From secret society to karaoke club: Malaysia’s Chinese clan associations fight to stay relevant

TAIPING – As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Tsen Loong Association premises in the sleepy-hollow town of Taiping, Perak, came alive.

From the karaoke room emerged snatches of a classic Hakka dialect song, crooned by a handful of middle-aged men. Meanwhile, in the courtyard of the 146-year-old building, a dozen women practised a dance for the clan association’s upcoming anniversary dinner.

These refined activities are a far cry from the clan’s violent roots in secret societies, also known as kongsis. These rival societies first emerged in Malaysia in the 1800s to provide jobs, shelter and protection for thousands of workers who flocked from southern China to the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to work in flourishing tin mines.

Two major kongsis – Hai San, run by Hakka Chinese, and Ghee Hin, representing Cantonese Chinese – fought over water resources and tin-mining rights in Taiping, then known as Larut. The bloodshed ended with the Pangkor Treaty of 1874, which saw the British intervening to resolve the conflict. This marked the beginning of British colonial rule over the Malay states.

Over time, a stronger colonial government and police force gradually disarmed the kongsis. In a symbolic move, the British renamed Larut town Taiping, which in Mandarin means everlasting peace.

This peace transformed the former secret societies into more than 10,000 local clan associations today that focus on social activities, community welfare and cultural traditions. These are largely grouped around different Chinese dialects, namely Kwang Tong or Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainan, Hakka, Kwangsi and Sanjiang.

But they now face a modern-day threat: how to stay relevant and draw the next generation of volunteers to keep their traditions alive. 

Assistant Professor Pek Wee Chuen of New Era University College attributed low youth participation to a weaker sense of community and connection to ancestral roots, unlike the first generation of migrants.

“Being born in Malaysia, most clan members – especially the younger generation – don’t have any emotional ties to China. This has led to a succession crisis within these clans,” Dr Pek, an expert in the history of Malaysia’s Chinese clan associations, told The Straits Times.

Mr Goh T.C., president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia, which represents more than 10,000 clans nationwide, also lamented that the movement of youth to larger cities and overseas is one reason why clan associations in smaller towns are struggling with youth participation.

Before Malaysia gained independence in 1957, clan associations played larger roles in the community by acting as job recruitment centres, for example, or operating Chinese vernacular schools. Such roles have now been largely taken over by the federal government.

As a result, these associations had to shift focus, with some pivoting to business, politics and even sports.

In November 2024, the Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia hosted the World Fujian Convention-Trade Exhibition, a business match-making event which drew 10,000 Hokkien-descendant attendees worldwide to downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Taiping’s Tsen Loong Association relies on rent from properties bequeathed by its founder Chung Keng Quee in the late 19th century to fund its scholarships and cultural events.

The 1,100-member association has an annual revenue of between RM250,000 (S$76,000) and RM280,000, mainly from rental income of its bazaar and seven commercial properties in Taiping, according to the association’s honorary secretary Tan Chee Fatt.

“These funds will go to subsidise events for Qing Ming (ancestor worship) and the Hungry Ghost Festival. It’s free for members aged 70 years old and above. Others pay RM40 each and the association will subsidise another RM20,” Mr Tan, 82, told ST.

Some clans are involved in the business of death – by offering cemetery, columbarium and funeral home services.

One of Malaysia’s largest cemeteries, the Kuala Lumpur Kwang Tong Cemetery, run by the KL Cantonese clan, has housed more than 200,000 graves and 100,000 columbaria since its establishment in 1895. It is still expanding to accommodate more demand.

Meanwhile, it was young blood at the Taiping Hokkien Association who reformed how it marketed columbaria and reduced its oversupply of 3,800 unsold units as at 2019.

“I suggested offering a 10 per cent commission to agents to stimulate sales,” said 37-year-old Tan Kian Kee, who has been honorary secretary of the Taiping Hokkien Association since 2019.

This move resulted in sales of more than 1,000 units over the past five years, he said.

Clan associations can also act as a training ground for community service and a source of grassroots support for aspiring politicians.

Mr Teh Kok Lim, Taiping’s representative to the Perak state assembly and Parliament since 2013, began his political career with the Taiping Hin Aun Association, a subset of the Taiping Hokkien Association.

“I was very active in the youth section of the Hin Aun Association back then. A colleague encouraged a few of us to join politics before the 2008 General Election. As a local, I sensed the strong sense of unity within the clan and made it a point to attend their events,” the 54-year-old said.

The network of clan associations played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, said another Perak lawmaker, Ms Sandrea Ng.

“I contacted the local Kochow Association and Tseng Lung Fui Kuon to inform residents about the time and location of vaccination events. I also requested their assistance in sharing information about Covid-19-related welfare and assistance,” the two-term Gopeng state representative said.

Over in Selangor state, clan associations are investing in sports to keep in touch with younger members. Notably, the Selangor Cheras Hokkien Association has been nurturing players for Malaysia’s national basketball team from as far back as 2001, when it launched a major fund-raising campaign to raise RM471,950 to build a covered basketball court in the new village of Cheras Batu 11.

An association member, Mr Poh Kok Ann, said the clan has provided transport allowances and purchased sports equipment for more than 30 players who have joined the national team.

“We produced the ‘Five Tigers of Cheras’ for Malaysia’s team in the South-east Asia tournaments (from 2004 to 2011),” said the 35-year-old, speaking to ST while a group of teenagers practised on the court.

Despite these efforts, the future of Chinese clans remains challenging, said Dr Tee Beng Lee, head of public communication at the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies.

“The youth have little interest in the dinners or old-school activities organised by committees dominated by senior members,” he said.

New Era University College’s Dr Pek also expressed concern, noting that the ageing of clan committees and the declining enthusiasm for youth participation could lead to the demise of 80 per cent of existing clans.

“Most of them will fade away. Only 20 per cent may survive, depending on how well the association attracts youth,” he said.

While commending the efforts of Chinese clans, social media manager Ong Jie Yee, 26, said the associations should have a stronger presence on social media to attract the younger generation.

“We are all Gen Z, but I don’t think we’ve even brought the (Chinese clan) into our conversations, as it’s not even present on TikTok, Instagram or Xiaohongshu. Having a better social media presence is crucial for engaging younger audiences,” she said.

• Lu Wei Hoong is Malaysia correspondent at The Straits Times. He loves to travel and discover hidden gems of stories.

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