Founded by prominent members of the Peranakan community of Singapore Lim Boon Keng and Song Ong Siang in 1897, it was the first English-language periodical to be owned, edited and published by Malayans.
It aimed to "promote intellectual activity amongst the Straits-born people, and to guide the present chaotic state of public opinion among them to some definite end".
[3] The main editors of the magazine were Lim Boon Keng and Song Ong Siang, who were both prominent members of the Straits Chinese community in Singapore.
The magazine featured book reviews and letters from readers, as well as reports from international correspondents in later issues.
[3] The magazine was distributed in towns and cities across British Malaya, as well as in London, Edinburgh, Saigon, Yokohama, Bangkok and Batavia.