How high can overseas Chinese raise their heads? Exclusive interview with Malaysian overseas Chinese leader Lin Zhenhui: How high can China’s rockets be launched?
When asked this question by a reporter, Malaysian overseas Chinese leader and entrepreneur Lin Zhenhui replied without hesitation: "I am from Fujian." There is a soft and waxy "Southern Fujian flavor" in his fluent Mandarin.
In 1911, Lin Zhenhui's great-grandfather left his hometown and went to Southeast Asia. From a poor rubber plantation laborer to Malaysia’s “gas station king”, this family has been taking root in Malaysia for more than a hundred years. Lin Zhenhui’s generation is already the “fourth generation of overseas Chinese”, but he is still used to writing his ancestral home as “Anxi, Fujian, China” in Before many identities. Recently, when Lin Zhenhui came to Shanghai to participate in research activities, he accepted an exclusive interview with a reporter from Liberation Daily and Shangguan News.
I hope my children will return to China to receive higher education in the future.
Lin Zhenhui: My father was born in Laogang, a small town in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He lived in poverty when he was young. In the 1970s, many places in Malaysia did not have electricity yet and needed to light kerosene lamps. From then on, my father started selling kerosene and made his first pot of gold in life. Later, as electricity became more popular and the demand for kerosene decreased, my father turned to the gas station industry to seek new opportunities. In the past, European and American brands opened gas stations in Malaysia. As a common man, my father was the first to open a private gas station. This was a very bold thing.
After his career became bigger, my father did a lot in education, especially Chinese education. He once said: "Take from the society and use it to the society." He felt that after making money and gaining influence, he should give back to the society. So what kind of method is suitable? With direct money, the help is one-time, but with funding for education, the impact can be passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, my father has always spared no effort in donating to Chinese education, including supporting school construction, equipment upgrades, etc. This spirit has also influenced me.
Lin Zhenhui: My two sons are 14 and 10 years old respectively, and they are in primary and secondary school. Because they have been studying in Chinese primary schools in Malaysia since they were young, their Chinese is very good now. Learning Chinese must start when children are still young, so that there will be no generation gap in inheriting the culture in the future.
When I was a child, my parents might have thought that I must go to the United Kingdom and the United States to study in the future, because Western education is relatively new and cutting-edge. But in my generation, the thinking is different. If there is a chance, I hope that my children can enter China's top universities to receive higher education. Because China is becoming more and more developed, many technologies and concepts have surpassed the West to some extent, and China's top universities are not inferior to others. I think if the next generation of overseas Chinese can come to China to study and bring domestic culture and ideas to the world, the effectiveness of this kind of education will slowly become apparent in the next decade.
Overseas Chinese are the messengers and links between China and foreign countries, and the baton will eventually be handed over to young people. Chinese education must start from children and must not be "disconnected". We hope that overseas Chinese around the world can bring Chinese culture and Chinese education to the world.
Lin Zhenhui: In Malaysia, if you talk to any Chinese, their first reaction will not be "I am Malaysian", but "I am Fujian", "I am Hakka" and "I am Teochew". Although they are overseas, most Chinese families in Malaysia speak Chinese and dialects, and follow traditional Chinese customs and lifestyles. Our language and ideas are no different from those of the Chinese people.
With the same culture and blood, the overseas Chinese and the motherland are connected in spirit and destiny. I often have a saying on my lips: The higher China launches its rockets, the higher the heads of overseas Chinese will be raised.
I am already the fourth generation Chinese in Malaysia. Fortunately, there is no barrier to our language communication. Many Chinese compatriots even have influence in Malaysia's economic and political fields. This is very lucky.
Of course, this doesn't come easily. The first is education. After many generations of efforts, the Malaysian Chinese have established a complete Chinese education system and cultural system. Currently, there are 1,298 Chinese primary schools and 73 independent secondary schools in Malaysia, all of which are taught entirely in Chinese and are all run with the consent of the government. Interestingly, these schools are not only attended by Chinese children, but also attract Indian expatriates, Malays, Ibans, etc. They believe that Chinese schools have more advanced facilities and better education quality.
Secondly, Chinese communities based on blood and geography are very active in Malaysia, which is also an important aspect of preserving Chinese culture. Chinese associations organize celebrations during traditional festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. Their influence is not limited to the Chinese community, but also gradually extends to Malaysia’s unique culture. For example, the twenty-four seasonal drums sound very traditional Chinese, but they are the creations of the Malaysian Chinese society; "Yao Sheng" is a Spring Festival tradition invented by the Malaysian Chinese, which means "the more you fish, the more you rise."
Of course, cultural integration is a two-way street. We also actively integrate into the local culture and share Malay and Indian festivals and delicacies. I really hope that overseas Chinese all over the world can enter and integrate into the local areas, so that the local people will accept us and we will accept them.
Lin Zhenhui: It is very important to pass on the "roots". Chinese children must first learn Chinese well and understand Chinese culture before they can exert influence based on their understanding. In some countries outside of Malaysia, Chinese children lack opportunities for Chinese education and do not understand Chinese and Chinese culture. This is a pity. I wonder if we can open some Chinese international schools in suitable places around the world, introduce domestic advanced teaching materials, courses, educational methods and concepts, and connect them with the domestic education system, so as to satisfy the needs of overseas Chinese children to receive Chinese education. needs, and can solve the educational problems of some children of Chinese expatriate workers.
When it comes to telling Chinese stories well, there are actually many descendants of overseas Chinese who hold important positions in various fields around the world. For example, I once visited Australia, and a certain level of local minister was a Malaysian Chinese who later immigrated to Australia. Such successful Chinese children have Chinese blood flowing through them, understand Chinese culture, and have a certain say and influence in their respective countries and fields. If we can deepen unity and enhance exchanges with them, such as inviting them to return to China to visit and learn about China's development and construction achievements today, when they return to their country of residence, they can bring China's new thinking and new concepts to more people. The influence of this culture is invisible, but it can produce far-reaching effects.
Overseas Chinese can help bridge the gap between the Belt and Road Initiative
Lin Zhenhui: When the “One Belt, One Road” initiative was first proposed, overseas Chinese had little idea about it. Over the years, we have gradually learned the ins and outs, specific methods and goals we hope to achieve, and we admire it from the bottom of our hearts. Rather than resorting to hegemony and force, China hopes to achieve win-win results, share benefits, and make common progress with the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and lead everyone to develop the economy together. Only doing a good job in the economy is a good thing that will truly benefit the world. Because of the epidemic, economies around the world are now facing challenges, including Malaysia. Therefore, Malaysia very much looks forward to working closely with China to promote economic recovery as soon as possible. Ten years later, when we look at the economic evolution of the entire world, I think China will definitely become a more important economy, and everyone is working hard.
Lin Zhenhui: For overseas Chinese, the “Belt and Road Initiative” brings great opportunities. We can participate in project investment and construction, and establish closer business exchanges and cooperation with the country.
More importantly, overseas Chinese are connecting people and links, and can play a matchmaking role. If Chinese companies want to "go global", Chinese people around the world are the easiest people to contact. Chinese people with status and influence can even participate in discussing some matters. For example, if a company wants to come to Malaysia for inspection and negotiation, our group of people can clearly tell him which parties and people he should contact based on years of accumulated contacts, and we can even take him directly to meet the person in charge of the relevant party. In short, the Belt and Road Initiative can achieve smoother cooperation through overseas Chinese.
Lin Zhenhui: I come to China at least six times a year, almost once every two months, and I go to Shanghai too many times to count. Shanghai is an open and inclusive metropolis that welcomes overseas Chinese, overseas investors, and top talents from all over the world.
In 2002, I came to Shanghai for the first time. At that time, I lived in the Jing'an area of Puxi. I felt that the old houses here were very atmospheric and comfortable. Over the past twenty years, Shanghai has undergone tremendous changes, especially Pudong, which has developed from being basically farmland to the prosperous city it is today. It can be said that I have watched this city evolve, and I sincerely admire the people who do urban planning. Today, I feel more and more that Pudong is quite suitable to live in. Life is convenient and there are many good schools. If given the chance, I hope to settle down in Pudong, Shanghai with my family in the future and truly become a part of this city.
Biography: Lin Zhenhui, originally from Anxi, Fujian, China, is a Malaysian entrepreneur. He was born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He is the second son of Malaysian industrialist and philanthropist Datuk Lim Lee Sing. He is currently the CEO of Sing Group and the managing director of Petronas FIVE, the chairman of the MCA Port Dickson District, and the chairman of the board of directors of the Malaysian Clan Youth Education and Charity Foundation. In 2008, he was awarded the title of Dato Seri SSAP of Malaysia.
