(a) Missions and Features

On 26th April 1998, the Malaysian Chinese Literature Centre (MCLC) officially became the first literature centre in Malaysia. It aims to collect and provide materials related to Malaysian Chinese Literature for the teaching and research needs among Southern UC members. It also takes the cultural mission to preserve, sustain and promote Malaysian Chinese Literature, as well as providing a conducive environment for academic research activities. MCLC is one of the core centres in the world for collecting Malaysian Chinese Literature. Since its establishment, it has accumulated rich literary collections date from 1930 to the contemporary. It also publishes the literary periodical, Chao Foon, and other collections. The pioneering Malaysian Chinese Literature Database strives to collect comprehensive data of related authors and has become the primary choice for researchers from far and near.

(b) Current status and services

Currently, MCLC’s collections comprise approximately 11,000 closed-stack books, 11,000 general books, 200 periodicals (over 10,000 volumes), 12,000 newspaper clippings and academic papers, and more than 60 audio-visual materials; some of which are in the Malay, English and Japanese languages. Besides launching exhibitions that feature Malaysian Chinese authors, MCLC also holds various seminars, talks and movie screenings to encourage the participation of writers, scholars, film directors, audiences, etc., and to cultivate a literary and cultural spirit in this southern part of peninsular Malaysia. Other MCLC activities include providing consultation to researchers from around the world or on topic selection, and sharing with authors and scholars.
Since MCLC resumed the publication of Chao Foon from volume 489 in 2002, it has now published volume 510 and continued to encourage the literary production of both senior and young writers. Chao Foon carries the hope of MCLC to collect and preserve the gems of Malaysian Chinese literature. In addition, other publications of MCLC also have made positive contribution to the publication of Malaysian Chinese Literature, such as Shang Wan-Yun’s short story collection Flea, Tan Cheng Sin’s short story collection Blue Sky, Sunny Day, With Chilly Wind and Face Making, Wee Juan Hiong’s poem collection Waiting For A Pichi Tree, Sen Kim Soon’s poem collections Poetry Illustrated Record and Book of Memory; poem collections published in collaboration with Southern University Press: A Journey of Return by Wong Yoon Wah, About to Travel by Ho Khai Leong, In a Vial the Lactobacilli Kept and Gone by Kho Tong Guan, Black Light/White Shadow by Seen Mum Kong, Resonances of Bordeaux by Chua Chee Lay, Collected Poems of Xiaoman by Tan Chai Puan.