GEORGE TOWN – When visiting the George Town Unesco Heritage Site, many revel in the beauty of its heritage homes, cultures, businesses and places of worship, but it is rare for tourists to know the people behind the scenes, who are striving to hand over the skills and knowledge from one generation to the next.
Throughout this month, George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) is handing over awards to a total of 56 organisations and 28 individuals, consisting of artisans and cultural traders were selected as recipients of the organisation's inaugural heritage recognition and awards from 2020.
The awards were originally announced in April 2020, held in conjunction with GTWHI’s 11th anniversary. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order (MCO), they were only distributed this month.
One of the recipients is gambus player, Jimah Chin, 74, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award (Mastery of Skills). She picked up the violin at the age of 13 when she joined a Nasyid group. After she found her passion in music, she continued to pursue and share her knowledge in music, especially on the gambus with anyone willing to learn.
She started her first ghazal party in 1972 and she has been performing a variety of Arabic and Malay folk music since.
Another Lifetime Achievement Award receiver is Boria writer and director, Omar Md Hashim, 67, more widely known as Omara from Boria Omara.
A traditional parody theatre that was first originated from the ancient ta'ziyeh culture of Persia, it is often performed in Penang. However, when the pandemic hit, Omar was worried about the possibility that his group of 20 members, aged 13 to 25, would give up on the art. However, thanks to technology, his works under the Boria Omara group could be enjoyed by their followers on social media.
Omar received the award after relentlessly pursuing, educating and performing Boria for almost a decade.
Lillian Tong Poh Kheng, 62, is a sixth-generation Nyonya and was also awarded GTWHI’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She entered the tourism industry 15 years ago out of love for her roots.
She is currently the Pinang Peranakan Mansion museum director and the president of Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Pulau Pinang.
It all started when she was cast in the Singaporean television series The Little Nyonya, where scenes were shot at the Pinang Peranakan Museum. She then became a tour guide, and within three months, its director. During her tenure, she has hosted the likes of Prince William and helped with storyboards for a BBC documentary.
Because of the importance of heritage and culture that is the lifeblood of George Town, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that heritage and culture must be preserved at all costs.
During the ceremony held earlier this month, he thanked the 84 recipients of the awards for their outstanding efforts, long term commitments and special merit in the field of conservation, protection, mastery of skills, know-how and efforts in transmitting their skills and knowledge of cultural heritage to the younger generation.
“As the custodian of our cultural heritage, you have all spent your lifetime mastering skills inherited from your forefathers.
“Your dedication towards perfecting your skills, day in and day out, has enabled us to enjoy the fruits of your services, products and performances.
“Your determination, sacrifice and patience will be an inspiration to our future generation.” – The Vibes, January 19, 2022
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