Malaysia
Meet The Author: Rose Gan & Book Launch ‘Legacy’ (The Penang Chronicles IV)
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Badan Warisan Malaysia is delighted to welcome back Rose Gan to discuss the final novel of the Penang Chronicles quartet, ‘Legacy’. There will be book reading session and a book signing session by the author.
Date : Saturday, 25 October 2025
Time : 10.30am
Venue : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Price : Free for BWM members, RM20 per pax for non-members.
Click HERE to register!
PROGRAM
10.00 am: Registration
10.30 am: Introduction
11.00 am: Book reading session ‘LEGACY’ and Q&A session
11.45 am: Book signing and Refreshments
12.00 am: End of program
ABOUT THE BOOK
In the years following the death of Francis Light, his family faces an uncertain future. As Penang heads inexorably towards colonial rule, Martinha struggles to claim her rightful inheritance, encountering corruption, prejudice and heartbreak in equal measure. Scattered across the world, her children are forced to negotiate the British establishment alone as best they can with little but their father’s name and reputation to sustain them. From Britain to the Peninsular War, from the social pretensions of Bengal to the court of the Pasha of Egypt, from the new city of Adelaide to Java and Singapore in the company of Raffles, the next generation makes its way, its roots firmly planted in the beautiful island of their home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
British by birth, Rose Gan has been based in South East Asia for many years with her Malaysian husband and family, having lived in Bangkok, Penang and Jakarta before settling back in Kuala Lumpur in 2012. With an academic background in Ancient and Medieval History and Classical languages, Rose worked for many years as a teacher both in Malaysia and the UK, and then later as a volunteer docent at various museums in Malaysia and Indonesia. Rose has also contributed to museum publications in Indonesia and Malaysia as a writer and editor.
In 2021, Rose published her first novel in the Penang Chronicles series entitled ‘Dragon’, followed by two others, Pearl and Emporium in subsequent years. The initial trilogy re-creates the life and times of Francis Light and Martinha Rozells set against a background of life in the 18th century Straits, published by Monsoon Books, UK. The companion novel, Legacy, which continues the story of Martinha and her children, particularly William Light who designed the city of Adelaide, was published in the UK on 1 September 2025. It will be available in Asia from 15 October 2025.
BWM Talk Series: ‘Niah Cave Heritage – A Perspective from Ancient Fauna’ by Lim Tze Tshen
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Date: 12 July 2025
Time: 10.30 am
Location: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About The Talk
Archaeological exploration and excavations at Niah cave since the 1950s by teams of researchers from Sarawak Museum, in collaboration with other institutions, have not only revealed undisputed skeletal and material cultural evidence of the earliest presence of modern humans (Homo sapiens) known in Borneo and Malaysia, but have also recovered substantial amounts of non-human animal remains from the archaeological deposits inside the cave. These ancient animal remains that are associated with prehistoric humans and their daily activities are an integral part of the archaeological sites at Niah. They enrich the archaeological interpretation of the sites through an additional human-animal dimension stretching back in time to at least 45,000 years ago. Moreover, they provide us with a unique opportunity to understand faunal changes in prehistoric Borneo in response to environmental and anthropogenic influences. This talk, aimed at the general public, will trail the fascinating early history of archaeological research at Niah, with particular focus on the various milestones of achievement that continuously redefine our knowledge concerning Borneo biodiversity heritage. Draws heavily on the many important archaeological faunal specimens recently repatriated from Leiden-Cambridge to Sarawak in 2022/23 and some of the remarkable historical documents in the archives of Sarawak Museum Department, the speaker will lead the audience into the deeper prehistoric world of Malaysia’s latest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
About The Speaker
By profession, Lim Tze Tshen is a zooarchaeologist and vertebrate palaeontologist specializes in the study of fossil mammals, especially elephants and primates. He studied zooarchaeology and received his Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree from the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge in 2018. From 2019 to 2020, he was a research fellow and guest curator of the Sarawak Museum Campus Project, Kuching, where he worked on the rich ancient animal remains recovered from excavations at Niah archaeological sites. Before that, as a research associate at the Zoology Museum, Universiti Malaya, he was responsible for curating one of the most important and comprehensive animal bones collections in the country. The opportunity allowed him to conduct scientific research based on the collections kept in several museums across Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. Besides that, he also actively engages in limestone hills and caves biodiversity conservation, mainly through a series of field surveys conducted together with research teams from the Geology Department and the Institute of Biological Sciences of University Malaya, as well as with professional experts from the Malaysian Cave and Karst Conservancy and other grassroots NGOs. Combining prehistoric sites exploration in the field and collection-based studies in museums, his current research topics focus on the evolutionary history of ancient mammal faunas of southeast Asia and its bearing on modern-day biodiversity conservation. A founding and committee member of the Malaysian Biodiversity Collections Society, he is also the honorary secretary of the Friends of Sarawak Museum, an NGO dedicated to promoting the appreciation of Sarawak’s heritage through its museums.
BWM Talk Series: The Trials and Tribulations of the residents of Kinta Valley during the Japanese Occupation and Emergency period- Recollections, Reflections and Retrospection by Professor Dr. Gary Lit Ying Loong
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Date : 10 May 2025
Time : 10.30 am
Location : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee : RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About The Talk
Given the location of the Force 136 and MPAJA camp at Bidor Peak, Kinta Valley was the most active in anti-Japanese activities during the war. As a result, Bidor and the surrounding towns in Kinta Valley bore the brunt of Japanese atrocities and brutalities. Thanks to the legacy of the Japanese Occupation, the struggles and sacrifices of the Kinta Valley folks continued through the dark and dangerous years of the Emergency war. Through his “ground-up” approach, the speaker will retrace and recover the untold stories and hidden facts relating to the most tumultuous period of the nation’s history. In his retelling of history, he interrogates the “top-down” narrative and exposes the myths and mysteries involved in this tumultuous period of our nation. As with the first talk, the speaker will be sharing some fascinating facts and intriguing details.
About The Speaker
Born in Kampar, Perak in 1959, Gary Lit Ying Loong pursued his university studies at the National University of Singapore under the prestigious Public Service Commission scholarship. For his post-graduate studies, he obtained both his master degrees in the UK and completed his PhD with the University of Melbourne in Australia.
A retired academician from Nanyang Technological University, Gary Lit is director of GL Academy and Consultancy in Singapore as well as a visiting professor to some National Universities in Asia and Europe. He is also a regular contributor to both the Star and New Sunday Times newspaper as well as a popular guide for a series of successful heritage tours around Kinta Valley. His book “If the Sky were to Fall . . .” is a bottom-up inter-generational story of trials and tribulations facing the common folks during and after the wars in the Kinta Valley. It was ranked among “Top Ten” in Malaysia for 2023 and is still on the “Best-Seller” list in Kinokuniya at KLCC after two years.
BWM Members’ Trip: Heritage Jaunt to Penang
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Badan Warisan Malaysia has organised a Members’ Trip to George Town, Penang, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and we are pleased to curate a special itinerary for heritage lovers to sample this island’s charms. This trip includes visiting several heritage sites such as one of the oldest Anglican churches in Southeast Asia, the largest & oldest fort in Malaysia, and VIP access to a heritage mansion on Millionaire’s Row. Members will also learn about two unique conservation projects from renowned experts at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and Fort Cornwallis, as well as savour culinary delights.
Trip Highlights:
- Guided tour at the iconic Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as The Blue Mansion, with a talk on heritage conservation by Professor Ar. Laurence Loh, past president of Badan Warisan Malaysia.
- Site visit to learn about the conservation and restoration project of Fort Cornwallis that was implemented by George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC), a partnership between Penang Chief Minister Incorporated and Think City with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture as the technical advisor. This guided tour will be led by Conservation Architect Francesco Siravo and Master Builder Giovanni Santo, both of whom have extensive international experience in heritage site conservation.
- Special visit and access within Pro Cathedral of St. George the Martyr and the Homestead.
- Lunch at Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, a Michelin star restaurant for authentic Nyonya cuisine. Buffet dinner at Mangga, a café at The Blue Mansion.
Proposed Itinerary
Friday, 21 February 2025
| Time | Activities |
| 7.30am | Meet at KL Sentral. Travel by train (08.05am) |
| 12.10pm | Arrive in Butterworth, Penang |
| 1.30pm | Check-in SAVV Hotel in George Town |
| 3.30pm | Guided Tour at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion |
| Heritage Talk by Professor Ar. Laurence Loh | |
| 6.00pm | Dinner at Mangga |
Saturday, 22 February 2025
| Time | Activities |
| 7.00am | Guided Tour at Fort Cornwallis |
| 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.30am | Visit to Pro Cathedral of St. George the Martyr |
| 10.00am | Visit to Homestead Heritage Mansion |
| 12.30pm | Lunch at Auntie Gaik Lean’s (Michelin Star Nyonya Restaurant) |
| 4.00pm | Train from Penang to KL |
| 8.10pm | Arrive in KL Sentral |
Fee per person (Twin sharing basis):
Programs, Transport, Hotel & Meals
- Member RM 950
- Non Member RM 1,200
Programs & Meals for Penang portion only, excluding Transport and Hotel (*Subject to availability)
- Member RM 480
- Non Member RM 650
*Please contact Syuhada at syuhada@badanwarisan.org.my if you are interested in joining us for selected activities in Penang. Do not pay deposit until confirmation is made.
Click HERE to register.
BWM Talk Series: Kampong Bharu KL: Unsung Past, Uncapped Present, Unclear Future by Ar. Najib Ariffin
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia
Kampong Bharu KL: Unsung Past, Uncapped Present, Unclear Future
Date : 25 January 2025
Time : 10.30 am
Location : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About the Talk
Pretty much all KL-ites know Kampung Bharu, but most don’t realise that it is one of the most unique places in any Southeast Asian capital; an over 120-year-old Malay Agricultural Settlement that’s now a ‘crater’ of low-rise mixed residential buildings plus popular eateries and shops, all surrounded completely by skyscrapers including the Petronas Twins, and where you can find the last of the traditional Malay family timber houses in the city. For now it’s still a surviving repository of history, lifestyle and architecture, but it may not be long before re-development makes them all disappear. This talk explores what made Kampong Bharu unique, why is it important, and what next?
About the Speaker
Ahmad Najib Ariffin or Nadge is a man of many interests. Born in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of 1967, he was raised in Europe, Singapore and elsewhere, and speaks 7 languages. One of his first professional interests was in architectural history and cultural heritage, which were stirred when studying Building Sciences and Architecture across the USA, also in Italy and Turkey, earning Degrees in each field. His personal interest in heritage and history were then raised when he discovered that his father descends from Javanese kings who built the great Borobudur and Prambanan temples, while his maternal grandmother was a lesser princess of the Qing Dynasty. He left full-time architectural practice in 1996 to pursue consultancy work under his own research academy, NADGE. He has since travelled the world including presenting research papers at LVDM-Naples, Italy; DoCoMoMo-Tokyo and Xi’an, China where he was conferred the L’Union Internationale des Architectes Heritage Award. His passion and knowledge keep him free being a salaryman, even though he lives like the proverbial penniless prince.
BWM Talk Series: Reimagining Spaces: Studio Bikin’s Journey in Adaptive Reuse
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia
Date : Saturday, 11 January 2025
Time : 10.30AM
Venue : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee : RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About the Talk:
Over the last 12 years of practice, Studio Bikin has organically designed and executed many adaptive re-use projects in Malaysia, consistently striving to contribute to delivering exceptional projects that leave a lasting impact by challenging the ordinary and reshaping the possible. They will summarise their design approach and some of the key projects over the years and focus on sharing two of the more recent projects: Else Kuala Lumpur, a boutique hotel on Jalan Tun HS Lee Kuala Lumpur, and Pasar Besar, an interior fit out for a Malaysian supermarket and food hall within the historic Central Market Kuala Lumpur.
Speakers:
Adela Askandar received her BA and Masters in Architecture from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 2000, after which she trained at Lisa Shell design, an architectural practice in London for 2 years and gained her RIBA license. She joined Unit One design consultancy in Kuala Lumpur, where she led projects including the Leisure FarmVillas (winner, WAN international residential awards 2009), and Love Lane (winner PAM award 2006 for Adaptive Reuse). She also enjoyed collaborations with other creatives that allow further nurturing of ideas – this culminated in her curation of ‘Processing the City’, an exhibition that focused on artists and architects’ observations and interpretations of the Kuala Lumpur, held at the Central Market Annexe Gallery in September 2007. In 2008 she gained experience in the education sector at TP Bennet Architects, London, working on a project under the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ program. Adela also taught alongside practice and enjoyed collaborations with other designers, including Farah, which culminated in them formally setting up Studio Bikin (‘Make’ Studio) in 2012. She is interested in how architecture and design can transform and improve the urban and rural human experience whilst solving the commercial realities, some of which is reflected in the endeavors of Bikin’s projects through activating forgotten buildings and interstitial urban spaces. The Studio’s collaborative approach in achieving the client’s goals often contributes to a more dynamic, meaningful result spanning cultural, community-based, as well as commercial projects.
Farah Azizan (born in Penang) obtained her BA in architecture at Nottingham University, UK and pursued her diploma in architecture at the Architecture Association, London. Upon graduating in 2004, she worked part-time for Tonkin Liu Architects, returned to Kuala Lumpur and joined Seksan Design, where she practiced landscape and architectural design for 6 years. There she expanded her design skills as a designer, consistently blending art, architecture, and landscape into the projects she led. In 2012, she set up Studio Bikin with Adela Askandar a multi-disciplinary studio practice that is passionate about design and assumes a very hands-on approach on all their projects, valuing craftsmanship, detail, and sensitivity towards the context and environment within which they build. Her intuitive grasp of spatial dynamics and aesthetics allows her to orchestrate environments that resonate deeply with human emotions. Under Farah and Adela’s directorship, they foster an environment of collaboration and relentless curiosity by crafting immersive narratives that resonate in response to the client’s brief. Having a strong foundation in architectural principles and a dedication to creating functional yet visually captivating spaces, the studio has consistently contributed to delivering exceptional projects that leave a lasting impact by challenging the ordinary and reshaping the possible. Key projects led by Farah include Else Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh Hotel, Pasar Besar, BIG Supermarkets, Monterez House, Kong Heng Villas, APW, Hit & Mrs.
BWM Talk Series: If the Sky were to Fall . . . Unveiling hidden facts and forgotten history by Dr. Gary Lit Ying Loong
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia
Date : Saturday, 23 November 2024
Time : 10.30AM
Venue : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee : RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About the Talk
Through his “ground up” approach, Gary Lit will retrace and rediscover the untold stories and hidden facts in our national narrative. In his retelling of history, he interrogates the official narrative and exposes the myths and mysteries involved in this dark and dangerous period of our nation. This empowers the reimagining and promotes the reawakening of our interest in some of the most tumultuous and contentious events in our nation’s history. Among others, the speaker will be sharing his research on the under-estimated and under-appreciated role of the fifth column during the war and the secret operational base and details of Lim Bo Seng and his Force 136 agents. He will also enlighten us on how geography has shaped history and vice-versa, especially in his own Kinta Valley, a hotbed of guerrilla activities both during WW2 and Emergency war. The speaker has conducted successful seminars with many universities and schools in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Another series of seminars and lectures are being planned with the universities in Britain soon.
About the Speaker
Born in Kampar, Perak in 1959, Gary Lit Ying Loong pursued his university studies at the National University of Singapore under the prestigious Public Service Commission scholarship. For his post-graduate studies, he obtained both his master degrees in the UK and completed his PhD with the University of Melbourne in Australia.
A retired academician from Nanyang Technological University, Gary Lit is director of GL Academy and Consultancy in Singapore as well as a visiting professor to some National Universities in Asia and Europe. He is also a regular contributor to both the Star and New Sunday Times newspaper as well as a popular guide for a series of successful heritage tours around Kinta Valley. His book “If the Sky were to Fall . . .” is a bottom-up inter-generational story of trials and tribulations facing the common folks during and after the wars in the Kinta Valley. It was ranked among “Top Ten” in Malaysia for 2023 and is still on the “Best-Seller” list in Kinokuniya at KLCC after two years.
BWM Talk Series: Penang Heritage Food & Traditional Objects Used for Cooking by Dr. Ong Jin Teong
Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
BWM Talk Series Details
Date: Saturday, 17 August 2024
Time: 2:30 PM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Venue: Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
Program:
2.00pm : Registration
2.30pm : Talk
3.15pm : Q&A session
3.30pm : Refreshments
Book signing
4.00pm : End of program
About the Talk
Dr. Ong Jin Teong will talk about Penang heritage food from a Nonya/Baba perspective, particularly regarding the predominantly Malay and Hokkien influences on Penang heritage food. He will also cover the South Indian and Thai influences, which distinguish Penang food from the Nonya food found in Melaka and Singapore. He will share insights on the Thai, Hainanese and English influences on Penang heritage food as well as explain the background and origins of the traditional Nonya dishes.
Jin Teong’s talk topics will include kuihs and food prepared using traditional utensils used for cooking. He will explain the rationale for his third book and provide brief highlights from main chapters of “THE TASTES OF HOME – Easy-to-Cook Dishes from Singapore and Malaysia”.
About the Speaker
Dr. Ong Jin Teong was born and raised in a Penang Nonya family. He was encouraged by his mother to cook at an early age. After obtaining his PhD from Imperial College, he joined Cable & Wireless, an international telecommunications company in London. He then moved to Singapore where he was a University professor specialising in wireless communications and systems. After his retirement from the Nanyang Technological University’s College of Engineering – Electrical Engineering, he continued to act as a consultant in wireless engineering and added another field of consultancy – Nonya Heritage food including Nonya cuisine.
He has extensively researched Penang and Nonya cuisines and is a sought-after authority on the subjects. He lectures, photographs, runs the occasional supper club and conducts classes on cooking and heritage related to food.
Jin Teong is the author of “NONYA HERITAGE KITCHEN: Origins, Utensils and Recipes” and “PENANG HERITAGE FOOD: Yesterday’s Recipes for Today’s Cook”. Both books won the Best Culinary History national award at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. “NONYA HERITAGE KITCHEN” then went on to win the Best in the World Award in the final round in May 2017 at Yantai, China. “THE TASTES OF HOME – Easy-to-Cook Dishes from Singapore and Malaysia” is his latest book.
BWM Talk Series: Sabah: Untold Stories of the Past by Avtar Singh
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Live Webinar Details
Date: Saturday, 8 June 2024
Time: 10:30 AM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Venue: Virtual – Zoom Webinar
Free Admission
Click HERE to register.
ABOUT THE TALK
Sabah: Untold Stories of the Past touches on little known aspects of history many Malaysians may not realize or know about Sabah and it’s history in brief. This includes the people of the land, migration in and out of Sabah, relationships with China and India, the establishment of a Brunei Sultanate that ruled over Sabah for over 400 years till the early to mid-19th CE when there is a decline in Brunei influence over Sabah coastlines and how it’s past relationship through marriage with members of the former Sulu Sultanate has led to claims of ownership in the mid-17th CE till today over Sabah.
The arrival of the Portuguese and then the Dutch and English change the landscape of trade and relationships between various kingdoms and Empires in South East Asia including Borneo.
Brunei’s decline in its Sphere of Influence and control over the Sabah coastlines was caused by a number of internal and external factors which led to Sabah first becoming an American colony before a hand over and signing over of ownership to the Europeans.
This leads us to the demands for independence and self-rule before talks for a merger to form Malaysia and the pressures of the world forced its political leaders to agree to a merger to form Malaysia.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Avtar Singh spent over 20 years in the retail industry in Malaysia and began a transition into private historical research and writing in 2016. He presented his first historical talk in 2019 on The Battle of Midway and how that particular battle changed the Pacific War. He has since collaborated on debunking the false narratives of the Sulu Sultanate’s claims over Sabah and presented several historical papers on Sabah History and has tried to present a more accurate version of history of Sabah that has largely been missing from history books and story-telling.
He presented his findings to a national audience on the false narratives of the Sulu Sultanate in mid-2023 that has helped the Malaysian Government to challenge claims over Sabah in European Courts.
He is currently attached to the Goethe Institute of Germany as a private historical researcher and currently produces his own podcast @AvtarSinghHistory.
BWM Talk Series: Cameron Highlands: The Making of Malaysia’s Largest Hill Station by Enzo Sim
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Live Webinar Details
Date: Saturday, 20 April 2024
Time: 11:00 AM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Venue: Virtual – Zoom Webinar
Free Admission
Click HERE to register.
ABOUT THE TALK
As one of the most popular holiday destinations in Malaysia, Cameron Highlands receives an average of slightly more than 1 million visitors every year. However, much of its history has been rarely talked about despite its popularity among international and domestic travellers. The talk will dive deep into the early history of the Cameron Highlands and examine the early efforts of the British colonial administration in developing the Highlands as a large scale hill station serving as a convalescence spot, education hub, agricultural station and various other functions. The speaker will retrace the footsteps of the early explorers and uncover the rich heritage of one of the largest colonial hill stations in Southeast Asia.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Enzo Sim is a history and international politics researcher who has a lifelong profound interest in the field of Southeast Asian history. As the former Staff Writer at the Penang Institute, he was known for his various articles in Penang Monthly that published his findings on key historical events that occurred in Penang and Malaya as well as the historical background of forgotten historical sites in Malaysia. Due to his passion in documenting the history of Penang Hill, he had also singlehandedly drafted the historical contents of the funicular railway gallery at the Penang Hill Gallery following his appointment by the Penang Hill Corporation as a member of the Penang Hill Gallery consultative panel. After concluding his stint at Penang Institute, he went on to join Joe Sidek Productions where he curated and drafted the contents of the KL Story permanent historical gallery in Central Market KL and BUKU2BOOKS digitised historical archive exhibition in collaboration with the US Library of Congress and the British Library during the KLWKND Festival 2021, as well as being in charge of planning the Jawi Peranakan exhibition during the Peranakan Festival 2021.
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