History

The Chinese people are the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia after the Malays. Malaysians of Chinese descent consist of several sub-ethnicities, such as Min Chinese, Yue Chinese, Hakka Chinese, Wu Chinese and Northern Chinese. The first established Chinese settlement in Malaysia was formed in the 15th Century when the Chinese Princess, Hang Li Po was betrothed to the Sultan of Malacca. Since then, the Chinese have grown to become the second largest population in Malaysia.

The First Wave – Strategic Alliance

An artist’s illustration of Admiral Zheng He

The history of the Chinese people in Malaysia began with the arrival of Admiral Zheng He (1371 – 1435), who was also known, as Admiral Cheng Ho. Cheng Ho was an explorer, eunuch, and diplomat of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. During his lifetime, he went on a total of seven voyages during which period he journeyed to Malacca five times.

The replicas of Zheng He’s ships

Following Zheng He’s diplomatic missions, the 6th Sultan of the Malaccan Empire, Mansur Shah (r. 1456 – 1477) arranged for a political marriage with Hang Li Po, a Princess of the Ming Dynasty in 1459. Prior to marrying and becoming the 5th wife of Sultan Mansur Shah, Princess Hang Li Po converted to Islam. When Princess Hang Li Po arrived in Malacca, she brought with her 500 royal chambermaids.

An artist’s illustration of Princess Hang Li Po

As a wedding gift to his new bride and her attendants Sultan Mansur Shah bestowed upon them a designated area in Malacca, which was named Bukit Cina. In developing the area a water reservoir was built which later came to be known as King’s Well and became an important water source for the people who lives in the area. In 1677, the Dutch built a wall around the well and converted it into a wishing well. Today, Bukit Cina is one of the largest Chinese cemeteries in Malaysia, with approximately 12,500 graves. Strangely, there are no surviving records of a Chinese Princess named Hang Li Po in the Ming Dynasty records in China. It is believed that Princess Hang Li Po may not have been an immediate family member of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle, but rather a member of his royal court.

Many of Hang Li Po’s chambermaids married the male attendants of Sultan Mansur Shah and produced Malaccan-Chinese descendants. The descendants of this first group of Chinese immigrants (who were from the Chinese Hokkien sub-ethnic group) who arrived in Malaysia between the 15th and 17th century are known as the Peranakan, of which a sub-branch is known as the famous Baba-Nyonya. The men are known as Baba and women are called Nyonya.

The King’s Well

The Second Wave – in Search of a Better Future

The second wave of Chinese immigrants to Malaysia arrived when the Malaysia was a British Colony in the early 19th century. At the time, the country was known as British Malaya which covered present day Malaysia and Singapore. During that period, China was experiencing critical upheavals and had recently lost the First Opium War (1839 – 1842), the Second Opium War (1856 – 1860), and was in the midst of a civil war between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Communist Party (1927 – 1950).

Internal conflicts plunged China into deep recession, which gave rise to an unstable political environment and difficult living conditions that forced many Chinese to emigrate in search of better opportunities. One of the more popular destinations was British Malaya. Most of the second wave Chinese immigrants came from the Fujian and Guandong provinces.

The Third Wave – Foreign Spouses

Peranakan bride and groom in their traditional attire

The third wave of Chinese migration to Malaysia occurred in the 1900s but this time in comparatively smaller numbers, as many of them came as spouses to the people who had previously migrated to Malaysia. Most of them came from the northern part of China and spoke the Mandarin dialect.

Chinese Population in Malaysia

The Chinese are the second largest ethnic group in Malaysia after the native Malays with the Indians being the third most populous race in the country. Approximately 6.9 million out of the 31 million people living in Malaysia (or 22.6%) are of Chinese descent. This group consists of several sub-ethnicities and each with its respective dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Teochew.

Various Chinese Dialects in Malaysia

Hokkien Dialect

There are two variations of the Hokkien dialect spoken in Malaysia: Penang Hokkien and Southern Malaysian Hokkien. Penang Hokkien originates from the city of Zhangzhou in China and incorporates the use of Malay and English words. Southern Malaysian Hokkien is based on a dialect spoken by the people of Quanzhou city in China. Many of the words from Penang Hokkien and Southern Malaysian Hokkien are similar to each other, and therefore, both dialects are often referred to as just Hokkien.

Penang Hokkien is mainly used by Malaysian Chinese people who live in the Northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, such as Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, and the town of Taiping, Perak. Those who live in the Southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia, such as in the cities of Klang, Malacca, Johor and Kuching, usually speak the Southern Malaysian Hokkien dialect.

Cantonese Dialect

The Cantonese dialect is a variant of the Chinese language that originates from the Guangzhou region in southeastern China. Cantonese is used by Malaysian Chinese who live in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia, in cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Seremban, Ipoh, Kampar, and Kuantan. In addition, the Cantonese dialect is commonly spoken in the Sandakan District in Sabah, and the Mersing District in Johor.

Hakka and Teochew Dialects

The Hakka dialect is similar to the Gan language as compared to the Mandarin language. Hakka is spoken by the Malaysian Chinese who live in the major districts of Sabah, such as Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Marudu, Kuna, Lahad Datu, Semporna and many more. On the other hand, Teochew is a dialect that originates from eastern Guandong, and is commonly spoken by Malaysian Chinese who live in Johor Bahru, the capital state of Johor.

Religions of Malaysian Chinese

Nearly 86% of Malaysian Chinese engage in ancestral worship, Mahayana Buddhism, and are often influenced in their daily lives by Confucian philosophy. 11% of the Chinese people are Christians with the remaining being atheists, Muslims, Hindus, or belonging to some other faiths.

Chinese Influence in Local Malaysian Culture

The interior of a Peranakan house

Architecture

Chinese architecture in Malaysia consists of both traditional Chinese and Baba-Nyonya styles.

Traditional Chinese Architecture

Traditional Chinese architecture emphasises symmetry, enclosure of open spaces, design based on a hierarchy of importance, horizontal emphasis, and compliance with cosmological principles. A traditional Chinese building maintains balance and symmetry by incorporating empty spaces surrounded by buildings that are connected to each other either directly or via verandahs. Hierarchy is also important in traditional Chinese building complexes, and is indicated by the placements of the building and the positioning of the doors.

For example, a building with a door facing the front is more important than a building with a door facing the side. In addition, a traditional Chinese building complex complies with Chinese cosmological concepts such as feng shui and Taoism by using symbols of fortune and prosperity such as fruits and animals like three-legged frog. The following are several buildings that conform to traditional Chinese architecture in Malaysia:

Thean Hou Temple

Thean Hou Temple is dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu and is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Construction of the temple completed in 1987, and the opening ceremony was held in 1989.

Address:
65, Persiaran Endah
Taman Persiaran Desa
50460, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2274 7088

Thean Hou Temple at night

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple or ‘Merciful Cloud Temple’ was built in 1646. It is the oldest Buddhist temple in Malaysia that is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy or Kuan Yin.

Address:
25, Jalan Tokong
75200, Melaka

Phone: +606 282 9343

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Xian Si She Ye Temple

Xian Si She Ye Temple was built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in 1864. The temple is dedicated to Si Shi Ye and Xian Shi Ye, two deities that are believed to have aided Kapitan Yap Ah Loy during the Civil War and increased the Kapitan’s status and prestige.

Address:
14A, Lebuh Pudu City Centre
50050, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2078 9052

Xian Si Ye Temple

Baba-Nyonya Architecture

Over the centuries, the Peranakan culture created its own unique styles of architecture. One such style features a reception hall, an ancestral hall, regular bedrooms, bridal bedchamber, and kitchen. Other unique features are colourful flooring, and a courtyard in the middle of the house to provide good air circulation, enable natural light to enter, and promote socialising with other family members. To understand more about this type of architecture, which is called Baba-Nyonya architecture, you can visit the Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum in Malacca. The city of Malacca itself was declared a World UNESCO Heritage site in 2008.

Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum

Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum
Address:
No. 48 & 50 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
75200, Melaka

Phone: +606 283 1273
Email: admin@babanyonyamuseum.com
Website: http://babanyonyamuseum.com

Daily Tour Times:
10am – 1:00pm (last morning tour 12noon)
2pm – 5:00pm (last evening tour 4pm)

Language

Children in Peranakan costume

Malaysia is a cultural melting pot of different backgrounds and traditions. Therefore, Malay, which is the official language in Malaysia, is heavily influenced by other languages and many Malay words have similar pronunciation compared to those from other languages. Although the Chinese are numerous in Malaysia, the complexity of Chinese dialects means it has had a lesser impact on the Malay language when compared to Indian dialects such as Hindi and Tamil. However, there are several Malay words that can be traced back to Chinese origins:

Several Malay words which originate from the Chinese vocabulary:

Malaysian Chinese Festivals

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This festival is believed to be the most celebrated event amongst Chinese people all around the world. It is usually celebrated between January 21 and February 20 according to the Gregorian Calendar.

The Malaysian Chinese people often celebrate Chinese New Year by visiting and spending time with their family to feast, drink and be merry. Customarily, married members of the family give out money stuffed inside red envelopes called, ‘ang pao’ (literal meaning is red packet), to their unmarried family members. People who live overseas will often make considerable effort to travel back to their hometowns to celebrate Chinese New Year with their family.

Family gathering during Chinese New Year

Within Malaysia, there is also the tradition of Lion Dance performances during Chinese New Year, especially in shop fronts of Chinese-owned businesses to beckon fortune and great wealth to come. The lion’s head used in the Malaysian Lion Dances is unique, as it is made of rattan and not from the traditional bamboo. Malaysia exports its rattan lion’s heads around the world.

The New Year celebrations often last up to 15 days every year. During those days, friends and family members come together for feasts, and toss Yee Sang, a colourful Teochew-style salad containing raw fish, shredded vegetables, and special sauce, with their chopsticks to represent the wealth and good fortune they are going to receive in the upcoming year.

Yee sang

Amongst the Hokkien Malaysian Chinese, there is also a custom to pray to the Jade Emperor on the ninth day of the Chinese New Year. Offering him sugarcane sticks, they thank him for protecting and saving their ancestors during an attack by the Manchurians in 1652. Another practice that is unique to the Malaysian Chinese is the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day that is held on the last day of the New Year celebrations, and has been a celebration by people of Penang for around 100 years. On that day, unmarried maidens throw mandarin oranges that have their names [and in the modern day] phone numbers written on them into a river to represent their wish to find suitable husbands. Single boys, on the other hand, throw bananas into a river to represent their wish to find great wives.

Qingming Festival

Family members visit the graves of deceased relatives during the Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival is celebrated by Malaysian Chinese to honour their deceased ancestors by paying homage to them and cleaning their graves. This event usually takes place on the 15th day following the Spring Equinox of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Chinese Buddhists offer incense and food to their deceased relatives on the altar, or burn ‘afterlife’ houses, cars, cell phones, toys, watches, and other items made from paper for their ancestors to use in the afterlife.

Houses, cars and other amenities for deceased love ones

Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th night of the 8th month according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Also known as the Moon Festival, the event marks the radiant full moon on that day. People celebrate by eating Chinese ‘Moon Cakes’ while enjoying the light of the full moon together with their family. It is also an occasion for them to express gratitude for a great harvest or any good event that happened during that year. Beautiful Chinese lanterns are lit and carried by children.

Mooncakes

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is held to honour a historic Chinese scholar named Qu Yuan, who heroically drowned himself in 278 BC to voice his disappointment against government corruption. Legend tells of fishermen who searched for his body with boats, and threw rice balls into the water to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s flesh. The fishermen later put the rice inside bamboo sticks before throwing it into the sea as a way to tell the local river dragon that the rice was meant for Qu Yuan instead of for the dragon. The Dragon Boat Festival is observed on the 5th day of the 5th month according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Since the time of the Tang Dynasty (265 – 419 BC), the Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated by dragon boat racing with boats that are beautifully painted and decorated with a dragonhead on the prow of the boat, as if the entire boat is a dragon. The boat racing is to commemorate the fishermen who roamed the river in search of Qu Yuan’s body.

It is also a time of eating triangular glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaf, called zongzi. The centre of zongzi is often filled with meat or vegetables.

Zongzi – glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves

The Dragon boat race has been held annually in Penang since 1979. The Penang International Dragon Boat Festival (PIDBF) has attracted participation from all over the world to compete in the event. Dragon Boat Races are also held in other parts of Malaysia such as Putrajaya, Malacca, and Sarawak.

Wesak Day

Wesak Day is celebrated on the 4th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, on the day of the full moon. The celebration observes the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Buddha Shakyamuni and on that day; Buddhists make offerings of alms to monks, decorate their shrines with flowers and light, and refrain from eating meat.

Locations Associated with Malaysian Chinese

Many well-known places associated with Malaysian Chinese culture are located in the city of George Town, Penang that houses many historical and cultural landmarks. In 2008, George Town was selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its effort to preserve various cultures in Malaysia. There are a number of notable places associated with Chinese heritage in George Town, such as the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, and the Pinang Peranakan Mansion.

Goddess of Mercy Temple

Goddess of Mercy Temple in Geogetown, Penang

The Goddess of Mercy Temple, also known as Kong Hock Keong Temple or Kuan Yin Teng, was built in the 19th century by Malaysian Chinese of Hokkien and Cantonese descent to honour the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, Kuan Yin. Kong Hock Keong Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist Chinese temples in Malaysia that also attracts many Taoists and those who adhere to Confucianism especially on Chinese New Year’s eve. The temple is also packed with believers who want to pay their respects to Kuan Yin on her birthday, which falls on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month following the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The temple also houses other deities such as Tua Pek Kong, Hor Ya and Tai Sui.

The Goddess of Mercy Temple is located in the centre of George Town. If you start from Chulia Street, walk in the direction of the Indian Temple until you reach Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, which is only five minutes’ walk away from the Goddess of Mercy Temple.

Goddess of Mercy Temple
Address:
Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
George Town
10200, Pulau Penang

Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion)

The beautiful Blue Mansion

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Mansion, was built in the 1880s by a wealthy Hakka Chinese businessman named Cheong Fatt Tze. The indigo coloured mansion was constructed to serve as his office and to house his large families. Originally, Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion had 38 rooms, five courtyards paved with granite flooring and 220 gothic louvered windows.

Cheong Fatt Tze, who built the Blue Mansion

The mansion was later left abandoned before being turned into a luxury boutique hotel in the 1900s. Due to its beauty, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has won several awards, such as the Malaysian National Architectural Award for Conservation in 1995, UNESCO’s Most Excellent Heritage Conservation Award in 2000, Best Tourist Attraction Merit Award by the Malaysian Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism in 2003, ASEANTA 2004 Excellence Award by ASEAN Cultural Preservation Effort, and the Best Boutique Hotel 2008 by the Expatriate Lifestyle. In addition to being a luxury boutique hotel, visitors can still view some of the preserved rooms in the mansion on a 45-minute tour that costs RM16.

Cheong Fatt Tze (The Blue Mansion)
Address:
14 Leith Street
George Town,
10200, Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 262 0006
Website: http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi was built in 1851 as a clan house for the Khoo Family who migrated from South China to Malacca. The Khoo family was part of the Leong San Tong (Dragon Mountain Hall) clan from the Sin Kang clan village, in Fujian Province.

In 1906, the Khoo family constructed the clan temple to house the clan’s main deities and ancestral tablets. Although the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi does not serve as a functional clan village anymore, it is now famous for being a tourist landmark in George Town. There are many events held at Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi such as:

• An Evening of Light at Leong Sang Tong Khoo Kongsi – a monthly event where all the lights are turned on to accommodate various cultural performance
• Combat Carnivale at Khoo Kongsi – martial arts tournaments in a cultural heritage area held on ad hoc basis
• Various plays and dramatic performances
• Art exhibitions

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
Address:
18 Cannon Square
10200, Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 261 4609
Email: info@khookongsi.com.my
Website: http://www.khookongsi.com.my
Visiting hours: Monday – Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Admission fee:
Adults: RM 10/ person.
Children: between 5 – 12 years old: RM 1/ person. Children below five years old enter for free.

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Pinang Peranakan Mansion’s interior

Pinang Peranakan Mansion’s interior

Pinang Peranakan Mansion in George Town, Penang, exhibits extensive collections of antiques, as well as art and architecture that represent the opulence of Peranakan heritage. The Pinang Peranakan Mansion recreated a typical Baba-Nyonya house following the design of the home of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee (1821 – 1901). The newly restored mansion features Chinese carved-wood panels with English styled flooring and Scottish inspired ironworks.

Pinang Peranakan Mansion
Address:
29 Church Street
10200, Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 264 2929
Website: http://pinangperanakanmansion.com/
Visiting hours: Monday – Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Admission fee: Admission is RM20 per person. Children below six years old do not need to pay an admission fee.

Where to stay in George Town, Penang

Those who are interested to go to George Town to visit these notable Malaysian Chinese venues can consider Peranakan style accommodation. It is very easy to research accommodation that suit your requirements online, but here are a few suggestions:

Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion
Address:
14, Lebuh Leith
George Town
10200 Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 262 0006
Email: reservations@cheongfatttzemansion.com
Website: http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com

Jawi Peranakan Mansion
Address:
153 Hutton Lane,
George Town
10050, Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 218 9858
Email: info@jawiperanakanmansion.com
Website: https://www.georgetownheritage.com/jawi-peranakan-mansion/

Jawi Peranakan Mansion

Yeng Keng Hotel
Address:
362, Lebuh Chulia
George Town
10200, Pulau Penang

Phone: +604 262 2177
Email: reservations@yengkenghotel.com.my
Website: http://yengkenghotel.com.my

Yeng Keng Hotel

Chinese Cuisine in Malaysia

Bak Kut Teh

There are many Chinese restaurants in Malaysia that cater to the local Chinese population in Malaysia. The Nyonya cuisine, which is influenced by Indian and Malaysian cooking is a local favorite. Nyonya dishes usually include ingredients such as coconut milk, galangal, candlenuts, laksa leaf, pandan leaves, belachan tamarind juice, lemongrass, torch ginger bud, jicama and many other local Malaysian ingredients. Some examples of Malaysian Chinese dishes are Penang Char Kway Teow, Klang Valley Hokkien Mee, Bak Kut Teh, Ampang Yong Tau Fu, Asam Laksa, Ayam Pongteh, Babi Assam, Lontong Cap Go Meh, Kiam Chye Boey, and Laksa Lemak.

Penang Char Kwai Teow

The list of well-known Chinese restaurants in Malaysia:

Hakka Restaurant
Address:
90, Jalan Raja Chulan
50200, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2143 1908
Hours: 12:00 pm – 03:00 pm and 06:00 pm – 11:30 pm

Shang Palace, Shangri-La Hotel
Address:
11, Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2074 3904
Hours: 12:00 pm – 02:30 pm and 06:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Xin Cuisine
Address:
2, Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2144 2200
Hours: 11:30 pm – 02:30 pm and 06:30 pm – 11:00 pm

Peranakan House
Address:
107, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
75200, Melaka

Phone: +606 284 5001
Hours: Lunch and Dinner

Old China Café
Address:
11, Jalan Bailis Polis
50000, Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +603 2072 5915
Hours: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm

Sri Nyonya
14, Jalan 22/49
46300, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Phone: +603 7875 1031
Hours: 12:00 – 2:30 pm and 6:00 – 9:30 pm

Prominent Personalities of Chinese Heritage

Historical Personalities

Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee (1821 – 1901)

Chung Keng Quee was born in Xin Cun villa of the Cheng Sheng County in Guandong, China, to a peasant Hakka family. He travelled to British Malaya in 1841 to fulfill his mother’s wish to find his missing father and brother. Chung Keng Quee finally settled in British Malaya after locating his father and brother, who both had founded a successful business in the country. He became a well-known millionaire philanthropist; an innovator in the tin mining industry, and the head of a Chinese secret society in British Malaya called Hai San. Eventually, he founded and administered the town of Taiping in Perak, and was appointed by the British to become ‘Kapitan China’ in 1877, an important title given to the leaders of the Chinese community in Southeast Asia.

Kapitan China Yap Ah Loy (1837 – 1885)

Yap Ah Loy was born on March 14, 1837 to a Hakka Chinese family in Guandong, China. In 1854, Yap Ah Loy sailed to British Malaya through Macau. Although he found the place to be fascinating because it looked very different from his hometown and he wanted to go back to China. But fate took a different turn, as he lost his money and could not return. Instead he worked as a tin miner and a small trader. Fortunately, his good friend, Liu Ngim Kong, became the second Kapitan Cina for Kuala Lumpur in 1862. Yap Ah Loy worked for Liu Ngim Kong as his trusted confidant and eventually succeeded him as the third Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur and oversaw the Chinese settlers in the region. During his governance, he supported the local ruler named Tunku Kudin in the Selangor Civil War from 1867 to 1873. In addition, he was a businessman with diverse interests who managed to amass great fortune. Yap Ah Loy was credited for developing modern parts of Kuala Lumpur, such as Brickfields.

Business Personalities

Datuk Jimmy Choo

Datuk Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian Chinese fashion designer based in London. He is famous for his high-quality handmade shoes with his brand name on them. Jimmy Choo was born on November 15, 1948 in George Town, Penang to a Malaysian Chinese family who had a shoe-making business. He reportedly made his first pair of shoes at the tender age of 11. A veteran in the fashion industry, Jimmy Choo has won multiple awards, such as The World’s Outstanding Malaysian Designer award in 2011, and the You Bring Charm to the World award in 2012. Other than high-end shoes, Jimmy Choo Ltd also produces ready-to-wear clothing and handbags.

Zang Toi

Zang Toi is a talented Malaysian designer who has won various awards such as Mouton-Cadet Young Designers Award and The International Centre in New York’s Award of Excellence. He was bestowed a knighthood by the Sultan of Kelantan in 1997. Zang Toi’s designs can be found in international high-end department stores such as Nordstrom and Zang Toi Boutiques in Malaysia.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun is a self-made Malaysian Chinese billionaire businessman born in 1952. Vincent Tan is the Chairman of the multi-billion dollar company Berjaya Corp., which is a conglomerate covering golfing, property, resorts and gambling. In addition, he has invested in and owns interests in several international football teams such as Cardiff City Football Club, a Bosnian football club called FK Sarajevo, and a Belgian football team called KV Kortrijk. According to Forbes magazine, Vincent Tan is the 17th richest person in Malaysia in 2016.

Arts and Entertainment

Amber Chia

Amber Chia is a Malaysian model and actress. She was born on December 14, 1981 in Teluk Intan, Malaysia. However, due to financial difficulties, Amber Chia was given to the care of foster parents at the tender age of eight. She had to quit formal education at the age of 15 and worked multiple jobs to support her family. Fortune started to shine on her after she moved to Kuala Lumpur to work as a model.

Her first significant achievement in the fashion world was winning the 2004 Guess Watches Timeless Beauty International Model Search. Since then, her career took off and she rose to stardom. Amber Chia was chosen by Victoria Beckham as the principal model for Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2009 Ready-to-Wear collection her 15-year modeling and film career, she had been featured in more than 200 magazine covers, walked on runways in six different continents, acted as brand ambassador for approximately 30 different brands, starred in movies, and wrote two books. Her latest achievement is creating her own modeling and beauty school called Amber Chia Academy.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Michelle Yeoh Choo-Keng, also known as Michelle Yeoh, is a well-known actress of Hokkien descent. She was born on August 6, 1962 in Ipoh, Malaysia. In addition to being a former Miss Malaysian Beauty pageant winner, Michelle Yeoh was famous for performing her own action stunts early in her career opposite Jackie Chan. She has starred in major motion pictures such as ‘Yes, Madam’ in 1986, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ in 1998, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ in 2001 and ‘Reign of Assassins’ in 2011. In 1997, Michelle Yeoh was chosen by People Magazine as one of the ‘50 Most Beautiful People in the World’, and was listed as one of the “35 All-Time Screen Beauties” by the same magazine for her unique combination of beauty and courage.

Fish Leong

Fish Leong is a Malaysian Chinese singer of Cantonese heritage. She was born in Negeri Sembilan on June 16, 1978. She has achieved success in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. She is most famous for her love songs.

Politicians

Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui

Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui is a Hakka Malaysian Chinese politician who was born on August 31, 1945 in Kuching, Sarawak. Tan Sri Peter is a veteran in the Malaysian political scene. He has held several important positions in the Malaysian government, including serving as Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities from 2004 to 2008, becoming a member of the Malaysian Parliament for Miri from 1990 to 2013, serving as President of Sarawak’s United People’s Party from 2011 to 2014, and Malaysian Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water from 2008 to 2013.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Chor Chee Heung

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Chor Chee Heung is a Cantonese Malaysian Chinese politician who was born on March 15, 1955 in Alor Setar. He was a Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Alor Setar, Kedah from 1990 to 2013, and served as the Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government from 2010 to 2013. In addition, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Chor Chee Heung was vice president of the Malaysian Chinese Association.

Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon

Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon is a Malaysian Chinese politician who was born on August 26, 1949 in Penang. He joined a political party called Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia in 1982. He was the chief aide as well as the political secretary for the former Penang Chief Minister Lim Chong from 1986 to 1990. He served as the third Chief Minister of Penang from 1990 to 2008 and the fourth President of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia from 2008 to 2013.

Sportspeople

Dato’ Lee Chong Wei DSPN DB DCSM

Dato’ Lee Chong Wei DSPN DB DCSM is a Malaysian Chinese badminton player who was born on October 21, 1982 in Bagan Serai, Perak. He is regarded as a national hero by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for his extraordinary achievement as a Malaysian athlete. He was considered as the number one badminton player in the world from August 21, 2008 to June 14, 2012 for 199 consecutive weeks.

He has also won many awards, such as the Penang Sportsman Awards (seven times), the National Sportsman Award (four times), BWF Player of the Year Award (four times), TYT Prime Award Trophy (three times), Olympian of the Year Award (three times), Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) Award, and Most Popular Icon on Television Award by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

Cheong Jun Hoong

Cheong Jun Hoong is a Malaysian Chinese diver. She was one of the first pair of women together with Pandelela Rinong to win a silver medal at 10m synchronised diving event the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

 
Sources of Information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_Chinese
• http://www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my
• http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheng_He
• http://www.malacca.ws/attractions/bukit-cina.htm
• http://babanyonyali.weebly.com
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenism_in_Southeast_Asia#Malaysia

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chung_Keng_Quee
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yap_Ah_Loy
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tan-Cheng-Lock
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Cheng_Lock
• http://melayuonline.com/eng/culture/dig/1707/malay-language-and-chinese-influence
• https://ariel0806.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/the-baba-nyonya-achitecture-courtyard-as-a-functional-and-spatial-feature-in-the-house/
• http://www.khookongsi.com.my
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Malaysia#Architecture
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng
• http://malaysia.com/mid-autumn-festival-event.html
• http://go2travelmalaysia.com/tour_malaysia/5moon.htm
• http://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/dragon-boat-festival-food.htm
• https://shewalkstheworld.com/2015/09/12/mynns-top-10-historical-buildings-to-visit-in-georgetown-penang/
• http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/attractions/goddess-of-mercy-temple-georgetown-penang.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheong_Fatt_Tze_Mansion
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoo_Kongsi
• https://theculturetrip.com/asia/malaysia/articles/chinese-malay-fusion-malaysia-s-best-nyonya-restaurants/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan_cuisine
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_Chia
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Yeoh
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Choo
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Tan
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh_Tsu_Koon
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chor_Chee_Heung
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Chin_Fah_Kui
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Chong_Wei

 
For more interesting links:

• Stronger Bond Between Malaysia and China
• 25 Mouthwatering Dishes of Malaysia
• Wesak Day in Malaysia
• The Dragon Boat Festival: A Fusion of Traditional and Modern Culture
• Guan Yin Day
• Indians in Malaysia
• Monarchy System in Malaysia
• Traditional Clothes of Malaysia

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