今天是华人庆祝农历新年的最后一天，也是我们大家所熟悉的“元宵节”。这意味着华人新年在今晚过后就划下完美的句号。
适逢元宵佳节，感谢主办当局邀请本人前来主持别具意义的第二届“三州府”论坛，即“海峡殖民地论坛”的开幕礼。
据我所知，第一届“三州府论坛”于3年前在新加坡举行。由于获得良好反应，也就委托槟城主办第二届的论坛。身为槟州首席部长我很荣幸能够亲临主持开幕仪式，因为马六甲海峡是马来亚乃至马来西亚历史的第一章。从最早的1403年开始，拜里米苏拉建立了马六甲王国，直到1511年被葡萄牙占领，继后在1641年被荷兰所占领。在荷兰占领马六甲145年后，英国通过莱特在1786年占领了槟榔屿。当时英国是希望在槟岛建立军事基地，但在勘察后发现槟城不适合建军事基地，乃在1810年决定放弃。
1819年莱佛士代表英国取得了新加坡的控制权后，马六甲海峡的南北两个通道已属于英国所掌控，新加坡也成了英国通往中国的商道。但一项更大的变化发生在1824年。这一年荷兰与英国签署协议各自交换殖民地，英国将处在苏门答腊南边的明古连港（军事港口）给了荷兰；而荷兰则把马六甲给了英国。这正符合了英国殖民地的战略需求，也就在1826年将槟城、新加坡与马六甲组成“海峡殖民地”（Straits Settlements），直接由英国管治。这就是我们俗称的“三州府”。
英国人之所以重视马六甲海峡，是因为它知道这条通道在日后将成为世界重要的国际海峡，不论在政治上、经济上及军事上，马六甲海峡将起着举足轻重的影响力。
当清朝在1839年不与英国合作，强行在虎门由钦差大臣林则徐公开焚毁充公来的鸦片，引发英国官商坐立不安后，乃在1840年通过马六甲海峡将军舰开入中国南方，用炮弹迫使清廷投降并割让香港给英国。从此英国已成为印度洋、马六甲海峡及南中国海的海上霸主。这就是著名的“鸦片战争”。
另一方面，因为东南亚地区给英国带来巨大的利益，英国也在第二次世界大战后（1945年）直接统治了沙巴（北婆）及砂拉越，不再假手于代理人。因为东马也属于英国的殖民地，就在马来西亚于1957年独立后的第六年，英国于1963年促成马来西亚联邦的成立。
所有的这一切，都是因为槟榔屿成了英国的首个桥头堡才有后来多姿多彩的故事和变化。
与此同时，在槟城融入世界两百余年的历史中也出了极少数的峇峇精英，并十分巧合的这三个人体现了他们的马中情怀。第一位是辜氏家族的辜鸿铭，1857年生于槟城，后负笈英国留学成为学贯中西的文化人，不但将“论语”、“中庸”和“大学”翻译成英文，而且也是第一位被提名角逐诺贝尔文学奖的华人。他曾是清代名臣张之洞之英文外交秘书。
第二是著名的的吴连德医生，他在1879年出生于槟城，但闻名于中国。在辛亥革命期间，他成功地在东北扑灭鼠疫，被誉为近代中国医学先驱。
第三位是家喻户晓的政治家林苍祐医生。1919年出生于槟城。像前两位名士一样，也在英国受教育；更在抗战年代直赴重庆加入救亡工作，前后约4年。返国后加入政治活动。在1958年成为马华公会第二任总会长；进而在1969年大选获胜后，出任第二任槟州首席部长，在位20年，把槟城建设成东方矽谷，而被誉为世界第三大电子城。
由于这三位重要人物对中国有特殊的贡献，因此他们的事迹也反映出马中关系的特殊性与独特性。
由此来看，主办这样的论坛是很有意义的，不但让现代人了解什么是海峡殖民地，而且也可知道为什么马六甲海峡直到今天还是马中关系牢不可破的纽带。我祝愿这样的论坛能在未来的指定日期在马六甲及中国福州顺利举行，从而将槟城纳入世界历史的重要部分。
我谨此宣布本届“三州府论坛”正式开幕，谢谢大家！
I am delighted to be invited to officiate this significant and meaningful event of the Second Straits Settlement Forum 2017 for which Penang has been given the privilege to host.
On a personal note, I would like to take this opportunity to wish “Xin Nian Quai Le” and may the year of the Rooster bring happiness and Prosperity. Today, the 11 February is an auspicious day as it marks the fifteenth day of the New Year which brings the celebration to a close.
Coming back to today’s event, I was made to understand that the first Straits Settlement forum was held in Singapore 3 years ago to overwhelming response and for that we now have the second forum for which Penang has been appointed to organize.
It gives me pride to partake in officiating as it forms part of our treasured Malaysian History. History tells us that Parameswara founded Malacca in 1403 and in 1511, the Portuguese captured Malacca, followed by the occupation by the Dutch in 1641. 145 years after the Dutch occupation of Malacca, the British occupied Penang through Capt. Francis Light in 1786. The British who came hoped to establish a military base in Penang but found it unsuitable and gave up the idea of such in 1810.
In 1819, the British gained control of the north and south of Strait of Malacca after Raffles gained control of Singapore. Singapore became an important port for British to trade in China. In 1824, the Dutch and British signed a treaty for whichthe British surrendered Bencoolen Harbour to the Dutch in exchange for the Dutch colony of Malacca. This was in line with the needs of the British in 1826.Singapore, together with Penang and Malacca were referred to as "Straits Settlements" or "San Zhou Fu" governed by the British.
The British was able to foresee the importance of the Straits of Malacca as an international straits and its influence on politics, economy or military in the region was significant.
In 1839, the Qing Dynasty refused to co-operate with the British and the Imperial Envoy Lim Zexu openly burned the confiscated opium at Humen. In 1840, British sent a warship to Southern China through the Straits of Malacca and started the "Opium War" in Southern China. China surrendered Hong Kong to Britain after her defeat. Since then, Britain has monopolised the Indian Ocean, the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea.
British reaped abundant benefits from the imperialism in South East Asia and gained control of Sabah and Sarawak after World War II in 1945. Malaya obtained its independence in 1957 and in 1963 Malaysia was formed.
Throughout the history of Malaya, Penang has produced a few outstanding Peranakan Chinese who for the past 200 years have left a mark in their own rights.The first outstanding Peranakan Chinese was a descendent from the Gu family Gu Hongming. Born in Penang in 1957 he studied oriental and western literature in UK. He translated "Lun Yu", "Zhong Yong" and "Da Xue" into English and was the first Chinese nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was the English Diplomat Secretary of the famous official of Qing Dynasty Zhang Zhidong.
Nextwas the famous Dr Wu Lian Teh. Being born in Penang in 1879,his fame flourished in China for fighting the plague in North East China during the 1911 Revolution. He was also known as the modern Chinese medical pioneer.
Yet another very dear person to Penangites, was no other than the late Dr Lim Chong Eu. He was born in 1919 in Penang and educated in Britain. He joined the salvation work in Chongqing, China for 4 years. Upon his return to Penang, he was actively involved in political activities. He served as the second president of MCA. He was appointed as the second Chief Minister of Penang after his victory in the 1969 general election. During his tenure as Penang’s Chief Minister for 20 years, he transformed Penang to a "Silicon Valley" of the east and known as the world's third largest electronics city.
These three important figures made special contributions to China, their deeds also reflect the uniqueness of the relationship between China and Malaysia.
In view of the above, this forum is very meaningful. I believe that by the close of this forum we will have a better understanding of the "Straits Settlements" and its relationship to the Straits of Malacca and that of Malaysia-China. I hope there will be continuum to this forum and it would be wonderful if Malacca and Fuzhou would look into hosting. This ought-be recorded in Penang’s history in commemoration of the contribution of our great Chinese forefathers in this country. I believe this should also be listed in world history.
Finally, it gives me great pleasure in declaring the Second Straits Settlement Forum Open.
Thank you.
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