‘Rise of China’ fuels creation of new global migrants , Kinship knows no country

Looking back: Prof Wong (right) showing a decorative timeline to (from left) Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu KUALA LUMPUR: The rise of China and the emergence of new Chinese communities across the globe have made the study of their migration more relevant than ever, says Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Arts and Social Sciences Faculty dean Prof Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken.

He said research on Chinese overseas communities initially focused on those who migrated during the 19th and 20th centuries – examining their origins, cultural identities and how they adapted to local societies – but new migration waves have since transformed these studies.

“With the rise of China, we are now seeing the movement of a new group of migrants, who have formed new communities around the world.

“These new groups have shaped local societies through new businesses, organisations and cultural exchanges that differ from earlier generations,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 12th International Conference of the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO), which brought together 380 scholars from 27 countries to share insights on Chinese migration, identity and transnational networks.

Prof Wong said the theme “Chinese Overseas in a Changing World: Global Networks, Local Realities”, held at UM yesterday, reflects the shifting dynamics of Chinese migration in today’s interconnected world.

ISSCO president Prof Li Minghuan said the conference’s theme reflected the growing uncertainties of the modern world, shaped by China’s expanding global influence and its complex relationships with other major powers.

“China’s rising stature and its relations with the United States, European Union and the Global South shape the direction of the world and influence the development of overseas Chinese communities.

“Overseas Chinese today are influenced not only by global trends but also by the political, economic, social and cultural contexts of the countries where they live,” she said.

Prof Li added that ISSCO, now in its 33rd year, had grown into a dedicated academic community that fosters intellectual exchange and lasting friendships across borders.

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• Education is best defence against division, says UM vice-chancellor

Kinship knows no country

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  One for the album: (From fourth left) Prof Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman, International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) president Prof Li Minghuan and Chan at the conference in Universiti Malaya. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star

  KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysian Chinese continue to feel a deep connection to their ancestral roots in China through family ties and shared heritage, and not because of political allegiance, says Prof Dr Tan Chee Beng of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

  Family ties, he said, were one of the earliest and strongest cultural links maintained by Chinese migrants.

  “Earlier generations of migrants were naturally very close to their families in China. Although their descendants may now have fewer direct relatives there, many still feel a connection to their ancestral homeland,” he said at the 12th International Conference of the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO).

  Themed “Chinese Overseas in a Changing World: Global Networks, Local Realities”, the keynote session was moderated by Universiti Malaya’s Chinese Studies Department adjunct professor Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.

Prof Wong said the theme “Chinese Overseas in a Changing World: Global Networks, Local Realities”, held at UM yesterday, reflects the shifting dynamics of Chinese migration in today’s interconnected world.

ISSCO president Prof Li Minghuan said the conference’s theme reflected the growing uncertainties of the modern world, shaped by China’s expanding global influence and its complex relationships with other major powers.

“China’s rising stature and its relations with the United States, European Union and the Global South shape the direction of the world and influence the development of overseas Chinese communities.

“Overseas Chinese today are influenced not only by global trends but also by the political, economic, social and cultural contexts of the countries where they live,” she said.

Prof Li added that ISSCO, now in its 33rd year, had grown into a dedicated academic community that fosters intellectual exchange and lasting friendships across borders.

Related stories:

• Education is best defence against division, says UM vice-chancellor
• Kinship knows no country

China commissions first electromagnetic catapults-equipped aircraft carrier, Fujian; country officially enters three-carrier era

​Official Chinese media on Friday revealed that the country's third aircraft carrier, the electromagnetic catapults-equipped Fujian, was officially commissioned on ...

What kind of sentiment made the news of the Fujian's commissioning go viral?: Global Times editorial

No hegemony or pressure can stop China's march toward becoming a maritime power, nor can any force hinder China's determination or capability to safeguard global sea-lane security and protect its overseas interests.

Why Your Expensive Hearing Aids Aren't Enough!

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More older adults have turned to cochlear implants after Medicare expanded eligibility for the devices.

Kitty Grutzmacher had contended with poor hearing for a decade, but the problem had worsened over the past year. Even with her hearing aids, “there was little or no sound,” she said.

“I was avoiding going out in groups. I stopped playing cards, stopped going to Bible study, even going to church.”

Her audiologist was unable to offer Ms. Grutzmacher, a retired nurse in Elgin, Ill., a solution. But she found her way to the cochlear implant program at Northwestern Medicine.

There, Krystine Mullins, an audiologist who assesses patients’ hearing and counsels them about their options, explained that surgically implanting this electronic device usually substantially improved a patient’s ability to understand speech.

Kitty Grutzmacher had contended with poor hearing for a decade, but the problem had worsened over the past year. Even with her hearing aids, “there was little or no sound,” she said.

“I was avoiding going out in groups. I stopped playing cards, stopped going to Bible study, even going to church.”

Her audiologist was unable to offer Ms. Grutzmacher, a retired nurse in Elgin, Ill., a solution. But she found her way to the cochlear implant program at Northwestern Medicine.

There, Krystine Mullins, an audiologist who assesses patients’ hearing and counsels them about their options, explained that surgically implanting this electronic device usually substantially improved a patient’s ability to understand speech.

At Northwestern, Dr. Mullins tells older prospective patients that one year after activation, a 60 to 70 percent AzBio score — correctly repeating 60 to 70 words out of 100 — is typical.

A recent Johns Hopkins study of about 1,100 adults found that after implantation, patients 65 and older could correctly identify about 50 additional words (out of 100) on the AzBio test, an increase comparable to younger cohorts’ results.

Participants over 80 showed roughly as much improvement as those in their late 60s and 70s.

“They transition from having a hard time following a conversation to being able to participate,” said Dr. Della Santina, an author of the study. “Decade by decade, cochlear implant results have gotten better and better.”

Moreover, an analysis of 70 older patients’ experiences at 13 implantation centers, for which Dr. Wick was the lead author, found not only “clinically important” hearing improvements but also higher quality-of-life ratings.

Scores on a standard cognitive test climbed, too: After six months of using a cochlear implant, 54 percent of participants had a passing score, compared with 36 percent presurgery. Studies that focus on 80 and 90-year-olds have shown that those with mild cognitive impairment also benefit from implants.

Nevertheless, “we’re cautious not to overpromise,” Dr. Wick said. Usually, the longer that older patients have had significant hearing loss, the harder they must work to regain their hearing and the less improvement they may see.

A minority of patients feel dizzy or nauseated after surgery, though most recover quickly. Some struggle with the technology, including phone apps that adjust the sound. Implants are less effective in noisy settings like crowded restaurants, and since they are designed to clarify speech, music may not sound great.

For those at the upper end of Medicare eligibility who already understand roughly half of the speech they hear, implantation may not seem worth the effort. “Just because someone is eligible doesn’t mean it’s in their best interests,” Dr. Wick said.

For Ms. Grutzmacher, though, the choice seemed clear. Her initial testing found that even with hearing aids, she understood only 4 percent of words on the AzBio. Two weeks after Dr. Mullins turned on the cochlear implant, Ms. Grutzmacher could understand 46 percent using a hearing aid in her other ear.

She reported that after a few rough days, her ability to talk by phone had improved, and instead of turning the television volume up to 80, “I can hear it at 20,” she said.

So she was making plans. “This week, I’m going out to lunch with a friend,” she said. “I’m going to play cards with a small group of women. I have a luncheon at church on Saturday.”

The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with KFF Health News. 

A version of this article appears in print on Oct. 21, 2025, Section D, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: When Dialing Up the Hearing Aid Isn’t Enough. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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A Guide to Aging Well

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• Knee Arthritis: This uncomfortable condition is increasingly common as you age. But it doesn’t mean you can’t work out. Here’s how to choose the right exercise regimen for you.

• When a Hearing Aid Isn’t Enough: More older adults have turned to cochlear implants after Medicare expanded eligibility for the devices.

• A Simple Approach to Aging Well: For decades, Charlotte Chopin, a 102-year-old yoga teacher, has been bending and stretching in Léré, a village in France. Here’s how she keeps moving.

• Weight Lifting: The logic behind Greysteel, a gym outside Detroit, is straightforward: Stronger muscles and bones are associated with longer life and better health.

• Anemia and Aging: Significant numbers of older people have the condition. Many find relief with an effective treatment that is being more widely prescribed.

• A User’s Guide to Midlife: Here’s a complete guide to midlife, with help on how to navigate its aches and pains, weight gain, perimenopause, low libido, memory loss, chronic diseases and stress.

Major consumer fix for car loans

 

New rules on the way: A woman viewing a car to buy at a Proton showroom in Petaling Jaya. The recently passed Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill 2025 abolishes the front-loaded interest method for fixed-rate hire purchase loans and replaces it with the reducing balance system. — AZHAR

Economists say legal amendments will improve fairness in auto financing

PETALING JAYA: The newly passed Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill 2025 which will overhaul how interest is calculated for fixed-rate car loans, marks a major reform in consumer credit, say economists.

The change, they say, was long overdue, describing it as a major step forward for consumer fairness and financial literacy.

The Bill, approved by the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 8, abolishes the long-criticised flat rate and Rule of 78 interest methods and replaces them with the reducing balance system and effective interest rate (EIR) calculation.

ALSO READ: Consumer groups hail amended Bill

Under the old Rule of 78, borrowers effectively paid more interest at the start of the loan, leaving them with little benefit even if they settled their hire purchase early.

The new reducing balance method, however, calculates interest only on the outstanding loan amount, making repayment fairer and more transparent.

Putra Business School economist Assoc Prof Dr Ida Yasin said the move would bring Malaysia in line with global standards and make loan structures easier for consumers to understand.

“In the past, interest was charged on the full loan amount even after you have paid off half of it.

“With the reducing balance system, interest is only calculated on what you still owe, which is a more equitable and accurate reflection of your debt,” she said.

Ida also agreed that the reform represented a move toward fairness, adding that the reducing balance system was “better than before” because it corrected a long-standing imbalance between lenders and consumers.

The Bill, tabled by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, is now at the Dewan Negara.

Once passed by the Senate, it will await royal assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before being gazetted and enforced on a date to be announced by the ministry.

It also provides an 18-month transition period for banks and finance companies to fully implement the new calculation system.

Ida said the timeframe was “realistic and doable”, given the need for system upgrades, but added that many consumers were eager to see it implemented sooner because of the clear benefits.

“We would like to see it enforced as quickly as possible, but 18 months is a practical timeline for the industry to adapt,” she added.

The Bill has been welcomed by car buyers and consumer groups, who say it ensured fairer treatment for borrowers and encouraged responsible lending.

Economist Prof Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai said the amendment corrected long-standing imbalances that favoured lenders under Rule 78.

“Previously, borrowers paid most of their interest in the first half of the loan tenure, meaning early settlements gave them little savings.

“The reducing balance method fixes that, as interest is now charged only on the remaining loan amount,” he said, adding that the change could also boost vehicle demand, as car ownership would feel more affordable.

“Borrowers will have more incentive to take shorter loan terms and repay early.

“For used-car buyers, whose loans are typically shorter, this makes a meaningful difference,” he added.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the reform would not drastically change loan costs but would improve transparency.

“Borrowers will understand their true repayment rates and be able to make better comparisons across banks,” he said, adding that the introduction of EIR would also help promote financial literacy and more informed borrowing decisions.

“As consumers become more aware of how banking products are structured and priced, they’ll make wiser choices.

“This is a shift toward better practice and a more transparent market,” he said.

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All set for north-east monsoon

PUCHONG: All eyes are on the skies as Malaysia braces for the north-east monsoon.

Heavy, continuous rains are on the horizon, with Sabah forecast to experience above-average rainfall due to the La Nina weather phenomenon.

Authorities, meanwhile, are all geared up to tackle this head-on, with more than 100,000 personnel and nearly 40,000 assets ready nationwide 

Malaysian Meteorological De­­partment (MetMalaysia) deputy director-general (operations) Ambun Dindang said the north-east monsoon, expected to begin in November and last until March next year, will also bring five to seven episodes of heavy, continuous rainfall nationwide.

 

“This year, we forecast above-average rainfall in Sabah, as the La Nina phenomenon is expected to be forming near the territory

.

“Among the forecast areas are the east coast and north of Sabah,” he said during a media engagement event organised by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on preparations for the north-east monsoon here yesterday.

He said Sabah is expected to experience episodes of above- average rainfall between Dec-ember and February.

“Our teams will be monitoring the situation daily,” he said.

Ambun said Kelantan, Tereng­ganu, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak are also forecast to experience heavy, continuous downpours between November and Dec-ember.

The situation is expected to persist in Pahang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak in January next year.

Sabah and Sarawak are also forecast to experience heavy, continuous rainfall next February.

“The said areas are expected to receive regular rainfall except for Sabah. Below average rainfall has, meanwhile, been forecast in west Sarawak in March next year,” he said.

Ambun said warnings on extreme weather episodes will be issued at least a week prior to the incidents.

Warnings on continuous rain, strong winds, and rough seas will also be issued at least three days prior to the episodes.

“Updated forecasts will be issued daily,” he said.

Nadma director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said more than 100,000 personnel will be on standby for the coming north-east monsoon season.

This comprises personnel from the Armed Forces (4,770), police (20,600), Fire and Rescue Depart­ment (15,640), Civil Defence Force (15,390), and Rela (47,100).

Close to 40,000 assets have also been readied in preparation for the year-end monsoon.

This includes 2,555 boats, 1,843 four-wheel drives, 1,172 trucks, 25 helicopters, and 34,092 lifejackets.

He added that 3,683 flood hotspots have been identified nationwide based on Irrigation and Drainage Department findings.

“Regardless, the government is prepared for the coming north-east monsoon season,” he told reporters after the briefing yesterday.

Abdul Halim said coordination among agencies has been improved compared with the north-east monsoon last year.

“The distribution of the Bantuan Wang Ihsan aid has also been improved, with more efficient payouts,” he said.

He added that residents play an equally vital role in flood operations.

“Take note of the early signs, such as rising waters, among others. Please evacuate once you notice this,” he said.

On a related matter, Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad said 29 specialised rapid response teams are on standby nationwide to strengthen flood rescues.

He said these teams will focus solely on floods to minimise disruption to daily station operations.

“Our stations have boats and other flood rescue assets, but officers must also stand by for fires and other emergencies. The rapid response teams, however, will be ready to respond to flood emergencies directly,” he said.

He added that each team comprises about 18 personnel and that several operating bases nation­­­wide have been established to store flood rescue assets.

“If there is a forecast, the team can obtain the assets there directly,” he added.