KUALA LUMPUR: The Baba Nyonya and Chetty communities should be uplifted as national unity icons, says an Opposition MP.
Bakri Jamaluddin (PN-Tangga Batu) said the two ethnic groups had arrived in Melaka in the early 15th century and even assimilated into local communities.
This, he said, was reflected through their food, clothing and strong command of the Malay language.
According to Bakri, the roots of the Baba Nyonya and Chetty communities can be traced back to the Melaka Sultanate era.
“These communities should be made national unity icons, owing to their uniqueness, creating a bridge among various races,” he said when debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Jan 21).
He also urged for members of the said communities to be made part of the National Unity Advisory Council.
“This way, they can contribute further towards unity,” he said.
Bakri also expressed hope for the communities to be appointed as Senators.
The Baba and Nyonya, or Peranakan Chinese, are one of Southeast Asia’s most unique cultural communities, shaped by Chinese, Malay and colonial influences that have defined Malaysia’s multicultural heritage for centuries.
Historians trace the origins of the Peranakan Chinese to as early as the 12th century, when merchants from southern China began sailing across the seas in search of trade opportunities.
The Chetty (also known as Indian Peranakans) communities meanwhile, are a distinct and historic ethnic, primarily centred in Melaka, with a unique culture blending South Indian, Malay, and Chinese influences.
