THE RE-OPENING OF GHEE HIANG BEACH STREET RETAIL BOUTIQUE

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE RE-OPENING OF GHEE HIANG BEACH STREET RETAIL BOUTIQUE

20 January 2023
95, Beach Street

Good evening to all of you.

Today is a special day for Penang as we witness Ghee Hiang, Penang's oldest biscuit and sesame oil brand, not only survive the ups and downs of the economy for more than a century and a half, but also evolved over time, making it relevant to today's modern era.

There is no doubt that Penang has a long and illustrious history, and Ghee Hiang has been an integral part of it for the past 167 years. I am thrilled and honoured to be invited to the re-opening of Ghee Hiang's Beach Street boutique, which has stood proudly along this important business district since the late 1800s.

The owners told me that they spent more than RM200,000 on this renovation. It is more important to note, however, that the money was spent to turn back the clock and recreate a late 19th century Straits Settlement shop, adding to Penang's heritage nostalgia during a time when there was an influx of Chinese workers, or "coolies," from China.

This shop reminds us of our forefathers' hard work in shaping Penang into what it is today. I applaud the renovation because it both preserves and modernises the past, ensuring that Ghee Hiang remains an iconic Penang heritage brand.

In fact, earlier this month, a ceremony was held at the E&O Hotel to commemorate and recognise firms or entities in Penang which are more than a hundred years old. These are organisations which have contributed to the colourful past and present of Penang and I am glad Ghee Hiang was one of the recipients at the award giving ceremony. This is proof that the Penang state government is consistent in our stand that our cultural heritage be it in the areas of education, business, or community service would be given due recognition and protected.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Ghee Hiang, as we all know, is famous for its handmade pneah (biscuits) and pure sesame oil. At some point in our lives, almost every Malaysian Chinese uses Ghee Hiang, whether as a souvenir, a gift, during confinement, or by adding a few drops into our food. The products of Ghee Hiang, particularly its high-quality pure sesame oil, are now exported all over the world and doing very well.

On the other hand, I am also delighted to hear that Ghee Hiang will be adding some new cookie products, namely the Ghee Hiang DarkChoc, WhiteChoc, and ChilliChoc. Sounds intriguing and delicious! Their introduction is very timely, especially for the coming Chinese New Year celebrations. My heartiest congratulations to Ghee Hiang for this 167-year-old journey, and I am sure we will be seeing more exciting innovations in the near future.

Let me end by saying this: “Ghee Hiang is Penang, and Penang is Ghee Hiang.” Well done!