The Baba Nyonya culture in Melaka is receiving growing international recognition, particularly from Chinese tourists, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said.

He said this growing interest is evident on Jonker Street, where many Chinese visitors have taken to the traditional Nyonya kebaya, a garment deeply cherished within the community.

‘This proves that the Baba and Nyonya culture is not just a tourism product. We are advocating for the government to officially recognise this group as a sub-ethnic community,’ he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian Peranakan Festival here today.

Also present were the Baba Nyonya Peranakan Association of Malaysia president, Datuk Ronald Gan Yong Hoe and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s Language and Literature Development director Mohd Salahuddin Mohamed.

Wong, a fourth generation Baba Nyonya from Penang, expressed his admiration for the association’s ongoing collaboration with DBP to conduct research on the community’s unique
language, further enriching the Baba Nyonya cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Gan hoped that the government would recognise the Baba Nyonya and Chettiar communities in Melaka, as part of the sub-ethnic groups in Malaysia.

He said this will help instil the patriotic spirit among the younger generation of both communities.

‘… so that we can really feel that we are true Malaysians,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency