The Kapitan Cina Of Perak: A Showcase Of The Splendours Of British Malaya - PART 2

From 

The Rakyat Post, By Fernando Fong - Part 2

12 December 2021 

Why We Must Remember 

Taiping Heritage Society president Yeap Thean Eng said there’s more to history than knowing times and dates, and general facts surrounding a historical event.

The exploits of the Kapitan Cina, he said, are not only valuable for the nation’s history and heritage. 

"Their insights into the political contexts, the trading networks they established, and the partnertship they forged with the Malays, would help present generations to appreciate the nation’s racial diversity more thoroughly." 

Taiping Heritage Society president Yeap Thean Eng to TRP on the Kapitan Cina

Lillian Tong, president of the Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang (left)and       Taiping Heritage Society president Yeap Thean Eng presenting the front cover of an upcoming book on Chung Keng Kwee. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

 

He said the stories of the Kapitan Cina will increase Malaysians’ cultural awareness and moral understanding of the world we live in.

 

Playing its part, the Taiping Heritage Society and Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang conducted a three-day tour to mark the bicentennial of Keng Kwee and his Malay partner Ngah Ibrahim.

       

Ngah Ibrahim’s fort near Taiping still stands to this day. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

The celebration included a luncheon attended by Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, Orang Besar Jajahan Larut Matang and Selama Wan Mohd Isa Wan Mohd Razali and Taiping MP Teh Kok Lim.

The Society also visited various historical sites in Taiping, where Keng Kwee first forged his fame and fortune together with Long Jaafar, Ngah Ibrahim’s father.

 

The Taiping Heritage Society and Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang visit the official residence of Ngah Ibrahim in Taiping when he was the administrator

of the district of Larut. (Credit: Fernando Fong)

A book to mark Chung Keng Kwee’s bi-centennial celebration will also be published.

At the same time, a gala dinner attended by descendants of Keng Kwee and his Malay partner Ngah Ibrahim was held in Taiping.

Admittedly, much remains lost to the pages of history due to a lack of written accounts, especially concerning the everyday life of the common people from the era.

Yeap expressed hope that the void will spur the desire for informed citizenship and critical thinking, to research and to raise general awareness among the public.

"Gaining knowledge and understanding of historical events and trends, especially during the colonial period, allows us to develop a much greater appreciation for where we are today."

Taiping Heritage Society president Yeap Thean Eng to TRP on learning history and heritage

Keng Kwee’s fifth-generation descendants, Chung Lai Foong (left) and her sister Chung Lai Yin. 

(Credit: Fernando Fong)

 

The gala dinner to commemorate Keng Kwee and Ngah Ibrahim brought Malaysians together. (Credit: Fernando Fong)