JOHOR BAHRU: A six-member academic and cultural delegation from Guangzhou, China, visited Johor Bahru to explore the city’s rich Chinese heritage, historical figures, and ongoing charitable initiatives.

Led by scholars from renowned Chinese universities, including Dr. Huang Si Teng of Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, Dr. Li Yan Yi of Guangzhou University, Dr. Zhang Jia Yuan of Sun Yat-sen University, Associate Professor Yan Yong Jun of Jiangxi Nanchang Institute of Technology, and cultural representatives Gong Ting and Guan Jian Jia of Guangzhou Quzi Academy, the group’s itinerary included visits to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Johor Bahru, the Sultanah Fatimah Foundation, and prominent Chinese cultural sites.

The delegation’s primary objective was to learn about the contributions of Dato’ Wong Peng Long, who served MRCS Johor Bahru for 26 years.

At MRCS headquarters, they toured the museum gallery, reviewed its humanitarian work, and were briefed on Wong’s extensive charitable legacy.

MRCS chairman Chua Liak Ching welcomed the guests and expressed hope that their visit would be both memorable and productive.

Beyond philanthropy, the visit doubled as a field study into Johor’s Chinese community heritage. The group toured the Johor Ancient Temple, Persatuan Keturunan Huang Johor Bahru, Persatuan Keturunan Kwang Tung Johor, Johor Bahru Hakka Association, and Teochew Bayi Association.

Associate Professor Yan Yong Jun said the visits offered valuable insights into the historical development of the Johor Chinese society, tracing its roots to the Kangchu system.

He noted that the Chingay Parade, associated with the Johor Ancient Temple, remains a vivid reflection of the “place-dialect group” identity forged during the Kangchu era, while also illustrating how localized Chinese communities maintain layered cultural identities within the broader Johor society.

Yan also highlighted the legacy of Wong Ah Fook, a pioneering Kangchu leader instrumental in Johor Bahru’s early urban planning, land development, and philanthropy, calling him “a bridge between the Chinese community and the Johor Royal Court.”

He added that visits to the MRCS and Sultanah Fatimah Foundation revealed the modern evolution of traditional clan-based networks into inter-ethnic social service institutions, demonstrating the adaptive resilience of Johor’s Chinese community in Malaysia’s plural society.

Discussions during the visit also covered the role of Chinese guilds and associations in preserving culture, the potential of cultural and creative industries, and the contribution of Chinese entrepreneurs in heritage-based innovation and economic growth.

The delegation’s time in Johor Bahru underscored the enduring influence of its Chinese heritage and the community’s continuing role in shaping the state’s cultural and charitable landscape.