【20th Book Sharing:】Book: A History of the Malaysian Chinese
Upcoming Event
| Introduction | We are honoured to invite Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi, head of the Centre of Malaysian History at our university, to share his new book A History of the Malaysian Chinese. Adopting a macro-perspective, the book traces the historical trajectory of Malaysian Chinese society, delving into its significance and far-reaching impact, with the aim of providing readers with a clear historical framework. Students interested in Malaysian Chinese history are warmly welcome to register and participate! |
| Speaker/author | Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi is a Malaysian historian. He graduated with a degree in history from National Taiwan University and holds a master's degree from the University of Malaya and a Ph.D. from Xiamen University. Currently, he serves as a professor at New Era University College and Head of the Centre of Malaysian History. Additionally, he is a research fellow at Huaqiao University and has contributed to the compilation of several encyclopedias and biographical works on overseas Chinese. His notable publications include The Development and Evolution of Historiography Research in Malaysia and Singapore and Hsu Yun Tsiao, alongside over a hundred academic papers. His research focuses on Southeast Asian history and overseas Chinese studies. |
| Reading Material | Lew, B.H. (2024) A History of the Malaysian Chinese. Strategic Information and Research Development Centre. |
| Content Overview | A History of the Malaysian Chinese is divided into three parts and thirteen chapters, presenting a monumental general history of the Chinese community spanning over a century. It covers the early migration before the 19th century, the Japanese surrender in 1945, and the modern developments up to 2020. This book focuses on a macro-level exploration of general knowledge and historical significance, simplifying detailed descriptions to provide readers with a clear historical framework while examining the profound impact and historical significance of the Chinese community. |
| Seminar Information | Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Venue: B309, 3rd floor, Block B, NEUC. |
Book Sharing Postscript
On July 24, 2025 (Thursday) at 4:00 PM, the Institute of International Education hosted a book talk at Lecture Hall B309 of New Era University College. The event featured Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi, head of the Centre of Malaysian History at New Era University College, who presented his latest work, A History of Malaysian Chinese. Approximately 90 attendees were present, which include faculty members, students, and members of the public.
During the session, Prof. Lew introduced the structure and distinctive features of the book, which comprises three parts of "Wilderness", "Pioneering", and "Nation-Building" with a total of 13 chapters and around 200,000 words. The book focuses primarily on the latter two sections. Prof. Lew emphasised that this work fills a critical gap in the comprehensive historical narrative of Malaysian Chinese, proposing an innovative analytical framework. It incorporates previously overlooked aspects such as legends, official documents, village histories, folk customs, and historiography, offering readers a more holistic historical perspective.
In terms of research methodology, Prof. Lew synthesised three key categories of scholarly work: foundational studies, contemporary research, and his own extensive research (covering topics like village studies and Malaysian-Singaporean historiography). The book unfolds along four main themes, that is, politics, economics, culture, and education, highlighting the struggles and contributions of the Chinese community in building a home in a foreign land. Departing from conventional narratives centred on political history, it adopts a fresh sociohistorical perspective.
The session concluded with lively discussions, offering a valuable platform for learning and exchange. A History of Malaysian Chinese by Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi stands as a significant milestone in the study of Malaysian Chinese history.
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