In the following two decades, there was a surge of newly founded high schools throughout Malaya. In February 1919, the first Chinese high school in Malaya, the Penang Hua Chiao High School (Chinese: 檳城華僑中學) was established at the Ping Zhang Chamber (Chinese: 平章會館, now the Penang Chinese Town Hall) by Tye Siok Guan, son of Tye Kee Yoon. On 21 March 1919, the first Chinese high school in Singapore, the Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School (Chinese: 新加坡南洋华侨中学校, later The Chinese High School) was founded in Singapore by Tan Kah Kee. Formation and first years Plans for a Tongmenghui-funded Chinese institution in Penang first appeared as early as 1908. In 1915, five members of the Penang Philomathic Union – Tan Xin Cheng (1881–1924), an important member and financier of the Tongmenghui and one of the founders of the Kwong Wah Daily; Lim Joo Teik (1864–1930) a prominent member of the local Hokkien community; Khoo Beng Cheang (d.1935–1946), Tongmenghui member and later Vice President of the Rubber Trade Association of Penang in 1930; Khaw Seng Lee (1886–1967), jeweller and rubber tycoon, once nicknamed the "King of Gold" (Chinese: 金王); and Chee Yeong It, political writer and publisher, spearheaded efforts to organize the creation of a privately funded institution. It was decided that the formation of the institution will involve primary education. The school was named Chung Ling (鍾靈), a name proposed by Chee. The name was later set as Chung Ling School, the first iteration of the present institution. Classes were first held on 9 February 1917 at the second floor of the shophouse owned by the Penang Philomathic Union at 16 Malay Street (Chinese: 台牛后十六號). It was purchased along with 18 Malay Street nearby, after the operations of the Southeast Asia Tongmenghui was moved from Singapore to Penang in 1909, the prior being an office and the latter for Kwong Wah Daily. Lim Joo Teik and Chee Yeong It was elected as the first chairman and deputy chairman of the Board of Governors respectively. Goh Ah Long (1891–1943), an immigrated teacher from Zhao'an County, Fujian was appointed as the first headmaster of the school at the age of 24. Wu was noted to be a prolific author and an avid member within the Tongmenghui. During his tenure as headmaster, he was invited by the Kwong Wah Daily as their managing director. The school had 81 students within the first year,