In 1985, a group of Baba Nyonya from Bukit Rambai initiated the idea of establishing an association to safeguard the interests of the Baba Nyonya community in Malaysia when the Portuguese Eurasians were granted Bumiputera status by the Federal Government. At that time, existing Peranakan Chinese associations in Malaysia allowed non-Baba Nyonya individuals to become members. At the same time, those associations were also limited to membership within individual states only.
Therefore, this group of Baba Nyonya individuals felt that it was time to establish an association that provides a specific definition for the Chinese Peranakan and whose membership is exclusively open to Chinese Peranakan and their descendants throughout Malaysia. The definition of Chinese Peranakan includes:
1. Descendants from the father’s side or the mother’s side who have Chinese Peranakan lineage, or from both sides.
2. Must be a Malaysian citizen aged 21 years and above.
3. Persons born in Melaka or Penang before the year 1948 and/or their descendants.
4. Must be able to speak the Baba language.
5. Practices the culture and lifestyle of the Baba community.
Thus, on May 21, 1986, the Peranakan Chinese Association of Malaysia (“Persatuan Peranakan Cina Malaysia”) (PERANAKAN) was established, led by Baba Koh Her Chewn, with a membership of 600 people. The annual fee was set at one ringgit per year. There was no provision for a lifetime membership fee in the constitution, as the committee members then wanted to maintain regular contact with their members by visiting each member every year.
In 2013, the 5th President, Y.Bhg. Dato’ Baba Ronald Gan Yong Hoe, changed the association’s name to the Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association of Malaysia (“Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia”) and lowered the eligibility age for membership to 18 years and above. Anyone who wishes to apply must also declare that they are indeed of Baba Nyonya descent.
In 2014, the association acquired its building, WISMA PERANAKAN, located in Tengkera, Melaka. Today, the association has a membership of 3,000 people from 7 different states in Malaysia.
Currently, this association is one of the most active Peranakan Baba Nyonya associations in Malaysia.
Year of accreditation: 2026
Main domain(s) of the ngo’s activities: Oral traditions and expressions, Performing arts, Traditional craftsmanship, Social practices, rituals and festive events
Main safeguarding measures: a) identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making), b) preservation, protection, c) promotion, enhancement, d) transmission, (non-) formal education, e) revitalization
Main country where the NGO works: Malaysia
