Penang and Its Region: The Story of an Asian EntrepôtSeng Guan Yeoh From its beginnings in the late eighteenth century, the vibrant colonial port of Penang attracted a diverse range of peoples, enabled pioneering commercial enterprises, and fomented inter-ethnic collaboration and inter-cultural borrowings. The island came to be known as the "Pearl of the Orient", and for many travellers it was their first port of call in Southeast Asia. In the early nineteenth century, Singapore displaced Penang in international trade, but the island remained a major focus of regional trade. For this reason, the story of Penang's relations with the Malay Peninsula and other parts of Southeast Asia reveal a great deal about conditions within the region. This collection discusses the personal networks that have linked prominent individuals in Penang with neighbouring areas, and then considers the position of the island as a whole within the Southeast Asian region. Specifically, the authors write about local entrepreneurs, mutual help associations, and cross border trading and political networks, and aspects of how the cosmopolitan population of the island negotiated the transition from British colony to Malaysian state. |
Contents
Penangs Changing Role in the Straits Settlements | 30 |
Penangs Trade and Shipping in the Imperial Age | 83 |
Views from across | 150 |
Copyright | |
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activities Asian Association authorities base became become branches British capital centre Cheng Kean China Chinese Choong colonial Conference connections continued Council cultural direct Dutch Dutch East Indies early East economic Emergency established European export farms followed forces formed Hong Kong important Indian influence interests island Kedah Khoo Kuala Lumpur labour later leaders living London LPMP major Malay Malaya Malaysia Melaka merchants mining movement nineteenth century noted operated opium organizations origin party Penang peninsula Perak peranakan peranakan Chinese period political population port present produce regional Report Resident Road role route rubber School secret societies Singapore social Source Southeast Asia Straits Settlements struggle sultan Sumatra town trade twentieth century Union University Press West Western