A Peranakan party was recently held in a century-old Chinese mansion in Kuching. It was a fun affair with lots of wonderful food, lively conversation, and guests dressed in traditional attire.
A splendid Peranakan party
A beautiful (Jin Jia Sui in Hokkien dialect) dinner party was held recently in a 100-year-old Chinese mansion that once belonged to a Peranakan family in Kuching.
On September 16, a number of Peranakans and non-Peranakans from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and elsewhere travelled to Kuching to celebrate Malaysia Day.
Kuching was buzzing with activity, including a Jin Jia Sui Peranakan party where guests dressed up traditionally as Peranakans, an ethnic group defined by their genealogy descent from the first waves of Southern Chinese settlers to maritime Southeast Asia.
Malaysia has various Peranakan communities. In Melaka and Penang, there are Baba Nyonyas (Peranakans of Chinese ancestry), Chetti (Peranakans of Indian ancestry), Jawi Peranakans (Peranakans of Arab ancestry), Eurasians (Peranakans of European ancestry), and Peranakans known as the “Sarong Wearing Community” in Kelantan and Terengganu.
There are Peranakans in Kuching who most likely came from Singapore, Indonesia, and the Straits of Malacca.
In Kuching, very little is known about the Peranakans. Thus, our friends in the Peninsula were surprised to see us dressed up in our Nyonya kebayas and sarongs in a high tea affair that was featured in New Sarawak Tribune in April of this year. Since then, we have discovered that many people in Kuching, including yours truly, have Peranakan ancestry.
My paternal grandmother and aunties were all dressed in sarongs and kebaya tops with white camisoles. It was always a delight to eat from the spread of Nyonya biscuits and kueh placed out on a very long table with crocheted or embroidered table cloths, especially during Chinese New Year. The best was the auntie, who had a charming wooden house with lattice windows and a drive way framed by lovely flowers, which has now been replaced by new buildings in Jalan Satok just before the Green Road Junction.
Asian art historian John Ang will most likely tell you that there is a kebaya for every occasion. That night, we saw a kebaya variation. He was one of many guests that had a great time at this party.
It must have gotten around that there were prizes for the best dressed. Those that showed up looking their best were rewarded for their enthusiasm and efforts.
Shirley Jap donned a friend’s grandmother’s Nyonya kebaya, which was about a century old. The pastel pink short top with delicate embroidered flowers had never been washed, she said while explaining the story of her kebaya. Jap won Best Dressed in a vintage kebaya.
Marissa, Kuching’s famous kek lapis baker, deservedly earned Best Styled Kebaya. A new FABRICO kebaya top has been made more glamorous with hand embroidered details.
Cinthi Yii, a former beauty queen, wore her kebaya with flared long pants instead of a sarong. The outfit, made by Penang designer Kenny Loh, earned her the title of Most Innovative.
Jennifer Lau, the iconic former RTM deejay, was surprised to be crowned. Her story, on the other hand, was interesting. She found this unworn kebaya amid clothes that were set to be taken away. The dark brown kebaya top with two birds on the chest area caught our interest.
Linda Lai, the lady in red, is quite the entertainer. She was seen taking pictures while hilariously directing her photo mates to act as if they were in the old Peranakan era. Her red lace kebaya top looked great with a sarong with Borneo motifs. A crown was well deserved for entertaining and promoting our local Borneo sarong.
Datuk Wee Hong Seng, the Mayor of Kuching South City Council (MBKS), crowned all five ladies. Humble and friendly, he greeted everyone and posed with the Kuching Peranakan enthusiasts.
The five crowns were sponsored by DRESS UP, a Kuala Lumpur-based fashion label. Nur Azura Lim and Shafiq Affandi, two fashion partners, flew in for the occasion, as did Paris Boukendoul, the 11-year-old child pageant winner, who performed a song for the event.
That night, delicious Nyonya food was served, and Michelle Lim, the chef and owner of Tai Tai Restaurant, was pleased to see the guests enjoying the wonderful spread she had prepared.
Bravo to Richard Tsen and his team for coming up with an idea to hold Jin Jia Sui, a Peranakan festival that will soon take place in Kuala Lumpur, and to collaborate with representatives from Kuching, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Melaka, and other places to promote Peranakan culture and products.
The pre-launch was held successfully in Kuching during this dinner party. The official launch will take place on October 7 in Kuala Lumpur, while the festival will run from October 5 to 15.
Tai Tai restaurant will promote its brand and products alongside some Kuching artisans, while FABRIKO will take part in the fashion show. The venue is CollabStore, Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, the mall on Jalan Ampang near to KLCC.
The benefits of joining the JIN JIA SUI Peranakan Fest
- To promote Sarawak and its trade offerings in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, in a classy high street fashion mall situated within the KLCC area — Four Seasons Place (opening soon Ferrari showroom in SEA and Club21 store in Malaysia).
- To capitalise on the unique Peranakan heritage for Nyonya Kebaya and Peranakan-related fashion, products, and trade elements in order to grow a broader market.
- To establish a platform for entrepreneurs to exchange ideas/business with other participating states, with the goal of expanding to other regions.
