KUCHING: Professor Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken says the Chinese community has been contributing to Sarawak’s security, economy and social wellbeing.
“We have seen how the Chinese came here, settled down and eventually took part in every aspect of life in Sarawak.
“Throughout, they have also contributed to other forms of multiculturalism such as the school system now having a different setup in terms of its composition, which is much more multicultural and multiracial,” the Universiti Malaya, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences dean said during a sharing session on ‘The Chinese of Sarawak and Their Experience In a Multicultural State’ on Tuesday (July 19).
He also mentioned Chinese delicacies such as mooncake and ‘yong tau foo’ enjoyed by various communities, adding that “the gastronomy experience of the Chinese is also being shared among different ethnic groups in Sarawak.”
Speaking about Chinese schools, Prof Wong said their establishment was to provide education for the offspring and initially until 1949, the education syllabus was influenced by China followed by the usage of the Taiwanese syllabus.
“Then in the 80s, the syllabus started to be integrated into the national school system.
“Today, Chinese schools have changed in nature, with 40 per cent or more of enrolment in Chinese schools comprising non-Chinese.
“So, Chinese schools have somehow become a platform for multiculturalism to develop,” he added.
Speaking at the same event, guest of honour Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep pointed out that once the book on this topic was published, “I believe (from these books on Bau itself), more and more tourists (from China) will come to Bau and that’s the time we want to make Bau greater than it is.”
