Book inauguration of “More than merchants or the story of Germans and Swiss in Penang” by Khoo Salma Nasution

On the 28th of March I attended the book inauguration of Khoo Salma Nasution’s book “More than merchants – a history of German-speaking Community in Penang” hosted by the Swiss and German embassies under the patronage of the governor of Penang. Khoo Salma described in a vivid presentation at the venerable E&O Hotel the influence of especially the Germans who lived in Penang as traders, merchants, engineers and photographers, sometimes heavily influencing the history of Penang. Germans oversaw the enlargement of the port, up to then a quiet backwater, into a busy trading port for ships from Sumatra to Europe. During the world wars the Germans were brought to camps or sometimes even deported. In the Second World War the Germans operated a submarine port for their famous “Wolfspack” in a joint-venture with the Japanese. The local Swiss did deals with the Germans and acquired their business in order to prevent confiscation.

Picture: On the left is the Swiss ambassador Dr.Urs Stemmler, in the middle the author Khoo Salma and to the right the governor of Penang