THE PERANAKANNyonya Salma Khoo pays her respects to a titan of Peranakan heritage
Baba Michael Cheah Ui Ghim, a passionate custodian of Peranakan heritage, passed away peacefully on 2 June 2025, at the age of 73. A fifth-generation Penang Baba, Michael was known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Straits Chinese culture, especially in the domains of Nyonya fashion, wedding customs, and traditional craftsmanship. Michael’s lifelong dedication to the Peranakan heritage began early. At 21, he joined the State Chinese (Penang) Association (SCPA), founded in 1920 to represent the Penang Straits Chinese community. Over the next five decades, he emerged as a central figure in the revival and celebration of Baba Nyonya culture in Penang and beyond.
I first met Michael at the inaugural Baba Convention in 1988, where he organised a landmark Baba wedding event. He ingeniously condensed the highlights of an elaborate 12-day ritual into a one-day ceremony, complete with a traditional procession through George Town. From then on, Michael became widely sought-after as an organiser and advisor, overseeing more than 380 Baba weddings and curating over 300 Nyonya fashion shows. His knowledge of Penang Nyonya beadwork, wedding customs and regalia, including the distinctive headgear and jewellery worn by Nyonya brides, was unparalleled.
Michael was also a gifted educator and mentor. He first learnt the art of Peranakan beadwork from the doyen Nyonya Betty Lee. Then, in 2000 or earlier, he started the first beading classes under the Penang Heritage Trust, nurturing a new generation of Nyonya artisans in the delicate craft of kasut manik. His love for sharing knowledge extended beyond the classroom – he was always ready with a story, a sartorial detail, or a cultural insight. In 2010, he led daily wedding showcases and beading demonstrations at the Penang Pavilion during the Shanghai World Expo.
His expertise extended across many aspects of Straits Chinese culture. He documented and spoke about the history of the Dondang Sayang Club, and over the years contributed sketches and designs for Dondang Sayang buses and parade floats. He also helped write the captions for the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, ensuring historical accuracy and cultural depth.
In recent years, Michael curated the Baba and Nyonya Galleria at the SCPA – an intimate exhibition of Peranakan furniture, textiles, and heirloom artefacts, many from his personal collection. Only earlier this year, he was appointed guest curator at the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang, where he contributed to exhibition captions and festive decorations.
A fifth-generation Baba, Michael came from a family deeply rooted in Penang’s history. His great-grandfather Heah Swee Lee was the owner of the storied Northam Lodge; another great-grandfather, Teng Ee Boon, founded Ghee Hiang, the famed sesame oil and biscuit company. His maternal grandfather, Heah Seng Hong, took some of the earliest aerial photographs of George Town in 1924.
Michael lived and breathed the Peranakan way of life – not merely preserving it, but enlivening it through education, performance, and display. His warmth, humility, and irrepressible energy left an impression on all who knew him.
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the many Babas and Nyonyas whose lives he touched. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Photo credits: courtesy of the State Chinese (Penang) Association and Yeoh Peng Hong
