together that when the panoramic picture was printed, it looks as though it comes from one single wide angle shot! It's a super darkroom job which people won't do unless they really had a heart for it. They also captured a panoramic view of Jesselton from the Residency on Signal Hill. These panoramic photographs serve as poignant reminders of the destructive impact of war. The contrast between the peaceful pre-war scenes and the post-war devastation (bottom picture) highlights how conflict leaves scars on both communities and landscapes. The scenes created by war, though tragic, also testify to the resilience of the people who lived through it. Editor's note: The article and pictures are contributed by the book's author, Sandakan-born Nicholas KM Tan, a noted collector and researcher of vintage postcards and impermanent postal collectables, thus preserved fleeting moments of colony North history published in the book. Besides being a graduate in Computer Science from North London Polytechnic, Tan is founder of Hotel Sixty3 on Gaya St, KK, co-author of another book 'Pre-War images of North Borneo'. He and wife Gloria Kah have six daughters.
Borneo Post
06-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sandakan's lost era revived in landmark photo book launch
The historic launch was officiated by Madam Wong Chio Chung, who was joined by author Nicholas Tan, publisher Datuk CL Chan, and her two sons, Pastor John Kwan and Kwan Yee Hau. SANDAKAN (May 5): In a heartfelt and historic occasion, the book ' 'Vintage Images of North Borneo' by the Kwan Brothers was officially launched on May 3 at a hotel here. The event drew an overwhelming crowd of more than 150 friends, family, and guests from all walks of life, all gathered to witness a momentous unveiling of memory and heritage. The launch is being hailed as perhaps the most successful cultural event of its kind ever held in Sandakan, celebrating not just a book, but the rediscovery of a lost era through photography. The landmark publication showcases the work of three gifted siblings — Kwan Kai Fook, Kwan Yau Moi, and Kwan Dick Fook — whose cameras documented the rhythms of life in Sandakan before the war and the profound transformations that followed. Among the highlights of the launch was the sale of 12 framed photographs, featuring rare pre-war and early post-war scenes captured by Kwan Dick Fook and Kwan Yau Moi. These limited-edition prints, elegantly framed and displayed, were quickly snapped up by collectors and supporters. Proceeds from the sales — totalling RM2,400 — were generously donated by historian Nicholas Tan to the Sabah Society (Sandakan Branch), further underscoring the community spirit that marked the occasion. The book itself is the result of nearly a decade of dedicated research by Nicholas Tan, a Sandakan-born historian whose meticulous work involved tracking down archives across Sabah, London, and beyond. He also conducted interviews with elders and family members to ensure that the names, places, and stories behind each photograph were preserved with accuracy and care. Many of the images had remained unseen for decades, tucked away in family collections, and were made available through the generosity of Madam Wong Chio Chung, widow of the late Kwan Dick Fook. Wong now in her late eighties, served as guest of honour at the launch, lending the event its emotional weight and historic resonance. Her presence was deeply felt by attendees, many of whom have personal memories tied to the places and faces immortalised in the Kwan brothers' images. 'This is more than a book launch — it is a communal act of remembrance,' said Datuk CL Chan, publisher of Opus Publications. 'Through these photographs, Sandakan's history comes alive again. What was nearly forgotten is now restored, not just in archives but in the hearts of its people.' Tan shared personal reflections during the event, recounting his meetings with Kwan Dick Fook, whose knowledge and recollections proved invaluable. 'Mr Kwan could look at a blurred corner of a photograph and tell you the name of the shop, the person standing outside it, and even what year it might have been. That kind of memory is irreplaceable — and this book is a tribute to that rare gift.' Vintage Images of North Borneo features over 200 rare and carefully restored photographs, each accompanied by detailed notes and historical commentary. Together, they form the most comprehensive visual archive of pre-war and early post-war Sandakan and North Borneo to date. Beyond its visual richness, the book also serves as a testament to resilience — of a town that endured devastation and found the strength to rebuild. The publication is available at The Borneo Shop in Wisma Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, and at the Museum Shop in the Sabah State Museum. It is already being embraced by historians, educators and members of the public as a vital historical record and a beautifully rendered tribute to the past. 'Through the Kwan brothers' lens, we see not only what once was — we feel it,' said Nicholas Tan. 'Their work, once hidden in dusty boxes and private albums, is now shared with the world. And through this book, their legacy lives on.'
Daily Express
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Pre, post-war Sandakan images in new book
Published on: Monday, May 05, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 05, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: Wong (left) and Nicholas (second, right) holding the book during the launch. SANDAKAN: A new book, Vintage Images of North Borneo by the Kwan Brothers, offer a rare glimpse into the town's pre-war vibrancy and post-war devastation through the lenses of three siblings—Kwan Kai Fook, Kwan Yau Moi, and Kwan Dick Fook. Compiled over nearly a decade by local historian Nicholas Tan, the book features previously unseen photographs that document Sandakan's transformation during one of its most turbulent eras. The launch was officiated by Madam Wong Chio Chung and attended by over a hundred guests on Saturday. Tan reflected on the journey to bring the work to light. 'Many images were made public for the first time, thanks to Madam Wong, widow of the late Kwan Dick Fook. 'This is more than a book—it's a time capsule. It is both a privilege and a pleasure to present this pictorial book,' said Tan, who first encountered the late Kwan Dick Fook in the 1960s as a boy living near the family's Flower Studio in Sandakan. Tan paid tribute to those who supported him—including Madam Wong, Dr. PK Lim, historians Datuk Dr Danny Wong and Mr Ross Ibbotson, and his publisher Datuk CL Chan. He also addressed a long-standing misattribution: the iconic 1941 panoramic photograph of Sandakan, he clarified, was taken by Kwan Yau Mui and Kwan Dick Fook, and the original negative remains with the Kwan family. Twelve prints from the Kwan Brothers are now on sale, with proceeds benefiting The Sabah Society, Sandakan. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
