>post independence of peranakan associations
babas want to perpetuate their heritage. they continued the old association, giving them new names. for example, the pranakan association of singapore, from SCBA. the persatuan peranakan cina melaka based on SCBA malacca branch. there is also the persatuan cina pulau pinang, based on SCA. new persatuan peranakan cina kelautau, however it is not well-known. reports have shown that there are small memberships, and hat it is difficult for them to develop further.
>peranakan identity
function of identity is also crucial, during colonial period, to be that of other chinese. the status of baba and peranakan can still claim links with the malays - who are the ruling elite. therefore, it is still useful socially and politically to claim to be part of the indigenous scene. but, wih racial and religious polarization, the peranakan chinese face new challenges with globalization and rise of chinese culture, many peranakan children are being exposed to non-baba cultures, with some eventually becoming more 'chinese' and less 'malay'.
the retention of baba identity in singapore does not have social and political values since the multi-ethnic ruling elite is predominantly chinese. although the city-state is located in the so called malay seas, the rise of china as an economic giant and globalization continue to 'dilute' the baba culture. hence, some peranakan individuals still attempt to salvage this culture, as it is underdeveloped. the objective conditions are not favorable and the peranakan identity is gradually fading from the scene.