Just received the good news that the Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (PPBNKLS) was successfully registered with the Malaysian Registrar of Societies.

Here is an extract of the email message sent out by Dr Lee Su Kim, PPBNKLS’s president.

“Just a note to give you the happy news that the Peranakan community now has a brand new association - The Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Kuala Lumpur & Selangor is now official.

Officially approved by Registrar of Societies 28 of July 2008. The Pro-Tem committee has been working towards this goal for more than two years, so it is indeed a moment of great pride and happiness.

Compared to the other sister associations ( Malacca, Singapore, Penang) which are more than 100 years old, we are certainly an infant, but being in the capital, we can play a vital and vibrant role in promoting and celebrating the rare and unique Peranakan culture and heritage.

Membership and associate membership are all welcome. We need a lot of support in terms of funding, premises, membership drive, etc -if you know of any way you can assist, please do get back to me -it would be much appreciated.

Dr LEE SU KIM

On behalf of Peranakan Networks, we would like to congratulate the PPBNKL for achieving this important first step. The association also needs a permanent venue. We are certainly looking forward to working closely with this brand new association. (Ed.)

The evolution of the Sino-Southeast Asian communities

Over the past few hundred years, due to severe hardship in China, our ancestors made the difficult decision to leave their homeland to seek a better life elsewhere. Majority of them departed alone with nothing but the clothes they wore on that long sea journey by wooden boats. Eventually they settled in different parts of SEA.

Our ancestors had to survive harsh living conditions like the pain and suffering of acclimatization, the attacks of sickness and disaster, the threats of poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts in their new found countries. Because of their years of toil and living frugally, we are able to enjoy the fruits of their labour today.

Looking back in history made us realize the great achievements of our ancestors. Although the life experiences of the current generation in all corners of SEA are very different, we are faced with the same responsibility, i.e. to develop an education in our mother tongue and to carry on our heritage/ancestral culture. The site inspections and exchanges of views form part of the basis of this symposium’s theme “The evolution of Sino-southeast Asian Communities”. Let us set aside our social differences and together we shall rediscover our cultural roots and develop the self belief of our future generations.

Aim:

* to promote the exchange of histories and information on heritage sites among SEA Chinese communities.

* to strengthen the full understanding of the cultural values of the history and the heritage sites of the SEA Chinese communities among all Chinese.

Sub-theme: The local Chinese history, mother tongue education, economic and future prospect of the Chinese communities.

Date: Friday 18/07/2008 to Sunday 20/07/2008 (three days)

Participant: Open to all SEA Chinese clan/association representatives and their families (irrespective of age and gender) who are interested in the histories of the SEA Chinese communities.

Registration closing date: Wednesday18/06/2008.

Principal organizing unit: Penang Chinese Clan Council In conjunction with Clan-Associations Youth Committee, Penang.

Enquiries/Secretary: Ms Susan Kwoh 604-2645576 / 016-4123846

e-mail: sc_kwoh@streamyx.com