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[VIDEO] The Serani – Southeast Asia's European descendants

The Serani have lived in the region since the late 1400s, yet they are now on the brink of being forgotten

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 19 Feb 2022 10:00AM

[VIDEO] The Serani – Southeast Asia's European descendants
The Serani trace their history in Malaya back centuries, from before the British arrival, to when the Portuguese arrived on these shores. – YouTube screengrab, February 19, 2022

by Zaidi Azmi

Journalist

THE Serani are a mixed-race community of European ancestry, whose ancestors settled in Southeast Asia in the late 1400s. They are one of the smallest minorities in Malaysia and yet somehow their identity is perhaps the most ambiguous.

With about 2,500 people in the community remaining, the Serani are now at risk of being forgotten. Small efforts are being carried out by community and heritage groups to ensure their language and customs are kept alive.

Petra News’ Zaidi Azmi, Mkay Ramli, Sadiq Asyraf, Azim Rahman, Syeda Imran and Alif Omar presents: Serani. – The Vibes, February 19, 2022

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