Book Sharing Seminars Session 20: A History of Malaysian Chinese
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(NEUC). The event featured Prof. Dr. Lew Bon Hoi, Head of the Centre of Malaysian History of NEUC, 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. Dr. 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. Dr. 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. Dr. 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.
