[4] Koh Lay Huan was from T'ung-an county,[5] Zhang Zhou Prefecture in the Fujian Province,[6] on the southeast coast of China.
Having become involved in rebellious activity, Koh Lay Huan was forced to flee to the south part of Siam, where he settled successfully.
Already a shortly time after Light arrived, Koh Lay Huan came to visit him [13] and brought with him, from Kuala Muda, Kedah, several boatloads of Chinese and Malays to clear the land, inhabit, trade and generally develop the island.
He has little to do with the government but being rich and having married a daughter of the old King he bears a considerable sway in their Becharas or Council"[16] By appointing Koh Kapitan China, Light had gained an able administrator and judge.
In 1795, Light's business partner, James Scott, sought representation when it was decided that properties should be taxed, the revenue being needed to fund the police force, maintain roads and ensure cleanliness.
Koh retained his connection with the Acheh Sultan Jauhar al-Alam and around 1819 helped him to put down a rebellion by Achenese territorial chiefs .
Another descendant of Koh was Gu Hongming, a Scottish-educated conservative Confucian cultural critic serving in minor Chinese government positions during the end of the Qing dynasty.