SCPA celebrates 105 Years of History, Heritage, and Heart
On Sunday, 21 December 2025, the State Chinese (Penang) Association marked its 105th Anniversary with a gala dinner, held on Tung Chik, the Winter Solstice. In Chinese tradition, this is a day of reunion, renewal and reflection, lending the occasion a deeper resonance. It was one of those rare evenings where a significant milestone, a deep love for culture, and the warmth of community came together to honour continuity, belonging, and memory carried across generations.
The restaurant was filled to the brim, with 37 tables including six specially sponsored for charitable homes (Cheshire Home, Rumah Intan, the Penang Buddhist Association Senior Citizens’ Home, Salvation Army, and Agape Care Penang). Heartfelt thanks to all who gave so generously to make this possible. As one of the oldest Chinese associations in Penang representing the earliest migrants to these shores, SCPA has long understood that heritage is most meaningful when it is accompanied by compassion.
The theme, “105 Years of Nyonya Splendour", came alive the moment guests arrived. At the entrance, cultural booths offered kebayas, batik, sarongs, kerongsang, and kasut manik, setting a tone that was colourful, elegant, and unmistakably Chinese Peranakan. Ladies in a kaleidoscopic array of vibrant kebayas filled the room, transforming the dinner into a living gallery of wearable art.
Guests were welcomed by the joyful sound of Christmas carols as carollers from Cheshire Home lined the entrance, singing with heartfelt cheer as attendees made their way in. Even before the formal programme began, Dato’ Lillian Tong, Melinda Song, and fellow dancers, clad in festive green and red kebayas, took centre stage to fill the hall with uplifting Christmas melodies.
On stage, Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow, joined by YB Wong Hon Wai, Dato’ Seri Tan Gin Soon, organising chairman Eric Ooi Ean Beng, and distinguished guests at the main table, officiated the evening with a cake-cutting ceremony. The gathering also drew friends and kindred spirits from beyond Penang, including the President of the Peranakan Association Singapore, Nyonya Genevieve Peggy Jeffs.
As the night unfolded, more familiar faces continued to arrive, with YB Jagdeep Singh Deo joining the celebrations at 9.00 pm, adding to the sense that this was an evening people did not want to miss.
In his remarks, the Chief Minister spoke warmly about SCPA’s resilience and relevance, noting that 105 years is no small feat, and joking that “retirement” is clearly not in SCPA’s vocabulary. He also reminded everyone that “preserving culture does not mean resisting modernity; it means ensuring our traditions remain relevant, engaging and accessible", especially through education, youth engagement, and digitalisation.
The emcee, Kamal Chopra, was an absolute delight, musically gifted, and completely at ease on stage. A Penang based international singer and performer, she has a remarkable journey from practising law to performing on stages around the world. She has won the “Best International Artist” title at the UK Bhangra Awards twice, becoming the first Malaysian to receive the honour in 2019 and winning again in 2022. That evening, she entertained a room alive with conversation and laughter, breaking into songs like Dayung Sampan, and charming everyone with renditions in Mandarin and Tamil.
Meanwhile, Jason Ng’s slide presentation, projected throughout the evening, traced SCPA’s remarkable journey across decades of activities, celebrating achievements big and small. It was a visual reminder not only of how much has been accomplished, but also of the vibrancy, heart, and enduring spirit that make SCPA an exceptional association.
Culture was alive everywhere that night, joyfully filling every corner. The evening began with Rampaian Joget Dan Inang, performing Muhibbah, a multicultural ensemble choreographed by Lisa Pak.
The graceful Nyonya dances Bunga and Bintang, led by Dato’ Lillian Tong and Melinda Song, also featured on the programme and drew warm applause. For me, the night felt less like a formal anniversary dinner and more like a vast family gathering, buzzing with jovial chatter (and the delightful, unmistakable Nyonyas’ flair for friendly gossip), feasting on scrumptious offerings, snapping countless photographs, and dancing with unabashed joy.
There were moments of pure joy—catching up with Auntie Annie and Auntie Pat, watching Dato’ Molly Mak (93) still dancing, celebrating Cecelia Lim as she claimed the grand lucky draw, and greeting so many familiar faces that felt like family.
Left: Nyonya Molek Lee Saw Im; Right: Auntie Suan See and I with one of her masterpieces.
Baba Michael Cheah and Dato’ Lillian Tong helping my daughter Jean prepare for a mock Peranakan wedding in 2019. Michael (in white) provided the commentary during the ceremony.
There were also moments of quiet reflection for those I missed dearly. This was the year SCPA lost Nyonya Molek Lee Saw Im (once crowned winner of the Nyonya Beauty Contest), Auntie Suan See (the pioneering creator of Nyonya dances), and Baba Michael Cheah (the walking dictionary of all things Chinese Peranakan), among others whose presence will always be remembered and cherished. I found myself wishing that the evening could have included a brief moment of silence, just sixty seconds, to honour those who have helped shape this association.
Much credit must go to Eric Ooi Ean Beng and his team for orchestrating an unforgettable evening. From the scrumptious pork-free 8-course dinner (complete with a bottle of red wine at every table) to the smooth flow of the programme, the evening was thoroughly entertaining, and time seemed to fly by all too quickly.
As the night drew to a close, it dawned upon me how priceless gatherings like this truly are, especially as time gently catches up with many of us—myself included, with my 58th birthday just around the corner and only two more years to join the senior citizen bracket. Although I did not take home any lucky draw prizes, I actually count myself extremely lucky to be part of this dynamic, century-old association, knowing so many remarkable people whose stories, kindness, and friendships have helped shape my fairy-tale life. Big hugs and cin kamsiah to all my sayangs.
-------------------------------------
Written by Adrian Cheah
Photographed by Adrian Cheah and from the State Chinese (Penang) Association
© All rights reserved
21 December 2025
PS: Many thanks to Dato’ Seri Tan Gin Soon for graciously having me as your guest.
If you enjoyed this story, you may like to bookmark this site or return for future essays.