Documenting Two Centuries of Transformation: The Story of Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, Penang
Book Launch/Talk by Pan Yi-Chieh & Teoh Kooi Pei
Date: 4 February 2026
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 pm
Venue: Penang Institute
Co-organiser: Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, Penang
Authors/Panelists: Pan Yi-Chieh (Analyst, History and Regional Studies, Penang Institute) & Teoh Kooi Pei (PhD in Architectural History, Tongji University)
Moderator: Ong Siou Woon (Director of Operations, Penang Institute)
This talk will be held in English and Mandarin.
此讲座将以英语及华语进行。
Documenting Two Centuries of Transformation: The Story of Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, Penang
跨越两个世纪的蜕变：槟城世德堂谢公司史话
Event Abstract:
Penang, a gem for historical studies in this region, is home to some of the oldest clan associations and civil society organisations, especially non-profits, in the country. Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, Penang embarked several years ago on a journey together with Penang Institute to uncover and document the association’s transformation. The association was established in 1810, and two centuries of development of hard work has brought the Cheah Kongsi to where it is today. The present publication provides descendants of the Cheah clan, originally from Sek Tong Seah in Fujian Province, China, with a formal record and provides future generations with fundamental references about the clan and its association.
槟城是区域性历史研究的重点，拥有马来西亚历史最悠久的血缘组织与民间社团。数年前开始，槟城世德堂谢公司与槟州研究院（Penang Institute）合作，共同记录并梳理了其组织的演变历程。槟城世德堂谢公司始建于1810年，历经两百余年的发展，方成就今日之规模。此项记录工作为源自中国福建省石塘社的谢氏后裔提供了珍贵的文献参考与历史凭据，以期启迪未来的传承与发展。
Speakers:
Pan Yi Chieh: Pan Yi Chieh is an analyst in the History and Regional Studies Programme at Penang Institute and holds an MA in Anthropology from National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. Her master’s research centred on Penang’s Clan Jetties, examining how maritime-terrestrial ethnicity shapes community identity and survival. She continues to explore the continuity and transformation of community organisations amidst urban change, focusing on the symbiosis between individual spirit and urban development. She also serves as the Collections Curator for Penang Institute’s Penang Studies Resource Centre (PSRC) and hosts the Institute’s Mandarin podcast, A Cup of Tea, which documents local narratives. Her work has been featured in Penang Monthly, ISSUES, and various academic journals.
潘怡洁现任槟州研究院分析员，台湾国立清华大学人类学硕士。其硕士研究以槟城姓氏桥为核心，探索其介于海陆间的族群性如何形塑社群认同与生存状态。延续此研究关怀，她持续关注城市变迁中社群组织的存续与转型，并探索其无形精神与都市发展间的共生关系。她亦担任槟州研究院「槟城研究资源中心」馆藏策展人，并主持研究院中文播客《一盏茶》，记录槟城在地故事。其作品见于《槟城月刊》、短评刊物《ISSUES》及学术期刊。
Teoh Kooi Pei: Teoh Kooi Pei is a practising architect and a scholar of architectural heritage. Holding a PhD in Architectural History, she focuses on the intersection of contemporary spatial design and historical preservation. With years of experience in professional practice, Kooi Pei examines built environments through both technical and academic lenses, specifically regarding the evolution of cultural landmarks. She was conferred the 2025 Asia-Pacific Young Masters for Heritage Conservation, a title that reflects her dedication to the region’s cultural fabric. Her work involves the ongoing documentation and preservation of the heritage of the Straits Settlements through research and architectural practice.
张桂佩是一位执业建筑师与建筑遗产学者。她拥有建筑历史学博士学位，长期关注当代空间设计与历史保护的结合。凭借多年的专业实践，她从技术与学术的双重维度研究建筑环境，并专注于文化地标的演变。她曾获选为“2025年亚太地区世界遗产青年营造师”，致力于区域文化遗产的记录与保护工作。通过研究与实践，她持续投入于海峡殖民地历史遗产的传承与保护。
Moderator:
Ong Siou Woon: Ong Siou Woon oversees Penang Institute’s administrative operations and urban planning projects. With a background in urban development, she specialises in sustainable urban governance and has contributed significantly to initiatives like Penang2030 and the Penang Green Agenda. Her work primarily focuses on sustainability in development as well as organisational functions, innovation ecosystems, and regional development, always with a keen eye on urban environmental sustainability.
王筱雯负责槟州研究院 (Penang Institute) 的运营及城市研究计划。以推动城市发展为基础理念，她专注于可持续城市治理，并为 Penang2030 愿景及“槟城绿色议程” 等倡议做出了显著贡献。她擅长以城市规划者的视角履行职责，其工作核心围绕发展中的可持续性、机构运作、创新生态系统以及区域发展展开，并始终敏锐关注城市环境的可持续发展。