Goh Eng Wah

Goh Eng Wah (b. 1923, Muar, Johor, Malaysia–d. 5 September 2015, Singapore) was one of the pioneers of Singapore's film industry. He founded Eng Wah Organisation (now known as Eng Wah Global) in 1946,¹ a major film distributor and cinema operator in Singapore specialising in the screening of Chinese movies from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Today, the company has diverse investments in entertainment, hospitality and real estate in Singapore and Malaysia. Its portfolio of brands include WE Cinemas, Hotel Fort Canning and Jubilee Square.²

Early life
Goh was born in 1923 in Muar, Johor. He was the sixth child in his family, and had five elder sisters and a younger brother. His father, a rubber trader, passed away when he was 11 years old. After completing his secondary school education, Goh wanted to further his studies in Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, he had to hold back his plans because of the Japanese Occupation (1942–45). Having heard rumours that the Japanese military was rounding up students, Goh fled to Singapore at the age of 18 to live with his sister and brother-in-law. While waiting for the war to end, Goh made his living selling vegetables and Chinese herbal medicine.³

Career
After the Japanese Occupation, a friend with experience in film exhibition approached Goh to partner in a business to import and screen Shanghai films in Singapore and Malaya. They rented a performance stage from the Happy World amusement park (later renamed Gay World), which they renovated and opened as Victory Theatre. However, the two men parted ways when his friend lost interest and the business faileo. Goh then became the sole proprietor of Victory Theatre, while his friend assumed control of a cinema in Kota Tinggi, Johor.⁴

As Goh had little industry experience then, he initially hired a booking agent to help him with the acquisition of English films from American distribution offices in Singapore such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Universal Studios and Columbia Pictures, while he sourced for Chinese films. He picked up the skills of the trade from the agent and over time established his own contacts with the distribution companies. He also learnt by observing how big players such as Shaw and Cathay operated their cinemas.⁵

In the 1950s, Goh became a shareholder of two more cinemas, Happy Theatre and Silver World, at the Happy World amusement park. This paved the way to his eventual management of Happy World.⁶ In 1966, Jubilee Theatre at North Bridge Road was added to the fold.⁷ On 24 July 1968, Eng Wah Theatres Organisation Pte Ltd was incorporated for the purpose of acquiring the now defunct King's Theatre at Kim Tian Road.⁸

Besides film exhibition, Goh also ventured into Chinese film production from the late 1950s to the ’70s. Under the banner of Eng Wah Film Company, the company initially produced Amoy (or Hokkien) and Cantonese films in Hong Kong, but later shifted its focus to making Mandarin movies in Taiwan when these became more popular. These movies were distributed throughout Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Some notable movies include Miss Singapore (新加坡小姐；1959), The Magic Whip (神鞭侠；1968), Teddy Girls (飞女正传；1969), and Hiroshima 28 (广岛廿八；1974).⁹ His first Hokkien film, The Wandering Songstress（天涯歌女; 1958), starred local actress Zhuang Xuefang （庄雪芳）who later became known as the Queen of Amoy films.¹⁰ Goh also brought in  stars like Patrick Tse, Alan Tang, Siu Fong Fong and Fong Po Po to promote movies in Singapore.¹¹

In 1972, Goh created another milestone by opening a cinema in Toa Payoh, the first of his cinemas to be operated in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) estate. He went on to open more cinemas: Mandarin Theatre in Kallang, Empress Theatre in Clementi, Jubilee Theatre in Ang Mo Kio, Marina Theatre in Marina Square and Hollywood Theatre in Tanjong Katong. By this time, the company had established itself as a leader in the exhibition of Chinese films.¹²

In the 1980s, the ageing Goh began to hand over the reins of his company to his four children. By the ’90s, the company's daily operations were managed by his children, who were all executive directors of the company, while he remained as chairman.¹³ Under their management, Eng Wah Organisation (later Eng Wah Global) underwent several phases of modernisation, which saw the inclusion of English-language films in their programming, conversion of cinemas to cineplexes, refurbishment of cinemas, introduction of premium services and digital projection. The company also diversified into other forms of investment such as property leasing and hospitality.¹⁴ Eng Wah Organisation became a publicly listed company on 4 July 1994.¹⁵

Death
Goh passed away on 5 September 2015 at the age of 92 due to congestive cardiac failure.¹⁶

Family¹⁷
Wife: Mok Yuet Heng
Sons: Goh Keng Soon and Goh Keng Beng
Daughters: Goh Min Lu and Goh Min Yen



Author
Heirwin Mohd Nasir



References
1. “About Us,” Eng Wah Global, accessed 15 September 2016.
2. B. Chan, “Cinema Magnate ‘A Father Figure’: Mr Goh Eng Wah, Who Produced Films and Screened Them in His Cinema Chain, Was Caring Towards His Staff,” Straits Times, 8 September 2015 (From ProQuest via NLB’s eResources website); A. Lim, “Goodbye Leaping Tiger, Hello Tigerair,” MyPaper, 4 July 2013 (From Factiva via NLB’s eResources website); S. Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths,” Straits Times, 12 June 1994, 24. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths”; Mak M.S. “The Cinema Man,” Straits Times, 3 November 2007, 71 (From NewspaperSG); Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 19 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 29:47, Reel/Disc 1 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 19 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 29:35, Reel/Disc 2 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907)
4. Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths”; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 19 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:04, Reel/Disc 3 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Mak, “The Cinema Man.” 
5. Goh Eng Wah, interview, 19 June 1997, Reel/Disc 3 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 25 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:12, Reel/Disc 4 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 25 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 29:52, Reel/Disc 5 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907)
6. Goh Eng Wah, interview, 25 June 1997, Reel/Disc 5 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 25 June 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:05, Reel/Disc 6 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); “Demise of Founder of Eng Wah Global, Mr Goh Eng Wah,” Eng Wah Global, accessed 15 September 2016; Leslie Fong, “Govt Takes Over Gay World,” Straits Times, 25 July 1973, 1. (From NewspaperSG)
7. Goh Eng Wah, interview, 25 June 1997, Reel/Disc 5 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 17 July 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:44, Reel/Disc 8 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 21 August 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:44, Reel/Disc 11 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths.”
8. “Page 35 Advertisements Column 1,” Straits Times, 8 July 1994, 35 (From NewspaperSG); Goh Eng Wah, interview, 17 July 1997, Reel/Disc 8 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 21 August 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:07, Reel/Disc 11 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths.”
9. Goh Eng Wah, interview, 17 July 1997, Reel/Disc 8 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 14 August 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:02, Reel/Disc 9 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 14 August 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 30:02, Reel/Disc 10 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); Goh Eng Wah, interview, 21 August 1997, Reel/Disc 11 of 14; “Hong Kong Rong Hua Co.” HKMDB, accessed 15 September 2016; Eng Wah Global, “Demise of Founder of Eng Wah Global, Mr Goh Eng Wah”; Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths.”
10. B. Chan, “Goh Eng Wah, Pioneer of Local Cinema Industry, Dies at 92 of Congestive Cardiac Failure,” Straits Times, 7 September 2015; Goh Eng Wah, interview, 17 July 1997, Reel/Disc 8 of 14; Goh Eng Wah, interview, 14 August 1997, Reel/Disc 9 of 14; Kong Kam Yoke, “Zhang Xue Fang: TE Queen,” 20 August 2010. (From MusicSG)
11. Mak, “The Cinema Man.” 
12. “Page 35 Advertisements Column 1”; L. E. Prema, “Eng Wah to Operate Two Marina Square Cinemas,” Straits Times, 1 December 1988, 26. (From NewspaperSG)
13. Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths”; S. Long, “Have To Work Hard. Got No Choice,” Straits Times, 25 May 1997, 20 (From NewspaperSG); “Page 35 Advertisements Column 1”; Mak, “The Cinema Man.” 
14. Loh, “The David Who Fought Goliaths”; K. Ho, “Eng Wah Goes Places,” Straits Times, 2 October 2002, 3; Long, “Have To Work Hard. Got No Choice”; “Page 35 Advertisements Column 1”; Prema, “Eng Wah to Operate Two Marina Square Cinemas”; Li, X. “Bigger, Better Cinemas,” Straits Times, 28 March 1998, 6 (From NewspaperSG); Eng Wah Global, “About Us”; Goh Eng Wah, oral history interview by Jesley Chua Chee Huan, 28 August 1997, transcript and MP3 audio 29:42, Reel/Disc 13 of 14, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001907); jan Uhde and Yvonne Ng Uhde, Latent Images: Film in Singapore (Singapore: Ridge Books, 2010), 218–19. (Call no. RSING 791.43095957 UHD)
15. “Page 35 Advertisements Column 1.”
16. Chan, “Cinema Magnate ‘A Father Figure’”.
17. “Obituaries,” Straits Times, 7 September 2015, C8. (microfilm NL33624)



Further resources
“Started Screening Chinese Hits in ‘40s,” Straits Times, 28 March 1998, 7. (From NewspaperSG)

Wong, K. H. “Naked Ambition,” Straits Times, 27 November 2005, 29. (From NewspaperSG)



The information in this article is valid as at 2015 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.