Chef Wan reveals Kuching pioneer Ong Tiang Swee was his great-grandfather

Celebrity chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, also known as Chef Wan, has revealed that his great-grandfather was Ong Tiang Swee, a prominent Kuching pioneer and merchant. Chef Wan made the discovery during a visit to the Chinese History Museum in Kuching, where he shared his findings on Instagram alongside Sarawak Women of Tomorrow chairwoman Datuk Zunaidah Idris.

The museum tour showcased displays on early Chinese migration from provinces such as Guangdong and Fujian, and Chef Wan explained that Ong Tiang Swee was his maternal grandmother's father. The merchant, who died in Kuching in 1950, had a road named after him and received a state funeral upon his passing. The revelation sheds light on Chef Wan's family's aristocratic and wealthy background on his mother's side.

During the visit, Chef Wan also shared his reflections on his family's history during World War II, including the hardships faced by his great-grandmother and grandmother who were sent to Singapore and subsequently gave birth to Chef Wan in 1958.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.