Biographical Dictionary Of The Chinese In Malaysia

"This is a bold project recording the lives of a particular group of Southeast Asians. Most of the people whose biographies are included here have settled down in the ten countries that constitute the region. Each of them has either self-identified as Chinese or is comfortable to be known as someone of Chinese ancestry. There are also those who were born in China or elsewhere who came here to work and do business, including seeking help from others who have ethnic Chinese connections. With the political and economic conditions of the region in a great state of flux for the past two centuries, it is impossible to find consistency in the naming process. Confucius had stressed that correct names make for the best relationships. In this case, Professor Leo Suryadinata has been pursuing for decades the elusive goal of finding the right name to give to the large numbers of people who have, in one way or another, made their homes in, or made some difference to, Southeast Asia. I believe that, when he and his colleagues selected the biographies to be included here, they have taken a big step towards the rectification of identities for many leading personalities. In so doing, he has done us all a great service." - Professor Wang Gungwu, National University of Singapore

Malaysia is one of the most intriguing countries in Asia in many respects. It consists of several distinct areas, not only geographically but ethnically as well; along with Malays and related groups, the country has a very large Indian and Chinese population. The spoken languages obviously vary at home, although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language and nearly everyone speaks English. There is also a mixture of religions, with Islam predominating among the Malays and others, Hinduism and Sikhism among the Indians, mainly Daoism and Confucianism among the Chinese, but also some Christians as well as older indigenous beliefs in certain places. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Malaysia contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Malaysia.

Presents information on the period since Malaysian independence and the recent economic, political and social crises as well as the precolonial and colonial eras. Malaysian-born Kaur's (economic studies, U. of New England, Armidale, Australia) introduction provides some geographical, sociological, and historical background. Significant persons, places, events, institutions and cultural aspects are profiled in the dictionary. Supplementary information is presented in tables, maps, a chronology, and various appendices. An extensive bibliography is included. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.

This invaluable dictionary is the result of collaborative efforts across the globe. Over forty scholars from the United States, mainland China and Taiwan, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway, Israel and Malaysia contributed. They cover the full spectrum of Chinese industries from banking, finance and investment, real estate, transportation and infrastructure, to manufacturing, telecommunications, media, agriculture, automobile, pharmaceutical, food, trade, service and retail industries.

The book is an outstanding compilation. It is easy to use, the information is clear and well-presented, and the volume is smart and robustly crafted. . . The book is an important reference source for practitioners in international business, entrepreneurs and Asian studies. Bob Duckett, Reference Reviews The current compilation fills the need for a Who s Who in the Chinese business world. . . This is a useful reference for scholars and students in China studies and for business practitioners. Recommended. K.T. Wei, Choice As direct foreign investment, both inward and outward, continues to gather momentum, the need to understand the leaders of Chinese corporations is increasingly important. The Biographical Dictionary of New Chinese Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders is therefore a welcome addition to corporate and academic libraries. The encyclopedia provides up-to-date coverage of the major players in China s new economy. Dorothy Mays, Chinese Librarianship A long awaited reference volume! Professionally compiled and user-friendly. A must for the serious researcher. Leo-Paul Dana, Journal of Enterprising Communities Biographical information about business leaders and entrepreneurs in China is scattered in a variety of Chinese sources such as books, newspapers, journal articles, web pages, etc. and are difficult to locate, especially from outside of China. This biographical dictionary, written in English, which includes some 200 of the most important movers and shakers of the new Chinese economy since 1978, is a very useful reference tool for libraries of all types as well as for anyone who is interested in learning and understanding the growing influence of China as a new economic power in the world. Hwa-Wei Lee, formerly of the Library of Congress, and Ohio University Libraries This impressive effort by two leading scholars of Chinese business and society will quickly become a reference for all students and practitioners. Indeed, it is a ready vade mecum, filling the crying gap many experts have identified in recent years. This work will set the standard for its successors: independent in its analytical assessments, broad-spectrum in its choice of entry, far-sighted in its selections. John R. McIntyre, Georgia Institute of Technology, US The book is a must-have for any student, library, executive or entrepreneur contemplating the business environment in China. In an important society where clout is paramount and relationship is key, the book s listing of Who s Who in China is essential to success. An essential read for anyone thinking of doing business in China! J. Mark Munoz, Munoz and Associates International and author of A Salesman in Asia For anyone interested in interacting with China, whether doing business or not, it would be advantageous to know thy foe and thyself , as Sunzi (Sun Tzu) put it. And this work will definitely be conducive to your gaining an insight on contemporary China and its economic boom. It can be used as a reference tool or read as a textbook. Highly recommended for college and public libraries. Shixing Wen, Editor-in-Chief, Chinese Librarianship, Former President, Chinese American Librarians Association and Councilor, American Library Association This exhaustive resource provides comprehensive coverage of the major players in the Chinese economy since the reform era, which began in 1978. It includes 200 entries briefly summarizing each individual s life and career, with a central focus on his or her accomplishments and the key roles played in the economic development of China. The emphasis of the book is on the movers and shakers of China s new economy, highlighting notable figures from both the initial economic liberalization period and the renewed growth from the early 1990s to the present time. This invaluable dictionary is the result of collaborative efforts across the globe. Over forty scholars from the United States, mainland China and Taiwan, United Kingdom, Germany, F