 Meanwhile, in 1852, Kee Lye Huat, an ethnic Chinese, landed in "Province Wellesley" (now Seberang Perai).Starting out as a coolie, he gradually became a successful sugar planter and the owner of the Val d'Or sugar cane estate; he is now credited as the founder of the town.Kee also played an instrumental role in the development of nearby Sungai Bakap.