About
The BBC in South East Asia is an expanding collection of primary source materials focusing on the British Broadcasting Company's significance in the region during Great Britain's late colonial and early post-colonial periods (1927-1961). Led by Cristina Juan, the project aims to gather BBC-produced sound recordings for and about these geographical entities (currently the nation-states of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Burma, Cambodia, the Philippines, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Laos, and Thailand. There is a special emphasis (and more materials) on The British Colonies in South East Asia which include Burma (now Myanmar) - Colonial period: 1885–1948 Independence: January 4, 1948; Malaya (part of present-day Malaysia) - Colonial period: Various states from the late 18th century, unified as the Federated Malay States in 1895 and later the Malayan Union in 1946 Independence: August 31, 1957; Singapore - Colonial period: 1819–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963 and separated to become an independent nation on August 9, 1965); North Borneo (now Sabah, part of Malaysia) - -Colonial period: 1882–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963); Sarawak (now part of Malaysia) - Colonial period: 1888–1963 (joined Malaysia in 1963); and Hong Kong, - Colonial period: 1841–1997, Handover to China July 1, 1997, becoming a British Special Administrative Region (SAR) which, while it is geographically and culturally distinct from South East Asia, is also included in this database as it played a significant role in British colonial history and the BBC’s regional influence during the period. These recordings are contextualized through related materials from the BBC written archives, The BBC Transcription Service, and the Kew National and SOAS archives.
The sound recordings begin with the earliest surviving BBC broadcasts, now digitized and accessible at the British Library. They encompass diverse materials, such as a 1937 broadcast featuring an Englishman's reaction to the 1927 Krakatoa explosion, the inaugural address of the BBC Empire Service in 1932, and the initial broadcast in May 1951 of London Calling Asia, a programme transmitted to South and South-East Asia as part of the BBC's Far Eastern Service.
Pre-1961 recordings of BBC broadcasts were expensive and only done for practical reasons. Consequently, the corpus of recorded material in the inventory is selective and incomplete. Yet the archive still enables us to listen to sounds that might otherwise remain unheard: commercially viable popular music, field recordings for ambient sound, speeches, and the social and ideological positioning of colonial subjects through voice inflections and sonic expressions. The soundscapes offer insights into both significant political events and the everyday lives of people within and beyond the British imperial sphere.
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Solon (Greek: Σόλων; c. 630 – c. 560 BC) was an archaic Athenian statesman, lawmaker, political philosopher, and poet. He is one of the Seven Sages of Greece and credited with laying the foundations for Athenian democracy. Solon's efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline resulted in his constitutional reform overturning most of Draco's laws. Solon's reforms included debt relief later known and celebrated among Athenians as the Seisachtheia (shaking off of burdens). He is described by Aristotle in the Athenian Constitution as "the first people's champion." Demosthenes credited Solon's reforms with starting a golden age. Modern knowledge of Solon is limited by the fact that his works only survive in fragments and appear to feature interpolations by later authors. It is further limited by the general paucity of documentary and archaeological evidence covering Athens in the early 6th century BC.Ancient authors such as Philo of Alexandria, Herodotus, and Plutarch are the main sources, but wrote about Solon long after his death. Fourth-century BC orators, such as Aeschines, tended to attribute to Solon all the laws of their own, much later times. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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Recording features a song by an unidentified child singer is featured on disc 2, with 30 cm sides and a playback speed of 78 rpm. The recording is in mono and is part of the BBC ARCHIVE as item number 22570. More »Music (Vocal) |Topic: Culture |Audio
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Embarking on an instrumental journey, Sri Kenangan exemplifies a Malaysian folk dance in the Masri style. Guided by Hamzah Dolmat and Rakan2, the ensemble utilizes accordion, mandolin, frame drum, and bell-rattles, constructing a sonorous narrative encapsulating the cultural ethos of Malaysia. More »Field Recording |Topic: Culture |Audio
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Suffian writes to Simail Bin Ali about what is considered an acceptable broadcast tone for British audiences. He notes that British audiences prefer a calm and collected tone for their broadcasts. However he claims that since these Radio Malaya broadcasts are intended for Malay audiences it might be better the tone matches the preferences of those audiences, which is closer to the French or American style of broadcasting (urgent and declamatory). He also notes that Malays are not often trusted to appear on the air or take charge of their own broadcasts. He notes that in Chinese and Japanese occupied areas Malays are employed and are more effective broadcasters for Malaysian audiences. He says this matches the general sentiment of the Malayan population in British Malaya, and that unless something is changed, they will continue to prefer other stations. More »Message
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Suharto ( soo-HAR-toh, Indonesian: [suˈharto] ; 8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian military officer and politician, who served as the second and the longest serving president of Indonesia. Widely regarded as a military dictator by international observers, Suharto led Indonesia as an authoritarian regime from the fall of his predecessor Sukarno in 1967 until his resignation in 1998 following nationwide unrest. His 32-year dictatorship is considered one of the most brutal and corrupt of the 20th century.Suharto was born in the small village of Kemusuk, in the Godean area near the city of Yogyakarta, during the Dutch colonial era. He grew up in humble circumstances. His Javanese Muslim parents divorced not long after his birth, and he lived with foster parents for much of his childhood. During the Japanese occupation era, Suharto served in the Japanese-organized Indonesian security forces. During Indonesia's independence struggle, he joined the newly formed Indonesian Army. There, Suharto rose to the rank of major general some time after full Indonesian independence was achieved. An attempted coup on 30 September and 1 October 1965 was countered by Suharto-led troops. According to the official history made by the army, this attempt was backed by the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). The army subsequently led a nationwide violent anti-communist purge and Suharto wrested power from Indonesia's founding president, Sukarno. He was appointed acting president in 1967 and elected president the following year. He then mounted a social campaign known as "de-Sukarnoization" to reduce the former president's influence. Suharto ordered an invasion of East Timor in 1975, followed by a deadly 23-year occupation of the country. Support for Suharto's presidency was active throughout the 1970s and 1980s. By the 1990s, the New Order's increasing authoritarianism and widespread corruption were a source of discontent and, following the 1997 Asian financial crisis which led to widespread unrest, he resigned in May 1998. Suharto died in January 2008 and was given a state funeral. Under his "New Order" administration, Suharto constructed a strong, centralised and military-dominated government. What started as an oligarchic military dictatorship evolved into a personalistic authoritarian regime centered around Suharto. An ability to maintain stability over a sprawling and diverse Indonesia and an avowedly anti-communist stance won him the economic and diplomatic support of the West during the Cold War. For most of his presidency, Indonesia experienced significant industrialisation, economic growth, and improved levels of educational attainment. As a result, he was given the title "Father of Development". According to Transparency International, Suharto was one of the most corrupt leaders in modern history, having embezzled an alleged US$15–35 billion during his rule.Suharto remains a controversial and divisive figure within the Indonesian general public. Many Indonesians have praised his New Order leadership for its economic development, rapid industrialization, and perceived political stability, while others have denounced his authoritarian rule and rampant corruption. Plans to award the status of National Hero to Suharto are being considered by the Indonesian government and have been debated vigorously in Indonesia. (Wikipedia) More »Person
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Sunday Wilshin, English Program Organizer for East and Far East Services, responds to Brian Denney on Terrence Cooper's behalf. She lets him know that Terrence Cooper is on leave but encourages him to continue with the proposal outlined in document designated BBC_303 More »Message
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Tangye Lean writes to request for updated listener information on the following subjects: a) Number of short and medium wave sets in the territories b) Estimate of the nature and influence of the audiences c) The possibilities of arranging relays over local stations d) The extent of Russian and Chinese broadcasting in the territories with the purpose of extending service of BBC Far Eastern Services to a few other countries. More »Message
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Head of Overseas Programme Services responds to the request to broadcast news mid-day be resumed, and that the there are too many difficulties to bring transmissions. J.B. Clark referred to as D.D.D.S. More »Message
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It is noted on the telegraph that David Crichton, First Secretary of the Commissioner Generals Office has confirmed that Radio Malaya is offering all of their available facilities to American Radio correspondents. More »Message
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Mr. Thomas notes that they cannot authorize the recording of a BBC News bulletin for a delayed broadcasting 6 hours after. However, a 1 hour delay can be consdered. More »Message
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J.B. Clark advices the Overseas Services to approach Radio Malaya regarding special services for the Forces in Malaya. He also notes that the British Far Eastearn Services only operates in short wave length which may be unsuitable for internal services. More »Message
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Head of Overseas Programme Services notes that there is a loss of direct listeners of the BBC. It also notes that the loss is most likely due to the listeners switching to Rediffusion Service, which they suspect to be American. More »Message
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W.R. Baker acknowledges the memo from Cyrill Conner regarding offering facilities to American correspondents and states that there has been a misunderstanding. More »Message
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Recording "Telei bah peb" refers to the Temiar people's religious ritual songs and dances performed in a long-house in Pahang, Malaysia. The songs are associated with shamanic and animistic faith, and in one particular song, the spirit of a wild banana warns the shaman to collect ripening fruits before they are eaten by civet cats. These ritual songs are an integral part of the Temiar culture and belief system. More »Music |Topic: Culture |Audio
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The Indonesian Minister of Defence, Abdul Haris Nasution, was questioned by Daniel Counihan about Rusac-Sino influence in Indonesia and the future of New West Guinea and the Federation of Malaya. The interview took place at Ten O'Clock and was recorded on July 3, 1961. No annotations or notes were included in the discussion. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Politics |Audio
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In a Ten O'Clock programme, Derek Cooper conducted an interview with Tunku Abdul Rahman at the Rits Hotel in London. The interview was held following the announcement of the agreement in principle between the British and Malayan Governments for the Federation of Malaysia. The interview took place on August 1, 1962, and no annotations or notes were recorded. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Politics |Audio
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In May 1963, Abdul Razak Tun, a representative of the new Federation of Malaysia, was interviewed in London by Derek Cooper for a program in the Ten O'Clock series. The interview revolved around discussions with the British Government regarding financial aid to the Federation, which was officially inaugurated on September 16, 1963. The asset ID for this information is LISC907047. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Politics |Audio
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In London for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, was interviewed by Roderick MacFarquhar for the Ten O'Clock programme. They discussed Indonesia's hostility towards Malaysia. The interview took place on July 20, 1964. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Poltics |Audio
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Terence Cooper writes to Brian Denney of BBC Far Eastern Services. He notes that a budget of 20 Guineas has been allocated for expenses. He also notes that because of a delay, Radio Malaya's recording of Mishcon's comments over circuit had failed. More »Message
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Terrence Cooper writes to Brian Denney, asking who he might be able to send the London speaker's comments to at Radio Malaya. He also sets a deadline of September 3rd, 1958 for the Malaysian speakers comments to be sent to him. More »Message
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Terence Cooper suggests that the programme be linked on the 18th of September after Radio Malaya records their contributions on the 16th More »Message
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Terence Cooper writes to Peter Albany of BBC Far Eastern Services. He informs Albany about the 25 Guinea budget for fees and expenses that has been allocated for the project. He also suggests some openers for the Radio Malaya contributor. More »Message
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Terence Cooper writes to Peter Albany about his chosen speaker for the BBC London side of the broadcast: Victor Mishcon, solicitor and former chairman of the LCC. He also gives a tentative date of September 19th for the delivery of his comments on tape and requests that Albany arrange for Radio Malaya's responses to be sent by air as soon as possible. He also informs Albany that the recordings will be broadcast over the circuit as an alternative to waiting for the tapes of Mishcon's statements to arrive, allowing for Radio Malaya to record their responses at an earlier date. More »Message
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Terence Cooper writes to Peter Albany that the broadcast was successful, and that a copy of the program could be sent to the BBC Far Eastern Service offices for it to be broadcast as a special program. More »Message
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The letter proposes that the broadcast will have a predetermined topic of discussion, with a suggested focus on "Law and the Citizen". Specific topics include Habeas Corpus, "the Rights of the Individual Against the State", and "Presumption of Innocence" More »Message
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An extract from The Asian Club program features Angus Wilson discussing the serious message in his writings. He emphasizes the value of each human being and his interest in portraying the social dynamics of England. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Culture |Audio
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Recording is a classical dance and music ensemble, is featured on a 30 cm, 33 rpm disc with the label BBCARCHIVELP19654. The recording, which starts at 00:18:24.02 and ends at 00:25:52.01, includes traditional folk songs and music performed by the Gamelan Orchestra from Pilatan, Indonesia. Additionally, the performance incorporates the art of Topeng, a form of dance by masked dancers. More »Music (Dance) |Topic: Culture |Audio
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James Cameron provides an elegant report on the Korean War, offering insights into the Cold War era. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Military Conflict |Audio
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In 1953, the Australian Broadcasting Commission recorded and aired the Christmas Day message of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II from Auckland, New Zealand. The message was narrated by Chester Wilmot and featured music composed by John Antill and played by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Producers involved in the production included Laurence Gilliam, Alan Burgess, and Neil Huchison. The message included greetings from various members of the Commonwealth, and speakers included individuals like Chief Asbula, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Queen Salote of Tonga. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Culture | Sport |Audio
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In 1966, Laurens van der Post, a former Japanese prisoner of war and writer, was interviewed by David Lytton for the series The Time of My Life. Van der Post discussed his experiences during the war and his post-war work in Java. The interview was documented as part of the rDTF:Script, with the asset ID LISC841519. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Military Conflict |Audio
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In a program produced by John Nicoll and chaired by Stewart Wavell, four missionaries from various regions, including the Arctic, Sarawak, North Burma, and Zululand, discuss the challenges and extraordinary occurrences they face in their way of life. The speakers include Joan Turner, Gwynedd Nichol, Rev. David Darlington, and Rev. Norman Gilmore. The program aired on June 25, 1965, and is categorized under the title TLO 515/638. More »Radio Programme |Topic: Culture |Audio
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