Dr Lim Boon Keng

The National Library will be holding an exhibition and a talk on Dr Lim Boon Keng. A prominent pioneer of Singapore and one of the most influential men in Singapore's history. He epitomized the Peranakan heritage and led the way for many social and educational reforms to take place. 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Dr Lim Boon Keng’s death.

Lim Boon Keng: A Life to Remember

An exhibition on the life and times of the Singapore pioneer
By Settlement of Dr Lim Boon Keng (1921), National Library Board and Singapore Heritage Society

Venue: Level 9 Promenade
Date: 24 January - 18 March 2007

Dr Lim Boon Keng was a phenomenon. He was a polymath the likes of which Singapore has never seen and is unlikely to see again. A brilliant scholar, Lim won a Queen's Scholarship to study medicine at Edinburgh University. During his long and eventful life, Lim was medical doctor, legislator, scholar, educator, entrepreneur, community leader, social reformer and philanthropist.

A powerful orator and a prolific writer, Lim led various moral, social and educational reforms and contributed immensely to the welfare of the Straits Chinese community. Among other things, he initiated rubber-planting in Malaya and founded of several banks and other companies. Lim promoted the learning of Mandarin and was responsible for the revival of Confucianism in Malaya. Founder of the Singapore Chinese Girls' School, he also became President of the Amoy (Xiamen) University in China.

This exhibition held in conjunction with the launch of the reprint of Dr Lim's seminal work, The Chinese Crisis from Within, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr Lim's death in January 1907. Son of Singapore, citizen of the world, Dr Lim Boon Keng, a life to remember

Other Highlights

Lim Boon Keng One Voice on the life and times of Dr Lim Boon Keng and a musical performance put together by Stella Kon, the great-granddaughter of Dr Lim.

Excerpts from One Voice: A musical performance
(Limited to 40 participants)

Date: Wed 24 January 2007
Time: 7.30 - 8.15pm
Venue: Possibility Room, National Library Building
Program Details
Admission is FREE but registration is required. Interested parties to register via email at: nlprogrammes@nlb.gov.sg and to include 'Lim Boon Keng One Voice" in the subject field.

Heritage Trail: A special bus tour to places related to Dr Lim Boon Keng
(Limited to 15 participants)

Date: Thursday 25 January 2007
Time: 9am - 5pm (registration is at 8.45am)
Venue: Pick-up & Drop-off at the Lobby, National Library Building
Program Details
The tour costs S$10 (including lunch). Registration is required and interested parties can register via email at: nlprogrammes@nlb.gov.sg and include “Lim Boon Keng bus tour" in the subject field

'Lim Boon Keng and the Straits Chinese: A Historical Re-appraisal'
Organised by the National University of Singapore History Department and supported by the National Library Board

Date: Saturday, 27 January 2007
Time: 9am - 5pm (Registration starts at 8.30am)
Venue: Possibility Room, National Library Building
Program Details
Please register before 22 January 2007, by emailing nlprogrammes@nlb.gov.sg. Registration is free and includes breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Places are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For information about the conference programme and speakers, please log on to: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/hist/doc/lbkconf.pdf

The Boon Keng Pavilion at Xiamen University: History Recovered, Nanyang Link Reconnected
Speaker: A/P Lee Guan Kin (Division of Chinese, Nanyang Technological University)

Date: Saturday, 27 January 2007
Time: 5pm - 6pm
Venue: Possibility Room, National Library Buidling
Program Details
Please register before 22 January 2007, by emailing nlprogrammes@nlb.gov.sg.

Mama Rosa VCD

Gunong Sayang Association production of MAMA ROSA is finally out on VCD. You can get the disc from Katong Antique House at East Coast Road and from Gunong Sayang club house at Lorong 50 24A Geylang Road.

Baba Wedding

On 12/11/06 we stage a Baba wedding procession for the World Lottery Association at the Raffles Convention Hall.

The bride and groom

The whole cast....

Our lovely ladies in thier baju panjang, sarong kebayas.....posing :-)

Baba Dictionary

" Apa Khabair ? "

Finally at last we have a dictionary.

Thanks to author William Gwee Thian Hock for his painstaking hard work and all kind souls who help in one way or other. The Peranakan Assocition for coming up with the initial financial cotribution to kick start the project.

You can find the dictionary at the local bookshops titled A Baba Malay Dictionary - The First Comprehensive Compenduim of Straits Chinese Terms and Expressions.

So to all Peranakans and Non Peranakans who love our culture get a copy and lets start to cakap cakap Baba Malay.

Mum's Satay Ayam

This is another Loak Embok Embok - Satay Ayam you can either use Pork or Chicken. Mum would add Doan Limau Perot...makin the dish smell heavenly.........

You would just need chilli, lemon grass, shallots, shrimp paste, candlenuts for the rempah. Pound them to a paste startin with the hard ingredients. Add peanut oil to the kwali sampay panas (till its hot) throw in a bruise lemon grass and add the rempah and tumis (saute) till it "pecah minyak".

Once the rempah is ready add your pork and chicken continue to tumis. Add doan limau perot. Pour 1/2 a cup of chicken/meat stock and continue to tumis. Season with salt to your taste.

This dish actually uses coconut milk but for health reasons mum omitted. Happy Tryin