A Gallery of Chinese Kapitans by C.S. Wong
ARECA REPRINTS
Publisher’s note
This edition is largely a facsimile reproduction of the 1964 edition, with the notable inclusion of new front matter containing the following: Foreword by Dr. Wong Yee Tuan, the Publisher’s Note, and About the Author.
The original book comprised two sections with numerous unnumbered separator pages. ‘Part I: Kapitans in the Straits Settlements’ included pages i–viii of the front matter, pages 1-45 of the body matter, and 8 unnumbered pages with 8 photo plates.
‘Part II: Kapitans in the Three Northern States’ included pages xi-xii of the front matter, pages 47-114 of the body matter, and 12 unnumbered pages with 18 photo plates. Various blank and unnumbered pages were inserted as front matter and separator pages.
Updates to the original book include the reorganisation of the front matter of each of the two parts and the compilation of all the photo plates at the back of the book. Additionally, the entire book has been repaginated for clarity and consistency.
The publisher extends its gratitude to Wong Tat Chung, grandson of C.S. Wong, for his kind cooperation in facilitating the reprinting of this book, and to Jeffery Seow, descendant of Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee, for his timely advice.
A Gallery Of Chinese Kapitans— C.S. Wong’s classic work on overseas Chinese political leadership in British Malaya
… this admirably useful book … has made available a reservoir of factual material sure to serve both scholars and general readers. Mr Wong is to be commended for the painstaking care with which he has documented his study.
Lea. E. Williams, Brown University (1966)
C.S. Wong’s biographical-anecdotal approach masterfully presents the captivating stories of prominent Chinese Kapitans in the Straits Settlements (Melaka, Penang, and Singapore) and the three northern Malay States (Perlis, Kedah, and Perak). By intertwining the narratives of these influential Chinese leaders with the historical settings and political-economic developments of their time, Wong successfully enhances our comprehension of the significance and roles of the Chinese Kapitans.
Dr Wong Yee Tuan, New Era University College (2024)
This reprint is a facsimile reproduction of original with new cover and introduction.
About the Author
Wong Choon San, better known as C.S. Wong, was born in Penang. In 1928, he commenced his career in the government service as an interpreter and translator. In the early 1930s, Wong served as a Chinese interpreter attached to the District Office of Nibong Tebal in Province Wellesley, Penang.
Subsequently, he was appointed Chinese Affairs Officer, and held the position of Acting Senior Chinese Affairs Officer, Penang, until the abolition of the Chinese Secretariat when Malaya gained independence on 31 August 1957.
C.S. Wong contributed numerous articles to the press in both China and Malaya. For many years, he wrote a column titled ‘Matters Chinese’, under the pen-name Wu Liu, for the Sunday Gazette, Penang. His articles delved into Chinese history, customs and festivals, as well as anecdotes of Penang’s past.
Following his retirement, he authored several books. The first was ‘Kek Lok Si’: Temple of Paradise, published by the Malaysian Sociological Research Institute (MSRI), Singapore, in 1963.
For his second book, Wong spent two months interviewing surviving descendants of Chinese Kapitans in Kedah, Perlis, Penang and Upper Perak. The book A Gallery of Chinese Kapitans was sponsored and published by the Ministry of Culture, Singapore, in 1964.
C.S. Wong played a pivotal role as a founder member of the Penang Historical Society, editor of the Hu Yew Seah magazine and Editor-in-Chief of the Interpreters’ Annual, Federation of Malaya.
His third and final book, A Cycle of Chinese Festivities, was published posthumously in 1967 by Malaya Publishing House. It was republished as An Illustrated Cycle of Chinese Festivities in 1987 by Jack Chia-MPH Ltd.; the book was richly illustrated with photographs by Ronni Pinsler.
C.S. Wong passed away on 9 December, 1966, at the age of 60. He was survived by his wife, Liew Siew Kam, as well as his son, Wong Lin Ken, and his daughter, Olive Wong.
