UTAR ICS hosts the 8th ISSCO international conference

Group photo after the opening ceremony

UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) hosted the eighth International Society for the Studies of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) International Conference at the Palace of Golden Horses hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 17 and 18 August 2013.  Themed 'Local, Regional, and Transnational Chinese Overseas Reconsidered', the conference attracted participation of hundreds of academicians and scholars.  Over 150 papers were submitted to the conference in English, Mandarin and Malay/Indonesian.

A counter selling books outside the conference hall

Prof Ho (right) presenting a souvenir to Dr Lee while (from left) UTAR Vice President (Internationalisation and Academic Development) Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat representing UTAR President and Prof Suryadinata look on

"Malaysian Chinese is an integral part of the nation's diverse communities," said Institute of Teacher Education Deputy Rector Dr Lee Boon Hua, who officially opened the conference on behalf of Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mary Yap.   He added, "They originally came to work the tin mines; among the pioneers were Yap Ah Loy, Yap Kwan Seng, and Wong Nai Siong. Today, the Malaysian Chinese contribute to a significant portion of Malaysia's economy and development."  He also congratulated UTAR and ISSCO for organising the event.

"Thank you Dr Lee Boon Hua for gracing the occasion and Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew for the support and sponsorship," said ICS Dean Prof Ho Khai Leong in his welcome speech earlier.   He also welcomed to the guests and participants present.  He added, "I also hope that we take this opportunity to renew old friendships, from new acquaintances, and establish fresh contacts. Together we will be able to build a stronger academic community in the study of Chinese overseas and to further advance the discipline."

"In an era where borders kept on changing, it was an extremely confusing period for this country. Having the British colonial period, then the Japanese occupation, followed by the establishment of Malayan Union, then Malaya and finally Malaysia after Singapore left her," said Chairman of UTAR International Advisory Council and Chairman of East Asia Institute Prof Wang Gungwu, who chaired the first two keynote lectures.  He added that Malaysia had since then been an ideal place to understand how the Chinese had adapted to such variant and confusing situations.

 

Prof Wang Gungwu addressing the audience

"Many writers use the term 'roots' to describe the Chinese migrants, but the term is very complex today," said ISSCO President Prof Leo Suryadinata, who presented the first keynote lecture titled 'Rooted, De-rooted and Rootless: Reflections on Chinese Migrants and Their Descendants in the Modern and Contemporary Eras'. "They have rooted outside of China, and some say that they have lost their roots," Prof Suryadinata continued, adding that the Chinese immigrants who failed to integrate with the locals have become 'rootless' which might cause friction.   

Prof Wang Ling-Chi

The second keynote lecture presenter Prof Wang Ling-Chi, presenting 'Science and Race: Chinese Americans in Science and Technology since World War II', highlighted that scholars and historians often neglected the contributions of Chinese overseas in science and technology.  He said that the Chinese who had scientific and technological achievements were not limited to those in the USA, as there were many from other countries who had made phenomenal contributions.  

"Five years ago, the Chinese community in South Africa celebrated when the supreme court ruled that the Chinese were 'black' and are entitled to equality in the country," said Prof Karen Harris from the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies of University of Pretoria, South Africa, when presenting her paper titled 'Changing Face, Losing Face: The South African Chinese".  She has been keeping abreast of the impact of the changing global status of China on the relatively small Chinese community in South Africa.

Prof Harris said that in the 1994 Democratic Dispensation led by Nelson Mandela, equality was given to the black, Indian, and non-coloured communities.  The Chinese, although one of the most qualified minorities, fell into neither one of those categories.  After the move to undo the effects of the apartheid, they can now benefit from the affirmative action policies. Dignity Day is celebrated on 18 June every year to commemorate this victory after over a century of discrimination.

Prof Karen Harris

In the closing remarks of the conference Prof Ho said, "The papers presented in the 8th ISSCO are of high qualities.  Following good traditions of ISSCO conferences, the organiser is happy to announce that some of these papers will be invited to be published."   He was proud to see many new presenters this year.

In true Malaysian hospitality, all participants were treated to a sumptuous dinner hosted by Tan Sri Dato' Paduka Lee Kim Yew who made the evening special for everyone. Sprucing up the evening on the first day were colourful and vibrant cultural performances courtesy of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and song renditions by a well known local theatre performer. Participants were also treated to local delicacies on the second night and invited on a boat cruise.