Book 'All things Malaysian' launched at Rumah Malaysia in The Hague!
Marking ethnic boundaries among Malaysian Dutch Eurasians. (Research by Drs Pim ten Hoorn)
Portuguese and Luso-Asian legacies in SE Asia, 1511-2011. (Paper abstract by Dennis de Witt)
Research by Leiden University on the Malaysian Dutch descendants will continue in 2011!
There are virtually authors out there who remain unknown. The reason being, most times, they don't have a huge marketing machinery and neither do they get their books placed on the shelves of major bookstores, much less on the eye level shelves. These authors then resort to direct sell their books or place them in avant-grade stores. A situation that reduces their availability a tad. Which then results in low sales figures and even lower recognition and readership count.
Then there is the question of just how interesting the contents of these books actually are? Well, there's a new historical book written by a fifth generation Dutch Eurasian, Dennis De Witt, called 'History of the Dutch in Malaysia' published by Nutmeg Publishing. Pretty much a first effort for De Witt, its title is self-explanatory. Did you know that it is most probably the only book on the subject matter written locally? Its contents include records of commercial ties between the Dutch and the Malays from the 1600s, of architectural and cultural legacies they left behind in Malacca and of bloodlines from the mixed marriages that happened. One might think this one is a little too specialised to appeal to all. But knowing more about another race can do no harm. Truly.
For more information on the book History of the Dutch in Malaysia: Nutmeg Publishing
Source: New Straits Times.
Author: Su Aziz.
Published: 06-03-2008