Moving forward: Chan delivering the opening remarks before launching the conference at Universiti Malaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Rapid technological advancements have positively impacted people across generations, so Sinology (Chinese Studies) must be ready to embrace such changes, says former deputy MCA president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.
Such advancements would bring changes to the curriculum and teaching methods of Chinese Studies, said Chan, who is Universiti Malaya’s Alumni Association of the Chinese Studies Department honorary chairman.
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“It will have a huge impact on the Chinese Studies syllabus and its teaching methods.
“We must be prepared to welcome this era,” he said at the launch of the “Development and Future of Sinology in the 21st Century” conference at Universiti Malaya Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences yesterday.
UM’s Chinese Studies Department head Prof Dr Fan Pik Wah credited Chan as the prime mover of the two-day conference.
“Let’s salute Tan Sri Chan for this event,” she said.
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Chan said this year was the 60th anniversary of UM’s Chinese Studies Department which was founded in 1973.
To mark the occasion, he said there should be discussions on “how we will move forward in the next 60 years”.
A total of 27 scholars from the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia were present at the conference.
Chan said he was happy with the participation of these top academics, adding that the main topic of discussion would be the future of Sinology.
“The leading figures of the Chinese Department are all with us today, including some who have designed courses for the Chinese Department for decades,” he added.
Chinese Studies, he said, played an important role in society, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of Chinese education and culture.
“I often say that over the past 60 years, the Chinese Studies Department in UM has been the mainstay and source of vitality for Chinese education and culture in the country.”
Chan said the department had groomed many young people over the decades who went on to have important roles in society, such as teaching at teachers’ training institutions and sitting on national examination boards, among others.
“For the next 60 years, I hope that we will continue to strive and watch over our alma mater which has contributed so much over the past six decades.”
“We must cherish Chinese education in Malaysia, ensuring that we continue playing a central role in preserving and broadening Chinese education and culture in Malaysia,” he added.
UM’s Chinese Studies Department is one of the oldest in Malaysia.
The department has produced more than 4,000 graduates, including those from the master’s and doctorate levels.
Chan, who was among the early batches of students when he joined in June 1976, also shared his experience after graduating in 1979 and went on to teach Chinese Studies in other universities such as UKM and UPM.
His students did not know the language then, he said.
“I taught them to sing Chinese songs such as Tien Mimi and Ye Lai Xiang by Teresa Teng. They really like these songs.”
Chan also reminisced about his time joining politics and his appointment as Transport Minister in 2003.
“During my time, two of the most important positions in the ministry – the minister and the secretary-general Datuk Zaharah Shaari – were graduates of Chinese Studies.”
This meant that two Chinese Studies graduates were in charge of the national transportation sector then, he said, adding that not many people knew about this at the time.
As part of nation-building, Chan said he and other leaders took on different roles but they remained steadfast in safeguarding Chinese education in the country.
After retiring and later venturing into business, Chan said that he continued assisting UM’s Chinese Studies Department in various ways.
“UM’s Chinese Studies Department has been the backbone of Chinese education and culture in this country.
“If this (Chinese Studies) does not exist, we would not have seen the growth of Chinese primary schools and the training of Chinese teachers at the Education Ministry would not have proceeded smoothly,” he said.
