Celebrating Peranakan roots: Gan (front) with other Baba and Nyonya members waving their Jalur Gemilang at Wisma Peranakan in Jalan Tengkera, Melaka. — RSN MURALI/The Star
Baba and Nyonya remember the road to independence
MELAKA: The Baba and Nyonya community will proudly raise the Jalur Gemilang this National Day, honouring both their heritage and the legacy of Tun Tan Cheng Lock, the Peranakan statesman who helped steer Malaya towards independence.
Malaysia Baba and Nyonya Association chairman Datuk Ronald Gan said the community regards National Day as a moment to celebrate freedom while reflecting on their unique identity as Malaysians of mixed heritage.
“We are proud of our ancestors, especially Tun Tan Cheng Lock who was instrumental in gaining independence.
“His legacy continues to live in our hearts today,” he said yesterday.
Gan said the Peranakan Chinese or Straits Chinese, emerged from intermarriages between Chinese settlers and local communities, blending languages, traditions and cuisines to form one of the nation’s richest cultural tapestries.
“From the colourful attire and beaded slippers to the distinctive Baba Nyonya dialect, our community has always stood as a cultural bridge between tradition and modernity.”
Gan was speaking at Wisma Peranakan in Jalan Tengkera here.
The Festival Peranakan Malaysia 2025 will be held at The Shore shopping complex on Aug 30 and 31.
The two-day event will showcase food, traditional attire, stage performances and storytelling sessions, offering Malaysians and visitors an insight into the values that have shaped the community.
Gan said for the Baba and Nyonya, hoisting the Jalur Gemilang this National Day is not only an expression of patriotism but also a reminder that the struggle for independence was carried on the shoulders of leaders who believed in unity across all races.
