CWC launches New Asia Currents for Asia’s untold stories
The Commonwealth of World Chinatowns (CWC) network has launched its own voice channel with the debut of the New Asia Currents portal as its official media platform.
The portal founded by veteran media practitioner Lim Siang Jin with another seasoned comrade Sebastian Lim as its editor; the New Asia Currents in their words, are news by Asia, for Asia and the world.
It also has sister sites, entitled NAC Postscript and NAC Focus, which represent the new age of the media – connection, collaboration and shared insights.
The launch at the Jen Hotel in Penang, also marks a comeback of sorts for Lim, who in the past few years, was busy producing artworks, having held his own exhibitions.
His career in journalism has seen him traversed through various publications such as the Malay Mail, Malaysian Business and Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) before going on to form the trail blazing The Edge publication, which specialises in business reporting in 1994.
And New Asia Currents’ content is growing in importance in tandem with the continent’s rise as the main economic growth engine of the world.
“In a media world dominated by western narratives, too many news and stories from the Asian region, particularly in southeast Asia remain untold or unreported. This is where New Asia Currents portal is positioned to tap, said Lim.
The Penang factor
Sebastian meanwhile highlighted that the team’s strengths.
“We have a small but dedicated team of experienced writers, who will go the distance to get stories,” said Sebastian.
CWC in itself is a new entity, envisioned to bring technology, arts and culture which lie on the fringes into the mainstream of society, particularly in Penang.
The state has been identified as a viable venue for the networking of Chinatowns throughout the world.
CWC is now collaborating with the Gagarin Space Camp in Russia to establish an international space academy in Penang, reinvest on how development is done on the island state and promoting integrative healthcare.
The term Chinatowns was coined by CWC to represent resilience and networking, which had dominated such enclaves.
Such corners of traditional business outlets, had mushroomed in various parts of the world in the past centuries, as the Chinese community relocated to seek greener pastures in all parts of the world.
CWC can leverage on over 80 recognised Chinatowns in the world including smaller and informal localities, which were established to represent the Chinese business identity.