In the early 20th century, a Hokkien merchant by the name of Song Kheng Hai had his moment in the sun in Old Kuching. Born into a poor family in the Nan’an county in Fujian, China in 1876, he went to Singapore as a youth of 15 or 16 and took up work in a local produce shop. The boss recognised his industrious spirit and took him in as a foster son. At 25, he brought his family to Kuching to start his own business with funds given by his foster father.
He set up his shop Soon Bee Ann (顺美安) at No. 46 Main Bazaar and dealt in the trading of local produce and sundry goods. A resourceful entrepreneur, Song Kheng Hai quickly made a fortune and diversified his business, partnering with larger businesses in Singapore and advancing into the real estate market. Over the years, his wealth came to rival that of fellow Hokkien magnate Ong Tiang Swee. His active participation in society earned him the rajah’s regard and an appointment to the magistracy at the Chinese Court.
Around 1915, the rajah entrusted Song Kheng Hai with the development of the Padungan area. He built a mansion for his own family and over 40 two-storeyed shophouses during 1926–30. No sooner had the shophouses been completed than the 1930s global economic crisis struck and drove Song to declare bankruptcy around 1934. The Song family continued to produce key figures in business and politics, including father-and-son Song Thian Chiok (宋天祝) and Song Swee Guan (宋瑞源).
宋庆海先生
宋庆海是20世纪初期名噪一时的福建商人，1876年出生于福建泉州南安县乡下的贫寒家庭中，15、6岁南来新加坡，在一家土产店打工。由于工作勤奋，很得头家赏识，就把他认为义子。25岁那年，宋庆海携家带卷，也带着义父提供的一笔资金，到古晋来创业。
宋庆海租下海唇街门牌46号的老店，创办了“顺美安”宝号，从事土产和杂货买卖。他长袖善舞，很快的累积了财富，开始将业务多元化，也和新加坡的一些大商家合作，进军地产领域。多年以后，他的财势直逼当时的福建大老王长水，而且活跃于社会工作，并得到拉者重视，曾经受委为华人裁判庭的推事。
1915年前后，拉者将浮罗岸地区交由宋庆海发展，他先在当地建了一栋宋家的豪宅，而后又在1926至30年间，建了40多栋双层店屋。可惜的是，当时全球暴发经济风暴，浮罗岸店屋滞销，宋庆海的资金链断裂，导致他在1934年前后宣告破产。宋家儿孙后来继续在商场与政坛征战，出了不少顶尖人物，其中包括宋天祝和宋瑞源父子，都是政界人气极高的风云人物。
