Penang
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 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: 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.
MEDIA STATEMENT – REX CINEMA, PENANG
MEDIA STATEMENT – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 January 2023
Badan Warisan Malaysia deplores Penang Island City Hall’s (MBPP) approval to instruct the demolition of the Rex Cinema at Jalan Burma in Georgetown, Penang. This is despite the Mayor of City Council of Penang Island saying that flaws in the 2030 draft Penang Island local plan will be rectified, as reported in the media on 5 January 2023.
This 84 year-old Art Deco cinema possesses architectural, social, cultural and heritage significance not only for Penangites but for all Malaysians. It is imperative that we conserve and protect Rex Cinema for future generations to enjoy.
Preserving only the facade will not be enough. The Rex Cinema was built with significant interior Art Deco features and details, and these should be maintained. Art Deco architecture is much appreciated and celebrated all over the world.
Badan Warisan Malaysia strongly supports the heritage and conservation groups in Penang, and their great efforts made to preserve the historic heritage environment of Georgetown, Penang.
The recent demolition of Clove Hall residence, which is in proximity to Rex Cinema, is another irreplaceable loss of a historic piece of architecture of the island.
We wish and encourage MBPP to be more supportive and sensitive to preserve and protect Georgetown’s rich built heritage, including buildings and sites beyond the UNESCO protected boundaries. It is this unique heritage that makes Penang one of the most significant places to visit in Malaysia.
Cities in Malaysia like Penang and Malacca that have many buildings and neighbourhoods of heritage value, must take the lead in preservation, conservation and other environmental matters. These cities must balance the old with the new and cannot always take the easy route to development. Local Authorities must be proactive in these matters.
Lim Wei-Ling, President
& Badan Warisan Malaysia Council 2023
BWM Talk Series: East Indiaman: The World of Francis Light by Rose Gan
Organized by Badan Warisan Malaysia.
Live Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, 3 November 2021
Time: 5:00 PM (Kuala Lumpur, GMT+8)
Topic: East Indiaman: The World of Francis Light
Venue: Virtual – Zoom Webinar
Free Admission
ABOUT THE TALK
KL-based author Rose Gan, accompanied by her daughter, Zoe, as the moderator for this talk, will speak about her newly released book entitled ‘Dragon’. This book is the first volume in the Penang Chronicles, which tells the story of Captain Francis Light and his partner, as well as the backstory of the British settlement of Penang. This new series of historical fiction features real historical characters and events from 18th-century Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Britain.
Before Stamford Raffles of Singapore fame, before Rajah Brooke of Borneo fame, there was Captain Francis Light, the 18th-century trailblazer in the Malay Archipelago. From humble origins in Suffolk, England, Light struggled against the social prejudices of his day. His subsequent adventures as a naval officer and country ship captain took him from India to Sumatra, the Straits of Malacca to Siam, through shipwreck, sea battles, pirate raids and tropical disease. But Light’s most difficult challenge was his ultimate dream: to establish a British port in the Indies on behalf of the East India Company.
Want to find out who his partner was? Register and participate in our webinar to find out many more fascinating details in Rose’s book!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
British by birth, Rose Gan studied Ancient and Medieval History with Latin and Greek at University of Birmingham. Gan first arrived in Kuala Lumpur in 1978 and has been living and working between both UK and Southeast Asia ever since. Married to a Malaysian, and formerly a teacher of History, Latin and Classics, Gan was also Vice Chair for Museums of the Indonesian Heritage Society, a guide and docent in Museum National Indonesia, Jakarta, and Muzium Negara and the Textile Museum in KL. In addition to lecturing to cultural associations, Gan has been actively involved with museum publications in Malaysia and Indonesia, both as a writer and editor.
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