Their origins
The origins of the Babas are obscure and contentious, according to Felix Chia, author of The Babas. He says the first-generation Babas are mixed-blood from a Chinese father and a Malay mother. Many present-day prominent Babas beg to differ.
Why did a subset of Chinese emerge in Penang and Malacca who are Chinese in form and Malay in substance?
Except that they have many iconic pork dishes like Babi Chin and Babi Pongteh, and they practice Chinese religions.
When did they emerge in Malacca and Penang?
Felix contends the Babas are not entitled to be called exclusively Straits Chinese. Neither can they claim exclusive right to the term The King’s Chinese.
Of the 3 books I bought in Malacca, Felix’s book is the more scholarly one. His book is on the Babas of Malacca and Singapore.
Being Baba is a collection of articles selected from 20 years of publication in the Peranakan magazine of Singapore. The Babas of Singapore migrated from Malacca.
The Peranakans of Malacca are the Babas of Malacca.
The three books here are not on the Babas of Penang.
LWH @ Majestic Hotel, Malacca
21 June 2025