Malay Peninsula by G. F. JONES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 8, 1909

Malay Peninsula

By G. F. JONES

G. F. JONES.

INDIA and China will, no doubt, have a large share in the discussions of the General Conference; and possibly the Malay Peninsula, which lies between these two large nations, with Singapore as the capital at the south end, and Siam to the north, may also be a necessary study as a connection to the larger ones.

Singapore is a half-way city, where these two very different nations clasp hands, and affiliate; here they knock off some of their differences, and dwell together in quietness under one government—the British. There are in Singapore over two hundred thousand Chinese, from the coastal parts of China; the remainder of the population is mixed—Indians, Eurasians, Malays, Arabs, Jews, Armenians, and about fifty other nationalities.

This colony is an inviting field to the people of both India and China. Although the Chinese population is in excess of that of any other nation, yet the general stamp of the country is neither Chinese nor Indian, but Malay; and in this simple language, the many different people endeavor to understand each other, each in his own style, resulting in a broken Malay accent. English is the coveted language of the young generation, and is taught in all the schools.

This British colony, with its educational system, has enabled us to sell many hundreds of our subscription books, such as “The Great Controversy,” “The Desire of Ages,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Christ Our Saviour,” and some medical books, as “Home Handbook,” “Man the Masterpiece,” “Ladies’ Guide.” We have also produced the first number of a four-page Malay paper, quarterly, to meet a few who can not understand English; but most people who can read the Romanized characters are able to read English, for while selling “Christ Our Saviour” in Malay, we found more buyers for the English copy.

An interest is springing up everywhere following the sale of the books, but Singapore is the only place, as yet, where we have located a mission, and where there has been gathered out a small number of Sabbath-keepers. In connection with the mission we have trained several native workers, both men and women, about ten in all. Some are canvassers, some are Bible workers, some are tract sellers. Nearly all of these can conduct meetings. The places of labor are Singapore, Malay States, Java, Sumatra, Batakland, Borneo. The training of native workers in Singapore has proved a blessing to other fields of Malaysia, and thus far that place has served as a center for the Malaysia work.

In Singapore the general interest is good, but the people, like all Asiatics, are slow to respond. Having no hall to which to invite the people to meeting, we have had to be content to use our small room in the mission house, which has generally been well filled on the Sabbath. The one thousand pounds which the General Conference has been so generous as to send us, has enabled us to purchase a lot where we can build a chapel for our purpose. The building has been begun, and will be completed in June. It is a great want supplied, and will be a source of much blessing to this field. The people in Malaysia think that if our work is established in Singapore, there is something solid to it.

In the colony there are a million Chinese, five hundred thousand Malays, one hundred fifty thousand Tamil Indians, twenty thousand wild Sakai of the forest, and about twenty thousand mixed races. The denominations which have missions here are the Catholics, the Presbyterians, the Episcopal Methodists of America, the Plymouth Brethren, and the Church of England.

Siam, to the north, has a population of six millions. The people are all Buddhists. I believe that only two of the missions established here, besides the Catholic, have schools. Bangkok is the capital, and is reached by steamer from Singapore. We have canvassed Bangkok with “Desire of Ages,” and are contemplating sending another canvasser soon with “Daniel and the Revelation.” It is a large, needy field, and should be entered before very long.

Singapore.