Story of the Oriental Bank of Malaya Limited.

Founder: Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas.

He was also the only ethnic Tamil ever to acquire a banking licence in Malaya.

who was blessed with an astonishingly acute foresight.

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

Originally B. P. Nicholas along with a close friend between the years of 1918 -1920 commenced his first monetary business providing financial services in Ipoh, Perak. Due to the date references he is recognised as one of the first Asian bankers in the history of British Colonial Malaya.

This led to the establishment in 1920 of B. P. Nicholas and Sons, whose Head Office was at No 2 Foch Avenue, (Now referred to as Jalan Cheng Lock) Kuala Lumpur.

In 1936 a Colonial Licence was obtained by the visionary B. P. Nicholas under the illustrious title of Bank of Malaya Ltd.

Anton delivered a sacred eulogy at his Dad's farewell service,the former Director and Manager of Oriental Bank Klang, Selangor.

Within the talk he sensed and spoke a prophetic word for the year 2016.

Dad would have been very pleased to witness how the whole service was conducted.

You need to view this video. See why Anton spoke with such intense passion. You will catch the sincerity of how much our Mum and Dad meant for the Nicholas family. Tears were shed. How could they not be!

Posted 10 July 2015.

Under a strict Vatican ruling the video eulogy below should not have lasted longer than five minutes under the Pastoral guidance of the local Parish Priest. Thank God the former Bishop of Penang was kind to him. Anton spoke for more than thirteen minutes.He broke all conventions.

Catch the moment when the Holy Spirit manifested His Presence whilst Anton was speaking especially regarding his family. A particular moment when tears were shed.




Nearly 2280 people from around the world have connected with BP Nicholas on this Facebook page and shared it with their friends.

We are encouraging our readers to do likewise.Click term'LIKED' on the main photo of B P Nicholas- Entrepreneur.


A note for Malaysians and viewers in South East Asia.

Look out for the Television Documentary to be broadcast by Malaysian cable television on our Grandfather B. P. Nicholas. For the first time the historical story of Grandad will be featured and given the recognition he truly deserves. All this was triggered when the author Peter John Chelliah published a book called ‘The Malaysian Indian Journey’ (Second Edition) which narrates the achievements of Malaysian Indians from diverse backgrounds. These individuals made a lasting impact in Malaysia. Our Grandfather was a true champion. It will be shown on an Indian Channel, Astro Vinmeen HD Channel 231 at 8-30 pm, 20th March 2015..The title of this very special documentary is called, ‘Kalathal Marrakpatta’, which is translated as ‘Forgotten in Time’. Please do view this incredible story.

மலேசியா மற்றும் தென்கிழக்கு ஆசியாவில் உள்ள தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு: என் தாத்தா B.P.நிக்கோலஸ் அவர்களைப் பற்றிய தொலைக்காட்சி குறுஞ்சித்திரம் மலேசியா கேபிள் தொலைக்காட்சி யினால் ஒளிபரப்பப்படப்போகிறதை எதிர்பாருங்கள். முதன்முறையாக தாத்தாவின் வரலாற்றுக்கதையை சித்தரிப்பதன்மூலம் அவருடைய தகுதியும் அங்கீகரிக்கப்படுகிறது.

உண்மையான சாதனையாளராக மலேசியாவில் ஒரு பெரிய மாற்றத்தை உருவாக்கியுள்ளார். இந்த நிகழ்ச்சி இந்திய சேனலான அஸ்ட்ரோ விண்மீன் HD சேனல் 231ல் மார்ச் 20ம் தேதி 2015 இரவு 8.30 மணிக்குஒளிபரப்பப்படப்போகிறது.இந்த சிறப்பான குறுஞ்சித்திரத்தின் பெயர் “காலத்தால் மறக்கப்பட்ட”. இந்த அற்புதமான கதையை பாருங்கள்..

On this 2020 Marriage Prophetic video below, where a father is directly speaking to his son, the essential truth on how to pray effectively with definite fruitful results will manifest themselves.

Paul Anton Imbaraj Nicholas is the first great grandson of B P Nicholas. Paul Nicholas has emulated the mantle of his great grandfather.

This 2020 Prophetic Word is mandatory.








There are some who are stating that this current pandemic is the 4th Horse found in the Book of Revelation being released on the face of this earth.

Revelation Chapter 6 verse 8: So I looked, and behold, an ashen (pale greenish grey) horse [like a corpse, representing death and pestilence]; and its rider’s name was Death; and Hades (the realm of the dead) was following with him.

They were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Is there Hope? Yes, it is only found in the saving Grace of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ and in His very powerful Precious Blood.

Namely 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14:

' If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and ‪‎pray‬ and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.'


Our dear Dad the former Director and Manager of Oriental Bank Klang Selangor passed away peacefully on 13 April 2015 in the afternoon. We will miss him tremendously. Our obituary below will speak for itself.

The Nicholas family placed the obituaries for our Dad Albert Arasaratnam in the following newspapers:
A full page colour obituary in The Star (Malaysia)

A full black and white obituary in The New Straits Times (Malaysia)

A full black and white obituary in The Malaysian Harian Tamil Malaysia Nanban

A half page obituary in The Straits Times (Singapore)

A full page colour obituary in The Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), the highest English circulation newspaper in Sri Lanka.

In Canada, the obituary was placed on the Karampon website.

Please do view B. P. Nicholas's son Albert's 95th birthday party below. Albert Nicholas was one of the Directors and the Manager of Oriental Bank of Malaya Ltd-Klang.

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 licenced as ‘The Bank of Malaya Limited’ was incorporated on December 31 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 — which ultimately meant he became the only ethnic Ceylonese ever to acquire a banking licence 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 relentlessly, walking up and down, 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.In fact in the 1930's there was a 'Kampong' village located in Brickfields named after B. P. Nicholas.

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 Arasaratnam Nicholas, were close neighbours to the Ananda Krishnan family. They resided on the same street, the leafy and much sought after Temple Road. Grandad's residence was number one, a grandiose bungalow, which was enclosed with servants ‘quarters.

View a photograph of Jaffna House below. The Residence of B. P. Nicholas.

B. P. Nicholas and Ananda's father spent great times socially playing chess together. Our Dad informs us that apparently our Grandad was one thoroughbred mathematician. There were no such mod cons as computers or calculators. In those days Grandad could have aided himself with a Chinese abacus. The fact of the matter is he did not need it. His brain was one superb calculator and he could do any addition, subtraction or multiplication within a few minutes. Now we know from where our children inherited their mathematic skills. It’s Grandad’s DNA. It took us by surprise when our son, Paul, announced to us that he wanted to read pure mathematics at Cambridge.( Do view the exciting Cambridge graduation photograph at the very end of this web-page He also obtained an Msc. from Imperial College London, for which he was awarded a distinction (a first). All the fees and expenses for the Msc. course were paid for by his employing company).

Our daughter Jannine also secured a place at St. John's College, Cambridge. She decided to study law following in the footsteps of her Grand Uncle Benedict Ponniah. Benedict was a nephew to B. P. Nicholas He was the first member within Grandad's clan to secure a place at Cambridge, notably St. John's.

To read further please press this LINK: Did our beloved Malaysia miss out on an elite Malaysian, Mr Benedict Ponniah, becoming Secretary General of the United Nations? After his graduation from Cambridge with a Triple First, Benedict Ponniah was invited for dinner to 10, Downing Street by Mr. Stanley Baldwin, then Prime Minister of England.

It looks like the father of Ananda Krishnan did not stand a chance for any victory in chess alongside B. P. Nicholas.

Till today our Dad still relates stories to us about how Grandad with the family encouraged and inspired the parents of Ananda Krishnan of humble beginnings to have faith and believe that their family would certainly prosper. They must have taken Grandad’s imposing house as a visual image that one day they would ascend to that level or even higher. Prophetically their son Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan has certainly prospered. A noted billionaire and the 3rd richest man in South East Asia. Now he is also an internationally recognised philanthropist. Our prayer is that one of the present generation of Nicholas' follows this trend!

We note a report that the son of Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan is a devout Buddhist monk residing in a 'Dhamma' in Thailand. We understand he is known by his Buddhist name Ajahn Siripanno. He speaks with a southern English accent for after all he was born and educated in England. Initially attending a grammar school in London. His mother is a high ranking Thai. In Thailand he was mentored by the Buddhist monks and closely followed the teachings of the Master, the late Ajahn Brahm. All the reports indicate that he loved the late Ajahn Brahm. This transformation took place sometime around May 1989 at the age of 18. The press reports identifies his sister as a doctor, residing in the United Kingdom.

One of the houses Grandad B. P. Nicholas bought faced a Buddhist Temple called The Maha Vihara Temple. (Commonly known to Dad as the Brickfields Buddhist Temple). This building was located exactly opposite Uncle Benny Thambyrajah's house. This was the first time as a young impressible lad, during a holiday stay with my Uncle that I observed the Buddhist monks clothed with their glowing orange robes. At close range it fascinated me to view them chanting some prayers in a row with their bowls going out to receive alms. This image is still visual even till today. I sometimes wonder whether as a young tender lad if the edifice of this temple moulded and influenced Ananda Krishnan in any way as it was located on the same street called Temple Road. On Vesak Day (informally known as Buddha’s Birthday) this area is jammed with vehicles. It is a hype of colourful cultural activities.

Interestingly enough there are also some famous religious institutions surrounding this strategic area. The Lutheran Zion Church on Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Sri Kandaswamy (Kovil) Temple located on Jalan Scott (our Dad confidently informs us it is also called the Ceylonese/ Tamil temple). We attended many Ceylonese friends’ marriages here. Not forgetting the Three Teachings Chinese temple situated along Jalan Thambillay. Mention must also be made of the Catholic Church Our Lady of Fatima which is also located along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. This Church originally faced and was a neighbour to some prime properties B. P. Nicholas purchased in the 1940’s. In 2008 we rented a condo on the 28th floor of the Suasana Sentral Condominium on Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur. In 2009 we located ourselves a bit higher and stayed on the 31st floor, from which we had an enlarged aerial view of Brickfields. We spent hours viewing the surrounding contour of Brickfields. We also saw a splendid panoramic view of Kuala Lumpur. We could see the graveyard where B. P. Nicholas was buried. We wondered what our grandfather would think of Brickfields now. There was a certain area of Brickfields where B. P. Nicholas was well known and here we are the grandchildren visualising back to the 1940’s what this area would have looked like. If not for his untimely death B. P. Nicholas would have seen the outworking of his grand vision for Brickfields.

My personal wilderness experience triggered this website. We want to acknowledge our Lord's blessings on it. It was inaugurated officially on 1st August 2002. It was a surreal moment for me to actually witness the dustmen coming to collect my treasured banking possessions and dump them with the neighbours rubbish. From my top floor window I meditated on the context of the scriptural verse from Philippians Chapter 3 verse 7- 'But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3 verse 8 b-----'I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ'. From then henceforth my challenging spiritual journey commenced.

Read what happened to me by pressing this link: What a wilderness experience!

"In love's service, the wounded soldier serves best” ― Thornton Wilder

31st December 2012 Our website received its millionth hit of- 1,008050 hits.

Website originally introduced August 2002. The millionth hit came from the country of Rwanda, derived from a random google keyword search for 'Selwyn Hughes biography'. The unknown individual caught our website. Ninth on the first google page. The webpage actually makes an interesting read!

It has been visited by 115,915 unique site visitors from different continents.

There are 16 video uploads on the ANTONNICHOLAS Channel on YouTube.

On 18th March 2013 this Channel received its 13,000th viewer.

The 13,000th viewer came from Oman. This country lies at the eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula.

To sense the fruit and the after effects of my intense meditation and spiritual experience watch very closely our You Tube wedding below and you will definitely grasp the fruit of His Divine Appearance and how my lifestyle affected every member of my family. You will sense the Presence of Jesus within the video.

For Jesus had to appear personally in a three dimensional open vision for Anton to receive a specific Heavenly assurance to marry an evangelical Christian. Anton was an orthodox, ultra-conservative, true blue Roman Catholic, a faithful early morning daily communicant. Do curiously view the video to witness how the narrative in the vision came to fulfilment. Ever since then their lives took on an unexpected course. The video will enhance you spiritually. Take a challenge and view it!

Press Here to read an incredible Testimony.



As a side note the close business associate (the right hand man) to Ananda Krishnan, Dr. Augustus Ralph Marshall the Chief Executive Officer of Astro, is acquainted with our family.

BP 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 grandsons secured employment in the Bank.

Given his profile B. P. Nicholas kept himself distantly quiet — although in the Brickfields area he was respected and referred to as Tuan (Sir) Nicholas. He purchased for himself an Austin Hillman car — it has been stated by my dad that such a grand car was rare during those days and often reserved for the likes of the British Governor. This is the reason why the present day Nicholas family refer to Grandad as the 'forgotten Malayan banker'.

It is sad and to our regret that we did not petition for at least a lane in Brickfields to be named after Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas! After all he contributed in his own way to boost the gross national product of the Malayan economy and provided wages and salaries for many Asiatics. This working income kept families together and the disposable capital generated itself through many facets of the day to day economy.

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, 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.

A large amount of research was undertaken to produce this profile at the recently refurbished Reference section of the British Library in London during 2007.




It was on 31 December 1936 that the dream and the vision

he was determined to see fulfilled in his lifetime 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 Licence 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 20th 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 11th January 1942 and they maintained their strangle hold till 15th 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!

In July/ August 1995 our family did stay in the Singapore Hilton for a week- it was expensive and very comfortable- Anton presented a talk in Singapore: To hear what was said press this link Anton speaking to the Sindhi community in Singapore.

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 a sad 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: But 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 the above scripture!

Posted 26th May 2014. A Solemn Word for 2015.

To digest on a platform of a Divine mandate please view the video.

Clarity is enhanced by viewing the 3 minute video below.The key Word needs to be captivated.It is mandatory to make your prayer time exciting. This will pull down, demolish and dismantle the strategy of the evil kingdom on your life.






Between 3-4 am some nasty thieves entered into the back of our bank house. ( View a photo of our Bank House, far below).

Press this link to read the following story. I knew after school finished I needed to urgently make a covenant agreement with our Living God, relating to the above thieving incident. Incidentally, my four brothers, Joseph, Justin, Sylvester, Fintan and myself attended one of the oldest school’s in Klang, The La Salle Primary/ Secondary school located at formerly called Telok Gadong Road, now I understand it’s referred to as Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, Klang. The official name of the school now is Sekolah Kebangsaan/ Menengah La Salle Klang. We were labelled as La Sallians.

Do browse through my interesting musings on my school days, La Salle School, Klang, Selangor, West Malaysia. Reminiscing my Primary/ Secondary school days. My memories take a slightly peculiar tangent. A scenario that might arouse your interest.


Just a comment

The Nicholas Household had to exercise a great deal of wisdom dealing with both the then 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.

Dad's birthday

Click here to view the video of my Dad’s impressive 90th 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!

Dad loves to sing ancient Christian Hymns. When he reached the prime age of eighty years and onwards, thankfully our neighbours were tolerant as they must have heard him roaring away some of his favourite Christian Hymns whilst sitting on the swing in the front garden. We can only pray that the melody and the tone brought comfort and healing to our neighbourhood. Do listen to one of his favourite hymns by viewing the You Tube production below!

Just before dawn (UK time) on the above date this finely orchestrated and blessed production of the Hymn, “Lead Kindly Light” (view below) graciously received its 3000th viewer. Visitors from all over the world have seen this video. This will be an anointed final Hymn to sing in all churches when we finally depart, smartly dressed and in our coffins to be truly and warmly welcomed by our Beloved Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth into the glorious splendour of Heaven.

Bahasa Malaysia/ Indonesian Translation.

*Pada hari Sabtu 18 September 2010, kami menghadiri Doa Malam yang amat megharukan di Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom. Antara 8 pm dan 8-30 malam, senja berlabuh dan sebahagian besar dari 80.000 jemaah berkumpul berada di lutut mereka, kepala tertunduk dalam doa khusyuk di rumput di Hyde Park.

Dalam pengabdian dan penghormatan ini Himne dinyanyikan: "Lead Kindly Light".

Tekan butang di bawah ini untuk video YouTube dan rasa sendiri sambil mendoa betapa kuat impartasi dari Roh Kudus. Sila cuba dan lihat samada Kehadiran manis Roh Kudus menyentuh anda!

Anda hanya boleh tahu bila melihat video ini. Kami amat gembira mendapat peluang menghadiri acara ini, dari jam 3 petanghingga 8-30 WIB.

a) ahli orkes, dekoratif memakai turban hitam, memainkan lagu ini di pemakaman Perdana Menteri pertama Bebas India, Jawaharlal Nehru, sebelum tubuh ditempatkan di kereta yang menempatkan meriam.*



This Picture is the front of The Oriental Bank, 38 Jalan Sultan Klang, Selangor, West Malaysia. Year 1949. We grew up within this environment.

This is my Dad in the picture below (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 1949.

Left to Right (bottom row)
1) G Rajan, ran a jewellery shop 2) S. Sundranpillai, District Office, Chief Clerk 3) G. Savarimuthu, Hospital Assistant 4) 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 : (Names continued below)



8) I. Ramanathan, Accountant, Oriental Bank, Klang 9) Encik Mohammed Ismail 10) Lim Eng Lim, Chartered Bank Officer( We want to thank May Lim (grand daughter) for confirming this entry via facebook on 12th Oct 2015).11) S. Chellapah, Building Site Manager
Left to Right (middle row)
12) Mr. Chettiar, a money changer 13) still unknown 14) Mr. Vinisithamby, High School teacher 15) still unknown 16) Mr Francis Xavier, Electrical Engineer 17) Mr.Yong Kee Mee, Businessman 18) Mr. Ramasamy, former owner of the land where Klang Club stands now 19) Mr.Lee Swee Wah, Planter 20) still unknown 21) Mr. Nagappan Chettiar, Dr Valiappan's father 22) Mr. Ng Kai Shah, Lai's father in law 23) still unknown (he was once a Petition Writer) 24) still unknown 25) Mr. Karthivelu, a clerk at the Oriental Bank
Left to Right (back row)
26) The youngish looking, late Tan Sri Dato' Seri V. Manikavasagam, who was the sixth President of the Malaysian Indian Congress and the former Minister for Communications in the Malaysian Cabinet 27) still unknown (a former Shopkeeper) 28) still unknown 29) still unknown 30) still unknown (Shopkeeper's son) 31) still unknown (worked in the Cooperative Society) 32) Mr.Chanadin, Watchman/ Guard/ Security 33) Mr. Letchumenan Chettiar 34) still unknown 35) still unknown

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, then please email us



The above picture is of the Church where my dear Mum and I attended daily services, at Our Lady of Lourdes Klang: No. 114, Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. I received much spiritual nurturing within these premises. Our whole family worshipped there on Sunday mornings.

I was a daily communicant, attended Saturday Novenas, and Stations of the Cross. There was also a grotto at the Klang Church that resembled Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in France, which is located on the south-western part of the Hautes-Pyrenees.

News of heaven's visitation has come following the miraculous imprinting of the image of the Virgin Mary on a window pane in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur.

It appeared on 11th November, 2012. This image has now found a permanent home at the back of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang. This happens to be my former kindergarten which I attended. This has now become a chapel for the image of Our Lady of Subang Jaya to rest in and for the world to view.

We are thankful

that the British Library have a copy of these two books. B. P. Nicholas and family are mentioned in them.

A) A Hundred Years of Ceylonese in Malaysia and Singapore (1867-1967)
Author: S. Durai Raja Singam.
British Library System Number: 003394916 Shelf mark: x805/259

B) Spotlights on the Jaffna Tamils in Malaya (1936)
Authors: Edward I. Ponniah and A. T. Kulasingham
Printed at the Commercial Press Kuala Lumpur, 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 noted for being the Managing Director, Oriental Bank, Malaya.

There was also an interesting page for all Malaysian Ceylonese to read that on Sunday 7th 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 Selangor Establishment list of 1 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.

On 27th October 2010, a specially invited guest Dr. Manmohan Singh (Prime Minister of India) alongside Dato’ Sri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, (Malaysia's Prime Minister) launched Little India by unveiling a fountain. "Little India" is Kuala Lumpur’s Indian enclave and covers the area from Jalan Travers to Jalan Tun Sambanthan in the Brickfields neighbourhood. May the transformation of Brickfields commence!

This picture below 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 Quarters is still in existence!

Incidentally my Dad's younger brother, Alfred Nicholas, was once the Treasurer of the Football Association of Selangor. Sometime later Alfred became the Assistant Treasurer of the Football Association of Malaysia.

(Year 1932) 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

Second 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, reading Mathematics and Law. 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 need to plant here without any optional caveats the challenging words of A. W. Tozer, “It is doubtful that God can use anyone greatly until He has hurt him deeply". Or to paraphrase the famous words of Pastor Charles R. Swindoll, “Before God can use a man He has got to crush him.” So do browse through, and read what the current Nicholas family had to persevere through. It will make a fascinating read.