The Visionary who brought Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd. into existence.

Story of the Oriental Bank of Malaya Limited.

    Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas

who was blessed with an astonishingly acute foresight.

An all consumingly passionate entrepreneur driven by a strategic vision single - handedly brought an idea to pass, overcoming obdurate hurdles and colonial prepotency.



   Press here for the HOME PAGE to view some in-depth pictures.

Regarding this profile some further research was done at the very grand, recently built British Library Reference Section. London, United Kingdom, 2007. The research material has been integrated within this profile.

To view a family photograph of the authors involved in researching, compiling and typing this web-page ( which entailed a lengthy period of time) do scroll down to the bottom of this page.

The story of the Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd. describes a family who fulfilled a vision. It is a story that begins with the young B. P. Nicholas travelling from Ceylon by sailing boat, and thence from Penang to Klang (Selangor) through crocodile infested waters.
Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas was lovingly known by his varied and business associates from various ethnic groups as B.P. Nicholas The bank originally licensed as ‘The Bank of Malaya Limited’ was incorporated on December 31^st 1936. B.P. Nicholas had 5 sons and 3 daughters and he wanted to see his whole family participating in his aspirational dream. He was one of the first non-British businessmen who endeavoured to become one of the top bankers in Malaya ¾ which ultimately meant he became the only ethnic Ceylonese ever to acquire a banking license in Malaya. This will explain why his name got mentioned in the illustrious compendium ‘Who’s Who'. For an Asian to be given a respectable 9 line mention during the Colonial reign reaffirmed that even the British found him an admirable character. Although it must be said here that he was torn between two visions: the first option of establishing the first non-European bank in Malaya and the second option of buying a big slice of land near Brickfields, in the Capital, Kuala Lumpur. Over many months he paced the floor, for this was a decision he had to make entirely on his own. At times it must have been torturous – if he had followed the second vision this prime property would be worth millions of dollars now. (Just as a matter of interest for those who are keen on a historical perspective of Brickfields, our grandfather B. P. Nicholas and his family which included our dad Albert Nicholas, were neighbours to the Ananda Krishnan family. They resided on the same road, the leafy and much sought after Temple Road. Grandad's residence was number one.( A photograph of the grand residence, Jaffna House is below). Till today my Dad still relates stories to me about how Grandad and family encouraged and inspired the parents of Ananda Krishnan to have faith and believe that one day their family would certainly prosper. Prophetically the son Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan has certainly prospered. Now a billionaire and the 3rd richest man in South East Asia. Our prayer is that one of the present generation of Nicholas' follows this trend! B. P. Nicholas exemplified his innate affection for the Tamil speaking community in Malaya by encouraging them to progress. He provided employment for many people from this sector to secure a steady income to enable them to prosper. There will be so many individuals in Malaysia who will owe their purpose to live to B. P. Nicholas. It's noteworthy that two of his grand-sons secured employment within the Bank.
Given his profile B. P. Nicholas kept himself distantly quiet. Although in the Brickfields area he was respected and they referred to him as Tuan (Sir) Nicholas. He purchased for himself an Austin Hillman car. It has been stated by my Dad that driving such a grand car was rare during those days. Such a car would usually be driven by the British Governor.This is the reason why our present Nicholas family recognise Grandad as the 'forgotton Malayan banker.' We sometimes wonder whether the present incumbent Member of Parliament who encompasses the constituency of Brickfields, the Bukit Bintang MP, Yang Berhormat Fong Kui Lun has ever heard of B. P. Nicholas? It is sad and to our regret that we did not petition for at least a lane in Brickfields to be named after B. P. Nicholas!

As a redoubtable and determined individual with strong principles, he arrived in Malaya sometime in 1892 and received his early education in Singapore. He served in various Malayan states in a company called the Federal Engineering Company and had been appointed the accountant of the Penang branch. After leaving the company, he set up one of the first companies providing financial services in partnership with his friend a Mr. Kock, a contractor based in the State of Ipoh, Perak. This financial business was in reality a money lending activity. This is the main reason why B. P. Nicholas is recognized as the first Asian banker in the history of British colonial Malaya. The partnership was later dissolved and our Grandfather assimilated the original money lending activity into a banking business under the profile of B.P. Nicholas & Sons Bankers. His first office was located at number 2, Foch Avenue, Kuala Lumpur. Note the entry below, printed in the Malay Mail, Thursday January 7^th, 1937 on page 12. It clearly states that B. P. Nicholas and Sons Bankers was established in the year 1920 in Malaya. This information was obtained from the British Library, Newspaper Section, London, United Kingdom. (Shelf Mark number MC 1300). This entry appeared every few days in the month of January, 1937. In the same page there are other banks mentioned, namely Chartered Bank Of India, Australia & China (Incorporated in England by Royal Charter 1853), The Mercantile Bank Of India Ltd. (Incorporated in England), Hongkong And Shanghai Banking Corporation (Incorporated in the Colony of Hong Kong) and The Overseas - Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd, (Incorporated in Straits Settlements), with its Head Office in Chulia Street, Singapore.

It was on 31st December 1936 that the dream and vision he was determined to see fulfilled in his lifetime finally came to pass. Apparently, my Dad reported that he kept on looking at the Official Document over and over again. It looked impossible but finally the British authorities granted him the License he desperately wanted! The Bank of Malaya Limited was incorporated by this inspirational Malayan Ceylonese.

B.P Nicholas had his Headquarters at Mountbatten Road, Kuala Lumpur. It was capitalised at $180,000 and the Bank of Malaya Limited held its first meeting on 9th January 1937.

The main proportion of the business was limited to handling remittances from the members of the Ceylonese community working in Malaya, who gave the bank their firm and solid support. He showed traces of a present day global banker by later acquiring the Bank of Jaffna, Northern Ceylon, in 1938.

In its second year of operation, the Bank of Malaya actually reported a net profit of $16 085. In late 1938, the bank was advised by the government to change its name to the Oriental Bank of Malaya Limited. The crucial reason being the BRITISH banks were unhappy over the use of the name as it lifted up the profile of the real status of the bank and the original name helped attract business, not only from the Tamil community but also from some established local businessmen.

The Japanese Occupation of Malaya affected so many families, one being the demise of the visionary B. P. Nicholas. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came 20^th Oct' 1942. Apparently he knew that death was approaching, just a good hour before he passed away, B. P. Nicholas called each of his family members individually to his bedside and gave them specific instructions on how he wanted the business to be run.

The Japanese captured Kuala Lumpur on 11^th January 1942 and they maintained their strangle hold till 15^th August 1945. The Malaysians refer to this period of “ 3 years and 8 months” as an hellish experience with tangible fear enveloping the nation. My uncle Edwin Nicholas, my Dad’s eldest brother had to tread very carefully and cautiously when dealing with the Japanese “Kapitan” (Captain)--who was overall in control of Kuala Lumpur.

Uncle Edwin, who was a young maturing man in his thirties at that time had been a director since 1936, was appointed chairman. As the founder was not on the scene, the bank had to operate on a reduced scale and Edwin trained all his young 4 brothers. Albert, Cyril, Alfred and Victor later helped in the operation of this banking business. Real chaos followed the Japanese surrender and the banking business had to be suspended – it officially recommenced on September 15, 1945.

The family continued to run the business successfully through many troubled years, and an incident occurred which changed the format of their involvement in banking. In 1968 a Malaysian-born entrepreneur, Cho Jock Kim, approached the family and offered $1-60 a share to buy out the family’s controlling 52% share. His actual permanent residence status was in the thriving business state of Singapore. He was heavily involved in the publishing and hotel business. In 1971 Mr Jock Kim was the Managing Director of the plush Singapore Hilton. I happened to get a glimpse of this Gentleman just once when he suddenly popped over without notice to our Bank house in Jalan Sultan, Klang. He oozed a commanding influence, like he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the Bank he had just purchased. One of the first things he told Dad was that he wanted our Klang Branch to be transferred to the other side of Klang, which in common parlance means, the other side of the Klang bridge!

( suffice to say that in July/ August 1995 our family did stay in the Singapore Hilton for a week- it was expensive and very comfortable).

In 1969, the vision of B. P. Nicholas who founded the one-time ‘Nicholas Bank’ as it was popularly known among older clients came to an end. But thanks Be to the Living God, now the higher and greater vision mandated by our Precious Friend, God The Holy Ghost is being pursued now with great zeal by the grandchildren and the great grandchildren of B. P. Nicholas, which is embossed within our favourite scripture found in Matthew Chapter 6 verse 33:³³But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

This vision will never die! Our website will testify to this scripture!

Thank God for His Faithfulness. Do read Anton's prophecy for 2010 and onwards :discern, pray and than hearken. Please press this link. Let the words take residence in you!

               For the hour is urgent Brethren!

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Between 3-4 am some nasty thieves/ crooks entered the back of our bank house to gain access to the bulky bank safe: read what happened to them? They wanted to get rich quick.

Press this link:

Nasty thieves enter bank house! See photograph of bank house below.

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The visionary also purchased this prestigious property:

Jaffna House

Temple Road

Brickfields

Kuala Lumpur

Selangor,

Malaysia.

This photo was taken in September 1934

Seated from left to right: Mr. P M Thamboo. (Mr Paul Manuel Pillai Thamboo was a close relative to Mr. B.P. Nicholas. Mr Thamboo was well trained in business and accounts by B.P. Nicholas. Mr Thamboo was appointed as the first manager for the Seremban Branch, Malaysia after 5 years of training under Mr B.P.N), Mr. Cyril Nicholas, who was the Director and Manager of Oriental Bank, Seremban; Mr. Albert Nicholas, my Dad was the Director and Manager of Oriental Bank, Klang; Mr. Edwin Thiruchelvan Nicholas was the Managing Director; Mr. Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas, the Founder and the Visionary; Mrs. Alice Pillai was my dad's grandmother; Mrs. Ester Chellammah Nicholas; Mrs. Elsie Mittamah Nicholas; Mrs. Eleanor Rasamah Nicholas; Mrs. Grace Nicholas (wife of Edwin Nicholas); Ms. Emily Nicholas

Background: Appu (the cook was from Kerala, South India. He was a good cook, (previously an employee in a restaurant in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur). He specialised in chicken and mutton curry. My Dad’s mother the late Mrs Ester Chellammah Nicholas taught Appu how to make the best Indian Malaysian breakfast delicacies like “appam,” “putu” and “thosai.” Every morning for breakfast the Nicholas family would be served different varieties of food. Sadly Appu had to leave for Kerala, India before the commencement of the second world war, having worked with the Nicholas family for several years. Appu was indeed a specialised cook and his parting was a very sad day for the Nicholas family.), & Andy the gardener/farmer.

It was my Dad’s mother, who mooted the idea to her husband, B.P. Nicholas, to buy a milking cow. At the first instance they purchased three milking cows and subsequently these increased to twenty cows excluding young calves. They had 2 cow herdsmen: one was Andy and the other was his assistant, Vythilingham. My Dad’s parents brought Vythilingham from Jaffna, Ceylon, together with a maid to help with the household work. B.P. Nicholas bought 12 acres of land and erected a cowshed for the cows. Every morning after milking the cow at 6:30 am the cows were herded together and sent to Lake Gardens, a place for grazing cows gazetted by the Government. At 1:30 pm the cows were brought back to the cowshed and in the evening at around 5 pm the cows would be milked again.) Presently 2007, the Lake Gardens is a scenic place of beauty: obviously my Grandad’s cows left a lasting legacy by helping to fertilize the area. It has actually become a tourist attraction.

Centre: Mr. Benedict Anthony Bastianpillai Ponniah (Queenscholar at Cambridge University); he was the first individual within our clan to attend Cambridge University. He is the nephew of the visionary, Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas. (Did our beloved Malaysia miss out on an elite Malaysian becoming Secretary General of the United Nations?) To read further:

Please click this link: http://www.antonnicholas.org.uk/profiles/benedict.htm

Seated on the ground: Mr. Alfred Nicholas; Mrs. Beatrice Rajaratnum (daughter of Elsie Nicholas); Mr. Victor Nicholas; Ms. Anna Joseph (daughter of Eleanor Nicholas)

Just a Comment:

The Nicholas Household had to exercise a great deal of wisdom dealing with both the than residing British ruling class and then later the invading and conquering Japanese, (2nd World War). For B. P. Nicholas to receive a Banking Licence issued under the prestigious name of, The Bank of Malaya Limited--- showed clearly he developed the art, all the necessary and needed nuances and the political maturity to deal culturally with the British. It is also obvious to be noted that B. P. Nicholas must have either groomed his eldest son or on the contrary Edwin learned at close quarters from his father how to operate doughtily with both rulers and invaders. When the Japanese forces moved into Kuala Lumpur, Edwin Nicholas had to confront them directly. For the Nicholas’s had some prestigious property which included some detached houses within the Brickfields area. The testimony here was that no property was damaged and that no member of the Nicholas household was either brutalised, persecuted, traumatized or killed by the Japanese forces.They even mercifully spared hitting our families with the dreaded bamboo pole which was relentlessly and forcefully used on the helpless British prisoners of war. I better put it on record what my Dad told me about his parents that they kept themselves very close to Almighty God and when possible attended daily service at the local church. All the children were disciplined to pray daily. The only precious toll was that this invasion in some ways affected the vision and the further expansion dreams of the founder B. P. Nicholas. The diminution of his dream tremendously affected his health.

Click here to view the video of my Dad’s impressive 90^th birthday party.

This was a tremendous joyous occasion for my Dad. See him celebrating with his family, relatives and close friends in Malaysia. Live music included to serenade the gathering, surrounded by electric fans producing cool steam!

This is my Dad ( with the good looks), Albert Arasaratnam Nicholas as a young man sitting on the front row, fifth from the left. The director and manager of Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd., Jalan Sultan, Klang, Selangor, West Malaysia. This photograph was taken in the year 1949.

Left to Right (bottom row)

1. G Rajan, used to run a jewellery shop

2. S. Sundranpillai, District Office, Chief Clerk

3. G. Savarimuthu, Hospital Assistant

. S. N. Maruthu, Carey Island, Businessman

5. A. A. Nicholas, Manager of Oriental Bank

6. Rev. Father Simon Edmund, Parish Priest of our Lady of Lourdes Church, Klang

7. Mr. Cyril Nicholas, Assistant Manager, Oriental Bank, Klang

8. I. Ramanathan, Accountant, Oriental Bank, Klang

9. Encik Mohammed Ismail

10. Lim Eng Lim, Chartered Bank Officer

11. S. Chellapah, Building Site Manager



    If anyone recognizes a face that we have not as yet identified on the photograph that you can put a name to and the profession/ job they were involved in, than: please e-mail us:

Research Done 24^th May 2007

We are grateful to our research assistant Valerie Meilton for spending some lengthy hours at the Reference section in the massive and renowned British Library, positioned at 96, Euston Rd, London, NW1 2DB, UK. She decided to research references to B. P. Nicholas and his immediate family. Just to extract one single item of information is a mammoth task. She definitely needs a pay increase!! If you are curious to know who Valerie Meilton is: Than press this link: Valerie’s father passed away in 1991 and Mum in 1999. Her mum's last words to us was to take care of her only daughter. Valerie has now become an adopted member of our family. Please do read how God the Father has restored her spiritually and physically. Please click here to read her story from the depths of despair to restoration.

If there is any individual or an organization in Malaysia, Singapore or the Far East who have a copy of the following two books, the Nicholas family in London would be eternally grateful to receive a copy. We are thankful that the British Library have a copy of these two books. B. P. Nicholas and family are mentioned in these two books.

A) A Hundred Years of Ceylonese in Malaysia and Singapore

(1867-1967)

Author: Singam: S. Durai Raja

British Library System Number: 003394916 Shelf mark: x805/259

B) Spotlights on the Jaffna Tamils in Malaya

(1936) by Edward I. Ponniah and A. T. Kulasingham

Printed at the Commercial Press Kuala Lumpar

British Library Shelfmarks: 010056.aa.7

In the first book in one of the pages entitled :Being Records and Recollections of a Community under the sub-title of:

                                                                       Selangor Pioneers

Mr. Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas and Mrs Ester Chellammah Nicholas are recognised and noted as state of Selangor pioneers.

Mr. Benedict Ponniah is also mentioned as a F. M. S. Queen’s Scholar, 1934.

Mr. Edwin Thiruchelvam Nicholas is written down as the Managing Director, Oriental Bank, Malaya.

There was also an interesting page for all Malaysian Ceylonese to read that on Sunday 7^th August 1949, about 120 Ceylonese from various parts of the Federation of Malaya met at the Vivekananda Ashrama, Kuala Lumpur. The Chairman was the Honourable Mr. E. E. C. Thuraisingham, CBE. Later referred to as Dato Sir Clough Thuraisingham. They met to discuss how much the community should contribute to the Malayan University (Ceylonese) Endowment Fund. The Bankers chosen for holding this fund was my Granddad’s bank, The Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd. Apparently the Treasurer, Mr. R. Nagaretnam resigned in October 1949 and the Bankers took over the position as Treasurers too.

It’s a noted fact that the Malayan Railways was once called, “The Jaffna Railways.” It is also an established fact that the Selangor State Railways were 90% or more staffed by Ceylonese. This information can be obtained from the Selngor Establshment list of 1^st January 1899. Further records are available at the National Archives, Kuala Lumpur.

This information indicated that a Mr. B. P. Nicholas was one of the earliest Ceylonese to join the once referred to, “The Jaffna Railways” in the Federated Malay States. It looks like my Grandad joined the Railways when he was 16 years old. His staff number was number 3- makes him one of the first three employees in the Federated Malay States Railways

In the second book (1936) authored by Edward I. Ponniah and A. T. Kulasingham it was mentioned that B. P. Nicholas has done useful service to the Community by providing the only Bank in Jaffna, Ceylon

This below picture was taken in the year 1932. My Dad’s football team called The Alberta X1 played at a self named Yankee Stadium on Chan Ah Tong Padang ( field), located along Chan Ah Tong Street near the 100 Quarters, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Would you believe this if we told you that after all these years the 100 Quaters is still in existence!

Standing back row commencing from the left:

1. Peter Dawson, 2) Mr. K.K. Pillai, wearing a football blazer– was the advisor and Manager for my Dad’s football team. Mr Pillai was a former Selangor, Tamilian Physical Culture Association (TPCA) football player. He also played hockey and rugby. He was Police Traffic Chief – Inspector in charge of a Police Station in Kuala Lumpur. 3) Soh Chin Chye

2^nd Row 1) Das – also played for TPCA and Selangor Chinese Association Club (SCAC), 2) John Chye, 3) Nadarajah -played football for the State of Selangor. Also triumphed as a hockey player. Once President of TPCA.

Front row 1) Teoh – played for SCAC 2) Anadan – played for TPCA, 3) My Dad Albert Nicholas, aged 17 years old – Captain and centre forward of the football team. Well known personality in Brickfields. Obviously football ran in the Nicholas blood for his son Anton had a team joined by the Jalan Sultan, Klang Chettiar boys. His other two son’s Sylvester and Fintan had their own teams too.4) Cyril Gomez – played for the Selangor Rangers,5) Chan Ah Fook – played for SCAC.

On the video below, filmed in Malaysia, Anton proclaims a moving testimony about the great grandchildren of B. P. Nicholas who secured a place at Cambridge University. Do check it out to see how the Malaysians received the contents of what he shared. For this links up to the vision of our granddad.

We want to acknowledge our Lord's blessings on this website. It was blessed and inaugurated officially on

1^st August 2002.



                                               This visitor Neo -Counter below was introduced for the first time today

                                                                 1^st January 2009.

                                  It's so exciting to see visitors coming from the far corners of the earth!

                                                  May our Lord's Name be exalted over each country

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Paul graduated with an Honours Degree in his Mathematics tripos from Christ's College, University of Cambridge, 1st July 2005.

In 2003 he became a Scholar when he secured a first in his part 1 A of his tripos. Press Link: It's an impressive photo!

Paul is pictured with his parents, his sister Jannine and our adopted family member Valerie who is positioned on the extreme left.

Our daughter Jannine is now studying law at St. John's College, Cambridge. One of the reasons she opted for this College was to follow in the footsteps of her grand Uncle Benedict Ponniah, ( Did Malaya miss out on an elite Malaysian becoming Secretary General of the United Nations?) Press Link: A Queens Scholar, in the same prime league as the renowned Seniors Mr & Mrs Lee Kuan Yew. (The first Prime Minister of modern Singapore).

A marginal difference was that Mr Lee graduated with the rare Double Starred First Class Honours in the year 1949. Very few have achieved this!!

The conditions were steep for Jannine, she had to obtain a minimum mark of 90% for her A level subjects.

Results published

20th August 2009

From the above it is evidently very clear that St John's College, insisted on Jannine receiving a minimum of 3 A stars for her A level subjects. Just being awarded an A grade was not sufficient for Cambridge. Jannine received 96% for Economics, 91% for Chemistry, Mathematics 89% and Latin 87%. At 7-30 pm we received this news: Congratulations! Your place at University of Cambridge to study Law has been confirmed. Press here to read why praying was mandatory. You can read further by pressing this Link:

In March 2009 Paul received his MA from Cambridge. He also graduated with a Msc, from Imperial College London, for which he was awarded a distinction (a first). His graduation ceremony for his MSc, took place at the Royal Albert Hall, May 2009. On 17th July 2009 Paul conveyed the thrilling news to us that he had passed his final Actuarial Paper. On 24th July 2009 his name was published in the London Times, page 68, stating he is now a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. Well done Paul! You can relax now and enjoy your profession as a fully qualified Actuary.

Solely for the the hits coming in from Africa, if you want to glimpse at a picture of a school that Saida attended at Kampala, Uganda, then please press this link: Saida had some happy times in Kampala, Uganda

The counter below shows a diamond for each visitor from around the world. Please click on the image below for a pop up window showing this more clearly. Introduced 2009.


	Story of the Oriental Bank of Malaya Limited.
	Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas who was blessed with an astonishingly acute foresight. An all consumingly passionate entrepreneur driven by a strategic vision single - handedly brought an idea to pass, overcoming obdurate hurdles and colonial prepotency. Press here for the HOME PAGE to view some in-depth pictures. Regarding this profile some further research was done at the very grand, recently built British Library Reference Section. London, United Kingdom, 2007. The research material has been integrated within this profile. To view a family photograph of the authors involved in researching, compiling and typing this web-page ( which entailed a lengthy period of time) do scroll down to the bottom of this page. The story of the Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd. describes a family who fulfilled a vision. It is a story that begins with the young B. P. Nicholas travelling from Ceylon by sailing boat, and thence from Penang to Klang (Selangor) through crocodile infested waters. Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas was lovingly known by his varied and business associates from various ethnic groups as B.P. Nicholas The bank originally licensed as ‘The Bank of Malaya Limited’ was incorporated on December 31^st 1936. B.P. Nicholas had 5 sons and 3 daughters and he wanted to see his whole family participating in his aspirational dream. He was one of the first non-British businessmen who endeavoured to become one of the top bankers in Malaya ¾ which ultimately meant he became the only ethnic Ceylonese ever to acquire a banking license in Malaya. This will explain why his name got mentioned in the illustrious compendium ‘Who’s Who'. For an Asian to be given a respectable 9 line mention during the Colonial reign reaffirmed that even the British found him an admirable character. Although it must be said here that he was torn between two visions: the first option of establishing the first non-European bank in Malaya and the second option of buying a big slice of land near Brickfields, in the Capital, Kuala Lumpur. Over many months he paced the floor, for this was a decision he had to make entirely on his own. At times it must have been torturous – if he had followed the second vision this prime property would be worth millions of dollars now. (Just as a matter of interest for those who are keen on a historical perspective of Brickfields, our grandfather B. P. Nicholas and his family which included our dad Albert Nicholas, were neighbours to the Ananda Krishnan family. They resided on the same road, the leafy and much sought after Temple Road. Grandad's residence was number one.( A photograph of the grand residence, Jaffna House is below). Till today my Dad still relates stories to me about how Grandad and family encouraged and inspired the parents of Ananda Krishnan to have faith and believe that one day their family would certainly prosper. Prophetically the son Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan has certainly prospered. Now a billionaire and the 3rd richest man in South East Asia. Our prayer is that one of the present generation of Nicholas' follows this trend! B. P. Nicholas exemplified his innate affection for the Tamil speaking community in Malaya by encouraging them to progress. He provided employment for many people from this sector to secure a steady income to enable them to prosper. There will be so many individuals in Malaysia who will owe their purpose to live to B. P. Nicholas. It's noteworthy that two of his grand-sons secured employment within the Bank. Given his profile B. P. Nicholas kept himself distantly quiet. Although in the Brickfields area he was respected and they referred to him as Tuan (Sir) Nicholas. He purchased for himself an Austin Hillman car. It has been stated by my Dad that driving such a grand car was rare during those days. Such a car would usually be driven by the British Governor.This is the reason why our present Nicholas family recognise Grandad as the 'forgotton Malayan banker.' We sometimes wonder whether the present incumbent Member of Parliament who encompasses the constituency of Brickfields, the Bukit Bintang MP, Yang Berhormat Fong Kui Lun has ever heard of B. P. Nicholas? It is sad and to our regret that we did not petition for at least a lane in Brickfields to be named after B. P. Nicholas!