Born in 1914 in Singapore, Tan Sri T. H. Tan worked as a journalist for a Singapore-based English newspaper during his younger days. In 1950s, he started his political career and was appointed Executive Secretary General of MCA and Secretary General of the ruling Alliance in 1953 until 1971. He had close ties with Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Father of Malaysia, and was a member of the Malaya Independence Team. He represented the MCA and took part together with UMNO leaders Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak in independence talks in London with the British colonial rulers.

In 1975, he called it a day from his political career and ventured into the business arena. He was the prime driver of the establishment of Malayawata Steel Company, the first million-ton integrated steel mill in the country. He helped in the formation of the first Malaysia-China Council for Economic Cooperation. During his tenure as President in 1966, the ACCCIM launched the motion to boycott Japanese goods. As a result of the boycott, Japan donated two ships and provided a RM150 million soft loan to Malaysia.

He served as chairman and director for a number of Malaysian companies, including the Southern Bank Berhad. In community work, he was the founder and first president of the Malaysia Leprosy Relief Association.