tna:PieceReference=co1069p493

Towkay Cheong Yoke Choy seen standing in the centre, with a Kuomintang flag and a Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall logo in the backdrop

What year was this album published?

I'm afraid we don't know. Since it was produced by the Central Office of Information it must be from after 1945 and since Malay(si)a gained independence in 1957, it's presumably from before then. The fact that it uses the term 'Empire' (rather than Commonwealth) might suggest it is from closer to the earlier of those two dates.

Thanks for your response. I think it's pre 1957 and pre-Malaya's Independence too. This statement on the last page "can now build up a common loyalty to the Federation of Malaya." perhaps implies the coming Independence. It is however a significant album as it imagines the British territories of Malaya, Singapore, Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak together - collectively and pre-empts the new country-to-be 'Malaysia' before the idea of 'Malaysia' was first publicly announced by Malaya (and Malaysia's) first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1961. Malaysia came to be in 1963 by signatory territories of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore (expelled in 1965) and Brunei opted not to be part of Malaysia. Anyway, very timely for our nation's 50th anniversary next year in 2013. So thanks National Archives UK!

oh ya, the image of the Bajau chief in this album... CO 1069-493-27 Description: The Badin of Kampong Menkabong in North Borneo. He is a chieftain of the Bajau, a people celebrated as horsemen. Kampong means "village". Location: Malaya, Borneo This photograph of Badin appears on a British North Borneo stamp and is quite famous in Sabah as is the man featured - Orang Kaya Kaya Badin. He has a school named after him called SMK Badin in Tuaran established in 1967 with 47 students... school's website: www.sabah.edu.my/smkbadin/Index_files/Page359.htm