R & D ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Win in Malaysian History Essay Writing Competition

UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wun Bin was announced in year 2015 as one of the winners of the Malaysian History Essay Writing Competition (Pertandingan Menulis Sejarah Malaysia).

Organised by the Malaysian Historical Society (Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia, PSM) on an annual basis, the competition saw a total of 75 entries. Dr Wong's essay titled "Kajian Kapitan Cina Melaka Pada Akhir Dinasti Ming Sehingga Awal Dinasti Qing" (Study on Chinese Kapitans in Malacca from end of Ming Dynasty to early Qing Dynasty / 明末清初马六甲华人甲必丹事迹探析) won the consolation prize and was one of the six winners in the Public/University Category.

According to Dr Wong, the research on Chinese Kapitans in Malacca was an extension of his research on Malacca's Cheng Hoon Teng temple and Bukit China back in 2008 which has also been published in a book titled "A Collection of Tombstone Inscription of Bukit China, Malacca 1614 – 1820" (马六甲三宝山墓碑集录1614 – 1820).

"Not many people have heard or even know about the existence, the roles and contribution of the early Chinese community during the Dutch Malacca period," explained Dr Wong, who added that the study was conducted based on field trips to Cheng Hoon Teng and Bukit China as well as references to evidence such as artifacts and old texts.

The Malaysian History Essay Writing Competition is held annually and is one of the earliest competitions by PSM. The competition is funded by the Prime Minister's Department and the current Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak is the President of PSM.