Prof Dr Ahmad Murad Merican (left, wearing songkok) with the other descendants of Datuk Jenaton Anak Labu, at the Vistana Hotel Grand Ballroom in Bukit Jambul, Penang, yesterday.
350 from Malaysia, Indonesia at reunion
GEORGE TOWN: SOME 350 descendants of Datuk Jenaton Anak Labu, one of the earliest immigrants to Penang and founder of the Batu Uban settlement in the early 18th century, converged here yesterday.
The extended family members, with one as young as 6 months old, held their sixth gathering at the Vistana Hotel grand ballroom.
Guests from Indonesia and Malaysia, comprising the fifth to the ninth generations of the Jenatons, gathered in a cordial atmosphere.
Historian Dr Ahmad Murad Merican, a descendant of Jenaton, said the gathering was also aimed at preserving historical Bumiputera heritage sites, especially the Datuk cemetery site in Batu Uban.
Ahmad Murad expressed a concern about the over-development around the site in Minden Heights and called for the preservation of the Penang Malay heritage sites.
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Historian Dr Ahmad Murad Merican, a descendant of Jenaton, said the gathering was also aimed at preserving historical Bumiputera heritage sites, especially the Datuk cemetery site in Batu Uban.
Ahmad Murad expressed a concern about the over-development around the site in Minden Heights and called for the preservation of the Penang Malay heritage sites.
"We have to preserve the rich history of 280 years to commemorate Datuk Jenaton, who was a great explorer during his time.
"His monumental contribution to develop Batu Uban from the backwaters to a modern settlement is an inspiration to all Malaysians," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Ahmad Murad said he had applied for new signs in the vicinity of the tomb to give added narration on Datuk Jenaton's final resting place. He said he had submitted the application to the state Islamic Religious Affairs Council.
He said the Jenaton extended family had grown by leaps and bounds and the various voluntary organisations such as K-Jenaton and state Jenaton Cooperatives were among the main platforms to continue establishing a close rapport among the descendants.
"There is a need to trace the extensive roots of the large Jenaton's family all around the globe and six groups from Indonesia and various parts in Malaysia are here for the first time.
"We estimate there are about 5,000 members residing here, in Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Europe and the United States," Ahmad Murad said.
The president of the Datuk Jenaton's Family Organisation, Abdul Halim Ahmad, gave a keynote address and welcoming speech to the guests.
