THE Penang Harmony Corporation (Harmonico) has set unity and harmony as the central objectives of its “Exploration Tour of the Streets of Harmony” this month, according to its general manager Paul Au.
The exploration tour will take place every weekend throughout September, beginning in Seberang Jaya on Sept 7, followed by tours in George Town on Sept 14 & 15, and in Bukit Mertajam on Sept 21, with two sessions held in each location.
Au said the exploration tour, reserved for secondary students previously, will be open to the public this year. Each destination offers its unique charm and cultural richness.
“I must emphasise that the exploration tour is not about preaching religion. We do not delve into religious philosophy or doctrine. The main purpose of the tour is for Malaysians to appreciate the diversity of cultures and the rich history of houses of worship in our country.
“In Malaysia, it is essential to cultivate an understanding of different faiths practised in our communities. This platform encourages such understanding.
“For instance, in Seberang Jaya, you will truly appreciate what harmony means through the community services offered.
“All the selected houses of worship are over 100 years old. These places have played significant roles in the development of their communities, providing spiritual support through the years.
“We also want people to see how these faith organisations or houses of worship have evolved and contributed to the development of Bukit Mertajam,” Au told Buletin Mutiara in an interview today. Also present were Wan Atikah, the Penang Harmony Corporation’s head of programme management, C. Mashni, the community relations officer, and Branden Tan, an intern.
He added that the exploration tour is a comprehensive programme that can last up to four hours, featuring interactive activities for participants.
Although the booklets used during the tour were initially designed for ages 15 to 18, Au shared that the feedback has shown the programme is suitable for all ages. As a result, the tours, designed to be educational, are now open to the public.
The exploration tours are part of this year’s Penang Harmony Celebration, a series of programmes organised by Harmonico. Previously known as PEACE 21, the Penang Harmony Celebration was initiated three years ago. This year’s celebration, running from Aug 31 to Sept 21, encompasses Malaysia’s Independence Day on Aug 31, the Malaysia Day on Sept 16 and the International Day of Peace on Sept 21.
Wan Atikah mentioned that they have also received enquiries about the exploration tours from individuals in other states.
In addition to the exploration tours, the Penang Harmony Celebration will feature a photo competition and meditation workshops.
The photo competition invites participants to capture meaningful moments during visits to houses of worship, while the meditation sessions offer insights into the various meditation practices observed in different religious settings.
Atikah also shared that although they usually collaborate with tour guides to lead the public and students through the exploration tours, they also aim to empower the local community to serve as ambassadors for their own houses of worship.
“The tour guide will act as a facilitator, but participants will be guided through the houses of worship by members of the community themselves. The context of each of the Streets of Harmony is very different,” Atikah explained.
As an example, she cited Seberang Jaya, where a representative from the Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth will teach the participants how to make Masala tea.
She noted that the houses of worship in Seberang Jaya are relatively new, having been relocated due to the state government’s urban planning policies. Despite their recent history, the relationships between these religious communities are deeply rooted.
Some of the houses of worship also run free clinics on different days of the week. For instance, Ku Cheng Tse Temple offers traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and provides food packages to hundreds of families once a month, while a Hindu temple provides traditional Indian medicine alongside modern medicine services, and the mosque supports those in need.
“These houses of worship have been collaborating and helping one another. This is a good model and it is what we want to share with participants,” she said.
In Bukit Mertajam, the tour will focus on the history of the town’s development, particularly its connection to the old train station and its renowned sugar plantation.
In George Town, the tour will take the visitors along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, also known as the Street of Harmony, where four different houses of worship – Masjid Kapitan Keling, Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Goddess of Mercy Temple and the St George’s Church – are located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The exploration tours will be conducted in four languages, namely Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, and Tamil. Participation is limited to 20 people per session.
For more information and updates about the celebration, please visit Harmonico’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/harmonico.my or follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar and courtesy of Penang Harmony Corporation