[1] During the early twentieth century, the Straits Settlements became a centre for political activists and refugees as a result of the struggles between the revolutionary and reformist movements in China.

Both movements espoused their causes through their own newspapers, in order to solicit political and financial support from the overseas Chinese in the region.

[2] In 1907, the visitation of revolutionary activists Sun Yat-sen, Hu Hanmin, Huang Xing and Wang Jingwei to Penang had conceived a plan for a publication called Kwang Hwa Pao or 'Glorious Chinese Newspaper'.

[3] The Yangon branch of Tongmenghui took up the idea and started Yan Kon Kwang Hwa Pao or Burma Chinese Times.

[2] After Yan Kon Kwang Hwa Pao was closed down, the Rangoon Tongmenghui leader Zhuang Yin'an came to Penang along with his machinery to aid Sun's cause and revive his paper.