Datuk Kenny Chan, in character as a bibik, on the cover of The Peranakan magazine in 2001.
BABA LEE YUEN THIEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE ICONIC FEMALE IMPERSONATOR, DATUK KENNY CHAN
I grew up in the early 1990s, a time where the internet and smart phones were uncommon or barely heard of. There was no YouTube, Netflix, or Astro. I vividly remember that my favourite weekly television programme was Baba & Nyonya on TV1.
My whole family, especially my Mama and I, would make sure that our television would be switched on at least 15 minutes before the start of programme.
Bibik Kim Neo (played by Baba Kenny Chan) and Ah Chim (played by the late Chee Hood Siong) were our all-time favourite characters! Over the years, the duo and their team produced 509 episodes of the comedy series which was certified by the Malaysian Book of Records as the longest running TV series in the history of the country.
Both Uncle Kenny and Uncle Hood Siong were staunch Buddhists. When they retired from television, they dedicated much of their time to the propagation of Buddhism, mainly in Melaka at the Seck Kia Eenh Temple, a place of worship favoured by the Melaka Babas.
Among the many discussions on Peranakan culture that I had with Uncle Kenny, I clearly remembered that he always stressed the importance of sharing and passing down knowledge to the next generation. Many Babas like Uncle Kenny, valued and took ownership of our culture. However there have been others who were so afraid to share it that they took their knowledge with them when they passed on.
While we mourn the passing of this iconic Melaka-born Baba, let us keep Uncle Kenny’s memory alive by emulating his spirit of sharing his knowledge generously. Throughout his lifetime, he tirelessly shared the beauty of our Peranakan culture through his wonderful television shows, theatre sketches, and cuisine. He is dearly missed.