Heritage

[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 2 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

Related News

Heritage / 2mth

Conservation or tourism? Heritage managers strike balance in protecting world’s precious sites

Malaysia / 3mth

PM calls on PDRM to improve work performance, image and integrity

Malaysia / 3mth

Harmony in diversity should be the vision for a greater Malaysia

Malaysia / 6mth

Housewife in Melaka found dead with stab wounds in bathroom

Heritage / 6mth

Three Penang CMs attend celebration for 100-year-old Penang Hill funicular railway

Malaysia / 6mth

Online gambling an offence under Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, rules Court of Appeal

Spotlight

Malaysia

Petros to take over natural gas buying, selling from Petronas from July 1

By Desmond Davidson

Malaysia

Sarawak achieves breakthrough in producing ‘rice’ from sago starch

By Desmond Davidson

Malaysia

Johor MB refutes Forest City casino reports as baseless, malicious

Malaysia

MP orders MBPJ to hire arborist for tree maintenance

Education

Convent Light Street conversion to international school 'on track'

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Govt to address AstraZeneca vaccine worries this week