Saving ‘endangered’ languages in Malaysia

Good effort: Malaysia’s first Penang Hokkien movie, ‘You Mean The World To Me’, garnered rave reviews for its gritty story of family ties as well as its use of a minority language.

THEIR feet nimbly tapping out a whirl of steps, the children twirled and swirled to the lively music of the Portuguese Eurasian community.

The dance troupe is part of efforts by the country’s Portuguese community, whose ancestors settled in Melaka in the 16th century, to preserve its eroding culture.