PHT Newsletter Issue 94

Book Review:
Sun Yat Sen in Penang
Khoo Salma Nasution, Areca Books, Penang, 2008

By Leslie A.K. James

This is the latest contribution to the historiography of Penang by prolific local historian and publisher Khoo Salma Nasution. As custodian of the Sun Yat Sen Penang Base at 120 Armenian Street in the heart of George Town's heritage core, Khoo Salma with her extensive and detailed knowledge of Penang is well equipped to write this book and she has not disappointed. In an attractive and well illustrated format Sun Yat Sen in Penang is written and published in English with a Chinese translation by Tan Yau Chong published simultaneously in a separate edition.

Khoo Salma weaves the story of the famous Chinese revolutionary's life from his birth in 1866 in Guangdong province and early life in Hawaii and Hong Kong to his "globe-trotting" activities aimed at the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty. It was these activities during the period 1895-1912 that first brought him to Penang in 1906 in his campaign to win the support of the Nanyang Chinese for his revolution. The author describes the links between the Chinese communities in Penang and elsewhere in Southeast Asia with China and the contest for their allegiance that was waged between the Manchu government and Dr. Sun and his revolutionary allies. We meet some of his Penang associates including Wu Shirong (Goh Say Eng), a leading revolutionary who at Dr. Sun's request founded the Penang Philomatic Union, a "reading club" on Dato' Kramat Road aimed at recruiting revolutionary supporters.

The beauty of this book, and its importance for the Malaysian and foreign reader alike, lies in its portrayal of the historical and local context of Sun Yat Sen's connection with Penang. Richly illustrated with contemporary photographs, Khoo Salma's narrative is the account of an historic moment that linked Penang with the leader of one of the modern world's great movements for change. It is most appropriate that the publication of this book has coincided with George Town's award of UNESCO World Heritage Listing.