WAD TAI WAH, 1894-1940: SATU PENELITIAN TERHADAP PERKHIDMATAN KESIHATAN ORANG CINA DI SELANGOR

Abstract

One of the interesting aspects in the research of British administration in Malaya is the development of health care. Besides the efforts and role taken by the British in providing the services, medical institutions developed by the communities were hardly highlighted. One of those institution was Tai Wah Ward managed by the Chinese community in Selangor. It was established in 1894 with the aim to help the decrepit and poor Chinese. It was certainly not an easy task to manage a charitable institution without adequate funding from the British. However, Tai Wah Ward was able to operate successfully from its founding year to the brink of the Second World War. This article therefore aims to discuss the history of Tai Wah Ward by looking at its role in providing health services to the Chinese in Selangor. At the same time it will also highlight the problems faced by the managing committee of the Ward. Finally it will focus on the efforts taken by the Chinese community to ensure the institution remain relevant in Chinese healthcare system. The findings of this article is  to prove that social responsibility and sense of belongings among community members are pertinent in maintaining harmony within the society. The article is using qualitative method based  on primary and secondary sources from the National Archives of Malaysia and University of Malaya Library. The main references are annual reports of the Tai Wah Ward, Selangor annual reports and Selangor State Secretariat files.

Received: ​18​ ​December 2019

Reviewed: ​19 December 2019

Accepted: ​28​ ​December​ 2019