12 June 2018: IFLA invitation July 26, 2018 – Posted in: Newsletters

An invitation to the satellite meeting of The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) World Library & Information Congress 2018. Hosted by Areca Books. On behalf of the organisers we would like to invite you to the IFLA Satellite Meeting for Local Histories & Genealogies in Multicultural Asia. People searching for their own genealogies and local histories are constantly dealing with a diversity of languages, complex naming and genealogical traditions, hybrid cultural identities and…

The memoirs of the last British headmaster of PFS July 23, 2018 – Posted in: Reviews

2016 will surely be remembered for some momentous events. However I am not talking about Brexit or the results of US Presidential Election. I am referring instead to the bi-centenary celebrations of Penang Free School, my alma mater, which took place on 21 October 2016. Founded by Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings in 1816 not long after the British East India Company took over the island from the Sultan of Kedah, Free School was the first…

This is KL’s real founder July 5, 2018 – Posted in: In The News

So says Abdur-Razzaq Lubis in his new book on the entrepreneur Sutan Puasa. SOME authors have a long list of things they would like their readers to take away from their book. Not this man. Independent scholar and author Abdur-Razzaq Lubis is quick with his answer when asked what he wants to get across in his book: that Sutan Puasa is the founder of Kuala Lumpur. Period. “With this project, I wanted to set the…

Zooming in on living heritage July 2, 2018 – Posted in: In The News

TRADITIONAL trades that are often overlooked in Penang have been beautifully captured and documented in a 248-page book. Author Chin Yoon Khen, a project programme management advisor, said his Traditional Trades of Penang book comprised photographs of 54 different trades that he found in the state. “Besides the photographs, I have also included the descriptions of the skilled trade workers. “All the artisans who worked with me for the book were very helpful and did…

Uncertain fate for Penang’s magnificent colonial mansions – Posted in: In The News

Say “Penang heritage” and most of us will think of George Town’s shophouses and Chinese mansions (such as the well known Blue Mansion). But there is more: up to the 1950’s, a number of imposing colonial houses, “castle-mansions” and bungalows have sprouted around the old town. Some of these buildings housed the top ranks of the colonial staff or offices, others were built for banks or local tycoons who had accumulated wealth as a result…

Sharing his love of charming colonial buildings – Posted in: In The News

PENANG’S colonial buildings have been immortalised in a book titled ‘The Penang House and the Straits Architect 1887-1941’ by author Dr Lim Sun Hock. The book traces the work of the state’s European architects who created the magnificent and classic architectural structures on Penang island during the colonial age. “My passion for these magnificent buildings started with Heah Hall at 65, Rangoon Road. My uncle Heah Joo Seang, a leader of the Straits Chinese, built…

Resensi Buku Tulila – Posted in: Reviews

Di dalam kehidupan sosial-budaya masyarakat Mandailing terdapat suatu tradisi berkencan antara pemuda dan anak gadis yang disebut markusip. Secara harafiah markusip artinya berdialog dengan cara berbisik. Pada tradisi markusip, si pemuda dan si anak gadis saling mengungkapkan isi hati dan perasaan mereka dengan cara berbisik. Dalam dialog yang dilakukan dengan cara berbisik itu tidak jarang mereka menggunakan ende-ende atau pantun. Menurut tradisi markusip hanya boleh berlangsung pada waktu tengah malam agar tidak terlihat orang lain…