Penangite Chinese are ethnic Chinese Malaysians of full or partial Chinese ancestry who either hail from or live within the State of

Penang Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the M ...

. , nearly 42% of Penang's population belonged to the Chinese ethnic group, making ethnic Chinese the largest ethnic community within the state. Most Chinese Penangites are the descendants of Chinese colonists, traders, accountants, merchants, labourers and immigrants from southern

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...

who moved to the

between the 18th and 20th centuries. By the mid-19th century, George Town, the capital city of Penang, was home to a significant

Peranakan The Peranakans () are an ethnic group defined by their genealogical descent from the first waves of Southern Chinese settlers to maritime Southeast Asia, known as Nanyang (), namely the British Colonial ruled ports in the Malay Peninsula, ...

community, also known as the ''King's Chinese'' due to their loyalty to the

British crown The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...

. Under

British colonial rule The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

, Penang continued to experience increasing Chinese immigration throughout the 19th century. As the largest group of Penangite Chinese are ethnic Hokkiens (38% of the Chinese penangite population in 1957) who came from southern

Fujian Province Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its ...

, home to the

Hokkien language The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...

Penang Hokkien Penang Hokkien (; Tâi-lô: ''Pin-siânn Hok-kiàn-uā''; ; ) is a local variant of Hokkien spoken in Penang, Malaysia. It is spoken as a mother tongue by 63.9% of Penang's Chinese community, and also by some Penangite Indians and Penangit ...

was gradually developed and is now widely used by Penangites for daily communication. Penang's Chinese have been well-represented within

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions: Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Mal ...

and also internationally in various professional, political, economic and other fields. To date, Penang is the only state in

where the position of the Chief Minister, who leads the state government, has been continuously held by an

ethnic Chinese The Chinese people or simply Chinese, are people or ethnic groups identified with China, usually through ethnicity, nationality, citizenship, or other affiliation. Chinese people are known as Zhongguoren () or as Huaren () by speakers of s ...

since independence. Renowned figures, including

Jimmy Choo Datuk Jimmy Choo Back from ...

and

Nicol David Datuk Nicol Ann David (born August 26, 1983) is a retired female Malaysian professional squash player. Beginning in August 2006, David was the world number one for a record-breaking 108 consecutive months, finally ceding the ranking in Septembe ...

, hailed from Penang and have contributed greatly in raising the country's profile internationally. In Mandarin, Penangite Chinese clearly distinguish themselves as full Chinese ( s , t , p '' Huárén'') rather than

overseas Chinese Overseas Chinese () refers to people of Chinese birth or ethnicity who reside outside Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. As of 2011, there were over 40.3 million overseas Chinese. Terminology () or ''Hoan-kheh'' () in Hokkien, ref ...

( s , t , pin. ''Huáyì''; s , t , pin. ''Huáqiáo''). Similarly, Penangite Chinese typically refer to themselves as ''Tn̂g-lâng'' in

. In English parlance within Penang, Penangite Chinese are simply referred to as "Chinese".

History

Chinese sailors had explored the seas off

Penang Island Penang Island ( ms, Pulau Pinang; zh, 檳榔嶼; ta, பினாங்கு தீவு) is part of the state of Penang, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It was named Prince of Wales Island when it was occupied by the British Ea ...

as early as the 15th century. During the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

, Chinese seafarers led by Admiral

Zheng He Zheng He (; 1371–1433 or 1435) was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral, and court eunuch during China's early Ming dynasty. He was originally born as Ma He in a Muslim family and later adopted the surname Zheng conferr ...

sailed the length of the

Malacca Straits The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of water, 500 mi (800 km) long and from 40 to 155 mi (65–250 km) wide, between the Malay Peninsula (Peninsular Malaysia) to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connec ...

; Penang Island may have appeared in the '' Nautical Charts of Zheng He''. However, it was only sometime in the 18th century when the Chinese began to arrive on Penang Island. It was recorded that the fishing village of

Tanjung Tokong Tanjung Tokong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. It is located along the northeastern coast of Penang Island, next to Pulau Tikus and northwest of the city centre. Over the recent decades, the former fishing village has been transfo ...

on the northern coast of the island was founded by Zhang Li, a sailor whose arrival on Penang Island preceded that of Captain

Francis Light Captain Francis Light ( – 21 October 1794) was a British explorer and the founder of the British colony of Penang (in modern-day Malaysia) and its capital city of George Town in 1786. Light and his lifelong partner, Martina Rozells, were th ...

by at least a few decades. After the

British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...

under Captain

founded George Town in 1786, ethnic Chinese began to move to Penang in increasing numbers. In particular, the

s, who already had established themselves along the western coast of the

Malay Peninsula The Malay Peninsula ( Malay: ''Semenanjung Tanah Melayu'') is a peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The ar ...

, shifted to Penang. This, coupled with the greater number of newer immigrants from

throughout the 19th century, effectively made the Chinese the largest ethnic group in Penang by the 1850s. Ke Lok Si Illuminations 01

As Penang grew into a major

entrepôt An ''entrepôt'' (; ) or transshipment port is a port, city, or trading post where merchandise may be imported, stored, or traded, usually to be exported again. Such cities often sprang up and such ports and trading posts often developed into c ...

towards the end of the 19th century, the influx of various cultures and religions would create a melting pot where the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society could exist in harmony. Similarly, over time, the newer Chinese arrivals became acculturated to the existing local culture and customs due to intermarriages between the Peranakans and the "''Sinkeh''". At the turn of the century, the Chinese nationalist

Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...

's campaigns to liberate

from imperial Manchu rule attracted considerable financial support from Penang's Chinese population. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, ethnic Chinese in Penang suffered brutal and often violent treatment in the hands of the occupying

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emper ...

. The Japanese implemented a policy known as ''

Sook Ching Sook Ching was a mass killing that occurred from 18 February to 4 March 1942 in Singapore after it fell to the Japanese. It was a systematic purge and massacre of 'anti-Japanese' elements in Singapore, with the Singaporean Chinese particula ...

'', a systematic purge of perceived hostile elements, including the Chinese. Hundreds of ethnic Chinese as well as 3,500 other non-Chinese POWs were massacred and buried in unmarked mass graves throughout Penang during the Japanese occupation period.

Demographics

Out of the nearly 700,000 Penangite Chinese, most are concentrated on

, particularly within and around the city of George Town. Ethnic Chinese constitute the plurality of Penang Island's population; the

2010 Malaysian Census The Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2010, was conducted by Department of Statistics from 6 July to 22 August 2010. It was carried out in three phases; the first phase from 6 to 21 July, the second phase from 22 July to 6 August, and t ...

indicated that about 53% of Penang Island's inhabitants were of

Chinese descent Overseas Chinese () refers to people of Chinese birth or ethnicity who reside outside Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. As of 2011, there were over 40.3 million overseas Chinese. Terminology () or ''Hoan-kheh'' () in Hokkien, ref ...

. On the island, more Chinese reside within the Northeastern District, where George Town is situated, compared to the less-populated Southwestern District. The Chinese also accounted for 34.2% of the population in

Seberang Perai Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is situated on the Malay Peninsula opposite Penang Island, bordering Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. Its city centre is located in Butterworth, while its local ...

, the mainland halve of the State of Penang. They most commonly reside within the

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...

and

Southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...

districts, forming a visible majority in the towns within these districts, such as

Bukit Mertajam Bukit Mertajam ( Jawi:بوكيت مرتاجم) is the administrative centre of the city of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia. It also serves as the seat of the Central Seberang Perai District. , Bukit Mertajam (core) contains a total of 13, ...

Batu Kawan Batu Kawan ( Jawi: باتو كاون) is an island in the city of Seberang Perai, Penang, Malaysia. It is geographically separated from the rest of Seberang Perai by the Jawi and Tengah rivers. , Batu Kawan contained a population of 5,537. Long ...

and Nibong Tebal.

Language

Penang Malaysia Chinese-woman-checking-a-delivery-of-chinese-lanterns-02

According to the

, up to 63.9% of

's Sinitic population spoke

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages ...

as their mother tongue. This figure likely included those with

ancestry. The second largest Sinitic linguistic group in Penang was the

Teochews The Teochew people or Chaoshan people (rendered Têo-Swa in romanized Teoswa and Chaoshan in Standard Chinese also known as Teo-Swa in mainland China due to a change in place names) is anyone native to the historical Chaoshan region in south ...

, constituting 17.8% of Penang's Sinitic community, followed by the

Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding a ...

at 8.3%. There were also smaller

Hakka The Hakka (), sometimes also referred to as Hakka Han, or Hakka Chinese, or Hakkas are a Han Chinese subgroup whose ancestral homes are chiefly in the Hakka-speaking provincial areas of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhej ...

and

Hainanese Hainanese ( Hainan Romanised: ', Hainanese Pinyin: ',), also known as Qióngwén, Heng2 vun2 () or Qióngyǔ, Heng2 yi2 (), is a group of Min Chinese varieties spoken in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan and Overseas Chinese su ...

communities throughout Penang. PenangPedicab67

The resulting ubiquitous use of

has made

the ''lingua franca'' among Penangites. Penang Hokkien, which originated from a subdialect of Zhangzhou Hokkien, incorporated several Malay and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

terms over the centuries, eventually evolving into a distinct

dialect used mainly in northern

. Uniquely for

, this localised Hokkien creole is spoken by many Penangites regardless of race for daily communication, so much so that even local police officers also take courses in Penang Hokkien. More recently, Penang Hokkien has also been popularised in mass media, particularly through books, dictionaries and movies, due in part to the desire to maintain the language's relevance in the face of increasing influence of Mandarin and

amongst the younger generations. Just like in other states, younger sinitic generation in Penang mostly speaks Mandarin with family and friends now. Besides Penang Hokkien and Mandarin, the latter of which has been used as a medium of instruction in Chinese primary schools in Penang,

, Teochew and

are spoken by smaller numbers of Chinese as well. In general, these communities arrived in Penang after the

Hokkiens The Hoklo people or Hokkien people () are a Han Chinese (also Han Taiwanese) subgroup who speak Hokkien, a Southern Min language, or trace their ancestry to Minnan region, Southeastern Fujian, China and known by various endonyms or other relate ...

had already established themselves within the colony in the early 19th century. The

and

communities, in particular, would go on to predominate parts of George Town towards the end of the 19th century, while a significant number of

were also employed in the agricultural industries within the then Province Wellesley (now

). To this day, many of the

continue to reside in the towns of

, such as

, Sungai Bakap and Nibong Tebal. In addition, all Penangites are conversant with Malay, the national language of

, as the language is made compulsory in all schools in Penang. A legacy of

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

rule is the existence of several English and missionary schools throughout Penang, which also contributes to the relatively high level of English proficiency among Penangites.http://www.rism.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/05.-Penang.-The-Next-Metropolis-Dr.-Lim-Kim-Hwa.pdf

Culture

Cuisine

Char_Kway_Teow,_Georgetown,_Penang,_Malaysia

Along with other races, the Chinese have greatly influenced Penang's street

cuisine A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...

, one of the more famous culinary styles in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...

. Penang is famous for its variants of Chinese dishes, including ''char kuey teow'', ''

Hokkien mee Hokkien mee, literally "Fujian noodles", is a series of related Southeast Asian dishes that have their origins in the cuisine of China's Fujian (Hokkien) province. Types ''Hokkien mee'' can refer to four distinct dishes, with each being ubi ...

'' and ''chee cheong fun''. These are in addition to the famous ''

asam laksa Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy co ...

'', a local variant of the Peranakan fusion dish, which was ranked 7th in CNN's list of the world's 50 best dishes.

Festivals

Some of the major Chinese cultural celebrations in Penang include the

Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar and solar Chinese calendar. In Chinese and other East Asian cultures, the festival is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival () a ...

Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival ( zh, t=元宵節, s=元宵节, first=t, hp=Yuánxiāo jié), also called Shangyuan Festival ( zh, t=上元節, s=上元节, first=t, hp=Shàngyuán jié), is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated on the fifteenth d ...

Zhong Yuan Festival The Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival (traditional Chinese: 中元節; simplified Chinese: ) in Taoism and Yulanpen Festival () in Buddhism, is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival held in certain East Asian countri ...

and

Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival ( Chinese: / ), also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. Similar holidays are celebrated in Japan (), Korea (), Vietnam (), and other countries in E ...

. The largest of all is the Chinese New Year, which includes a number of festivities and observances which are unique to Penang. For instance, the

Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor or Yudi ( or , ') in Chinese culture, traditional religions and myth is one of the representations of the first god ( '). In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the th ...

's Birthday, also known colloquially as the "Hokkien New Year", falls on the 9th day of

and is widely observed in

festivities in

also include the traditional lighting up of the iconic Kek Lok Si Temple, a 'fire watching' ceremony in the

Snake Temple The Snake Temple () (also called as the Temple of the Azure Cloud) is a Chinese temple situated in Bayan Lepas, Southwest Penang Island District, Penang, Malaysia. It was built in 1805 for Master Qingshui or Chor Soo Kong (祖師公), a deified ...

and open houses by several ornate Chinese clan houses within George Town's

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

. Wesak Day is celebrated by the Buddhists with a grand procession by Buddhist associations and temples based in Penang since 1949, with floats depicting both Mahayana and Theravada traditions. Most Buddhists and Taoists observe Qing Ming and the

, both to honour their departed relatives and friends. Taoists also celebrate various Taoist Deities's birthday like

Guan Gong Guan Yu (; ), courtesy name Yunchang, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei, he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on m ...

's Birthday and Nine Emperor Gods Festival at various temples in Penang. The Christians, meanwhile, observe

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

and

Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samue ...

, with the Catholics also observing the

Saint Anne According to Christian apocryphal and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels. In writing, Anne's name and that of her husband Joachim come o ...

Novena A novena (from Latin: ''novem'', "nine") is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pe ...

for 10 days at the St. Anne's Church in

Chingay performance

Chingay parades were said to have originated in Penang in the early 20th century, before spreading to the rest of

Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri-negeri Tanah Melayu; Jawi: نڬري-نڬري تانه ملايو), also known as West Malaysia or the Malaysian Peninsula, ...

and

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

. The

variant of the Chingay parade includes a giant flag balancing act on one's forehead. Since the 1950s, an annual Chingay parade has been held within the city of George Town every December, in a bid to retain this unique cultural practice.

Landmarks

File:Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang.jpg,

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a government gazetted heritage building located on Leith Street in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. The mansion's external decorations and indigo-blue outer walls make it a very distinctive building, and it is somet ...

, George Town File:Penang Malaysia Kek-Lok-Si-Temple-03.jpg, Kek Lok Si Temple,

Air Itam Ayer Itam (also spelt Air Itam or Air Hitam) is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Nested within the central valleys of Penang Island, it is located approximately southwest of the city centre. Ayer Itam is one of the well-known places ...

File:Penang Malaysia Leong-San-Tong-Khoo-Kongsi-02.jpg,

Khoo Kongsi The Khoo Kongsi is a large Chinese clanhouse with elaborate and highly ornamented architecture, a mark of the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang, Malaysia. The famous Khoo Kongsi is the grandest clan temple in the country. It is also on ...

, George Town File:Kong Hock Keong Penang Dec 2006 002.jpg,

Goddess of Mercy Temple zh, 觀音亭 , image = Kong Hock Keong Penang Dec 2006 002.jpg , caption = Front view of Goddess of Mercy Temple , map_type = Malaysia Penang George Town streets , map_size = 275px , l ...

, George Town File:Pinang Peranakan Mansion, George Town, Penang.jpg,

Pinang Peranakan Mansion The Pinang Peranakan Mansion ( ms, Rumah Agam Peranakan Pulau Pinang) in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, is a museum dedicated to Penang's Peranakan heritage. The museum itself is housed within a distinctive green-hued mansion at Church Street, G ...

, George Town File:Snake Temple, Penang.jpg,

Bayan Lepas Bayan Lepas is a town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located within the Southwest Penang Island District, near the southeastern tip of Penang Island. Founded in the 19th century, Bayan Lepas has various industries. History Bayan Le ...

File:Sun Yat-sen Penang Base.JPG, Sun Yat-sen Museum, George Town where Dr. Sun plotted his plans against the

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

File:Thni Kong Tnua, Air Itam, Penang.jpg,

Thni Kong Tnua zh, 天公壇 , image = Thni Kong Tnua, Air Itam, Penang.jpg , caption = Front view of Thean Kong Thnuah Temple , map_type = Malaysia Penang George Town streets , map_size = 275px , loc ...

File:Temple b1.jpg, Tow Boo Kong Temple,

Butterworth Butterworth may refer to: Places * Butterworth (ancient township), a former township centred on Milnrow, in the then Parish of Rochdale, England, United Kingdom * Butterworth, Eastern Cape, now also known as Gcuwa, a town located in South Africa * ...

Education

Most Penangite Chinese today either go to a Chinese school, a national school (''Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan'', or ''SMK'') or a missionary school. In recent years, international schools, which traditionally cater to

's expatriate community, are also increasingly popular among Penangites themselves. As a result, Penangite Chinese are multilingual, with the ability to converse in Malay,

and either Mandarin or another Chinese dialect (typically the individual's mother tongue). Due to the strong English education system that was established by the British in

, many Penangites, especially those who went to missionary schools, are able to maintain at least a reasonable command of

. Mandarin has also been increasingly used by the younger generations, as it is the medium of instruction in Chinese schools throughout the state.

Chinese schools

George Town served as the nucleus of Malaysia's Chinese education system, when in 1904, Chung Hwa Confucian School was established. It was the first Chinese school to be built in

British Malaya The term "British Malaya" (; ms, Tanah Melayu British) loosely describes a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Singapore that were brought under British hegemony or control between the late 18th and the mid-20th century. ...

, as well as the first to use Mandarin as its medium of instruction. To this day, Chinese schools in Penang maintain a reputation for academic excellence. The Chinese secondary schools in Penang, both public and private, are as listed below. * Chung Hwa Confucian School, established in 1904, is one of the oldest formal Chinese schools in

. It also became the first to use Mandarin as the medium of instruction instead of other Chinese dialects. *

Chung Ling High School Chung Ling High School (; ms, Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Ling) is a secondary school in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It was initially established in 1917 as a primary school, and later became a junior high school in 1923, becom ...

, founded in 1917, was the alma mater of

Khaw Boon Wan Khaw Boon Wan (; born 8 December 1952) is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister for Transport between 2015 and 2020, Minister for National Development between 2011 and 2015, and Minister for Health between 2003 and 2011. A mem ...

, Lee Khoon Choy and Koh Tsu Koon. * Han Chiang High School *

Jit Sin High School Founded in 1918, Jit Sin High School (Malay: Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Jit Sin; ) is a co-educational Chinese vernacular secondary school in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Background Jit Sin High School (JSHS) used to share the same compou ...

Penang Chinese Girls' High School Penang Chinese High School (PCGHS) (; Malay: Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan China Pulau Pinang) is a secondary school in Penang, Malaysia. Often referred to as "Bīn huá" () among the local Chinese community in Penang. The school provides co ...

* Union High School *

Convent Datuk Keramat , motto_translation = Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty , accreditation = , rival = , mascot = , mascot image = , sports = , patron ...

* Phor Tay High School, established in 1940, was the first Buddhist school in

. *

Heng Ee High School Heng Ee High School ( zh, , s=恒毅国民型华文中学, t=恆毅國民型華文中學, p=, poj=Hêng-gī kok-bîn-hêng huâ-bûn tiong-o̍h; ms, Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Heng Ee) is a Chinese conforming secondary school located i ...

* Sacred Heart High School

List of Penangite Chinese

The list includes Penangites of partial Chinese descent. *

Ah Niu Tan Kheng Seong (Simplified Chinese: 陈庆祥; Traditional Chinese: 陳慶祥; ), better known by his stage namAh Niu or Ah Gu(), is a Malaysian Chinese singer in Malaysia and Singapore. In 1997, his popularity was restricted to mainly Mala ...

(1976- ), singer *

Andrea Fonseka Andrea Fonseka (born 29 August 1984) is a Filipino-Malaysian model, television presenter, actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2004. As an actress, she is currently working predominantly in Malaysia an ...

(1984- ), Miss Universe Malaysia 2004 *

Chan Peng Soon Chan Peng Soon (born 27 April 1988) is a Malaysian badminton player specialised in the mixed doubles event. He is best known for his partnership with Goh Liu Ying where they have been consistently ranked among the top 10 mixed doubles pair in ...

(1988- ), badminton player and silver medallist in the

2016 Summer Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...

Chew Choon Eng Chew Choon Eng (born 28 May 1976) is a former Malaysian badminton player. Currently, he is coaching Malaysian professional pair consist of 2016 Olympic Games silver medallist, Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying and Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong. Career ...

(1976- ), badminton player *

Chin Eei Hui Chin Eei Hui (; Hakka Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chhìn Ngì-fui; born 18 June 1982) is a former badminton player from Malaysia who plays in both women's and mixed doubles. She worked as a coach for Malaysia's national women's doubles players of which th ...

(1982- ), badminton player *

Danny Quah Danny Quah () is Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Quah's work includes contributions to the fields of economic growth, development economics, monetary economics, ...

(1958- ), economics professor at the

National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in th ...

* David E. L. Choong (1929-2011), badminton player *

Eddy Choong Dato' Choong Ewe Beng (29 May 1931 – 28 January 2013) was a Malaysian badminton player. He was David Choong's brother and they played men's doubles together. Early life Choong Ewe Beng, also known as Eddy, was born on May 29, 1931, and w ...

(1930-2013), badminton player *

Chung Keng Quee Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee (; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chhang Kín-kui, 182713 December1901) was the founder and administrator of modern Taiping in Perak, Malaysia. Appointed "Capitan China" by the British in 1877, he was a millionaire philanthropi ...

(1821-1901), founder of Taiping; his mansion is now the

Chung Thye Phin Kapitan China Chiew Yuen Lam (; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ''Chhang Thai-phìn''); 28 September 1879 – 1935) was a wealthy Malayan tin miner and rubber planter. Chinese Business in Southeast Asia: Contesting Cultural Explanations by Edmund Terence Go ...

(1879-1935), tin and rubber tycoon * Gu Hongming (1857-1928), writer * Heah Hock Aun (1932- ), badminton player *

Heah Joo Seang Heah Joo Seang () was a Malayan politician, business leader, rubber magnate, philanthropist and especially a supporter of education. Malaysia, as it has since become, only existed after Joo Seang's death. His contributions span three distinct peri ...

(1899-1962), politician and business leader *

Jimmy Choo Datuk Jimmy Choo Back from ...

(1948- ), world-renowned shoe designer *

(1952-),

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure was an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore. The only person to hold the post, between 2015 and 2020, was Khaw Boon Wan. List of Coordinating Ministers for Infrastructure References 2015 esta ...

and

Minister for Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government ag ...

(2015- ) *

Koh Lay Huan Kapitan China Koh Lay Huan (; died 1826) was a wealthy and educated man, who had earlier rebelled against the Manchu-led Chinese Qing Dynasty and fled to Siam and the Malay States, to eventually settle in Penang as its first Kapitan China. He w ...

(-1826), first Kapitan China of

* Koh Tsu Koon (1949- ), third

Chief Minister of Penang The Chief Minister of Penang is the head of government in the Malaysian state of Penang. According to convention, the chief minister is the leader of the majority party or largest coalition party of the Penang State Legislative Assembly. The chi ...

(1990-2008) * Law Choo Kiang (1970- ), Speaker of the

Penang State Legislative Assembly The Penang State Legislative Assembly is the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is a unicameral institution, consisting of a total of 40 elected lawmakers representing single-member constituencies throughout Penang. The state legi ...

(2013- ) * Eva Lee Kwok (1942- ), Canadian businesswoman *

Lim Boon Keng Lim Boon Keng (; 18 October 1869 – 1 January 1957) was a Peranakan physician who advocated social and educational reforms in Singapore in the early 20th-century. He also served as the president of Xiamen University in China between 1921 and ...

(1868-1957), OBE, Chinese physician *

Lim Chong Eu Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu (; 28 May 1919 – 24 November 2010) was a Malaysian politician who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Penang from May 1969 to October 1990. He was also the founding president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (GERAKAN). ...

(1919-2010), second

(1969-1990) *

Lim Khim Wah Lim Khim Wah (born 29 April 1989) is a Malaysian badminton player from Penang who plays in the doubles category. His men's doubles partner was Goh V Shem until late 2014. They two won their first Superseries title at the 2014 Malaysia Open. ...

(1989- ), badminton player *

Pik-Sen Lim Pik-Sen Lim (, born 15 September 1944) is a Malaysian-British actress. According to the British Film Institute, Lim was "the most familiar Chinese actor on British television screens in the 1970s and 80s." Her notable roles include Chin Lee i ...

(1944- ), British actress *

Loh Boon Siew Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew (; 1915 – 1995) also known by locals as “Mr Honda”, was a Penangite tycoon and the first sole distributor of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia. Early life Loh Boon Siew was born in Hui'an County, Fujian, China. He spen ...

(1915-1995), first

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...

distributor in

* Loh Kean Yew, Singaporean badminton player *

Loh Kean Hean Loh Kean Hean (; born 12 March 1995) is a Singaporean badminton player. Career Born in Penang, Loh permanently moved to Singapore in 2009 after receiving a scholarship from the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA). His younger brother follo ...

, Singaporean badminton player *

Low Wee Wern Low Wee Wern (; born 25 July 1990 in Penang, Malaysia) is a Malaysian professional squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extre ...

(1990- ), squash player * Angie Ng, model * Chelsia Ng (1981- ), actress * Irene Ng (1963- ),

's Member of Parliament for

Tampines Tampines () is the regional centre of the East Region of Singapore. With a population of 265,340 living across its five subzones, it is the second-most populous planning area in Singapore, according to the DOS Population Trends 2022. It is ...

(2001-2015) * Irene Ng (1974- ), American actress *

Ng Tat Wai Ng Tat Wai (born 5 September 1947) was one of the top badminton players during the 1970s. Career A right-handed doubles player, Tat Wai had represented and won medals for Malaysia in various tournaments including the Thomas Cup, Commonwea ...

(1947- ), badminton player *

(1983- ), one of the world's best female squash players of all time *

Ooi Tze Liang Ooi Tze Liang (, born 19 November 1993 in Penang) is a Malaysian diver. Ooi has represented Malaysia in various diving events such as 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, 2013 Southeast Asian Games and 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Early and pe ...

(1993- ), diver *

Ong Beng Hee Ong Beng Hee (born 4 February 1980, in Penang, Malaysia) is a retired professional squash player and coach. Between 2000 and 2006, he won four consecutive Asian Championship titles. In 2002 and 2006 he won gold medals at the Asian Games. He won ...

(1980- ), squash player * Ong Ewe Hock (1972- ), badminton player * Ong Hock Thye (1908-1977), judge *

Saw Teong Hin Saw Teong Hin () is a Malaysian film director, best known for directing the Malay language epic fantasy film '' Puteri Gunung Ledang'' and '' You Mean the World to Me'', the first Malaysian film filmed entirely in Hokkien. Early life and educati ...

(1962- ), director of ''You Mean the World to Me'', the first

film * Saw Yi Khy (1986- ), swimmer * Lyndel Soon (1978- ), Miss Tourism Malaysia 2001 * Hannah Tan (1981- ), actress, singer-songwriter, model and television personality *

Tan Twan Eng Tan Twan Eng (, b. 1972) is a Malaysians, Malaysian novelist who writes in English. He is best known for his 2012 book ''The Garden of Evening Mists'' which won the Man Asian Literary Prize and Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, and was s ...

(1972- ), novelist *

Tee Jing Yi Tee Jing Yi (born 8 February 1991 in George Town, Penang) is a Malaysian badminton player. She competed at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in the women's singles event. Achievements Asia Junior Championships ''Girls' doubles'' ...

(1991- ), badminton player *

Wee Chong Jin Wee Chong Jin (; 28 September 1917 – 5 June 2005) was a Malayan-born Singaporean judge who served as the first chief justice of Singapore between 1963 and 1990, appointed by President Yusof Ishak. Born in Penang, Malaysia, he was the firs ...

(1917-2005), first

Chief Justice of Singapore The chief justice of Singapore is the presiding member of the Supreme Court of Singapore. It is the highest post in the judicial system of Singapore, appointed by the president, chosen from the candidates recommended by the prime minister. The i ...

(1963-1990) *

Wong Pow Nee Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee (7 October 1911 – 31 August 2002) was a Malaysian politician and diplomat. He was Penang's first Chief Minister,Ng 2007 serving from 1957 to 1969 and Malaysia's first Ambassador to Rome. Early history He was born in B ...

(1913-2002), first

(1957-1969) *

Wu Lien-teh Wu Lien-teh (; Goh Lean Tuck and Ng Leen Tuck in Minnan and Cantonese transliteration respectively; 10 March 1879 – 21 January 1960) was a Malayan physician renowned for his work in public health, particularly the Manchurian plague of 191 ...

(1879-1960), Chinese doctor and a nominee for the

Nobel Prize in Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, according ...

1935 *

Yeap Chor Ee Yeap Chor Ee (葉祖意) was a businessman and philanthropist. He was born in the village of Nan'an, Fujian, China, in 1867. He came to Penang at the age of 17 in the 1880s virtually penniless, and found work as a barber. He rose to become the r ...

(1867-1952), businessman * Yeohlee Teng, American fashion designer * Ivan Yuen (1990- ), squash player

References

{{Ethnic groups in Malaysia Ethnic groups in Malaysia Chinese diaspora in Malaysia Penang society