IN celebration of the fifth edition of the annual Penang Hill Festival (PHF) from July 19 to 21 this year, the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) will hold a songwriting competition alongside several other engaging activities.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who also serves as chairman of Penang Hill Corporation, announced the songwriting competition, themed ‘Penang Hill – A Treasured Gem’, welcoming aspiring musicians to compose original songs that encapsulate the essence and allure of Penang Hill.
The competition, organised in collaboration with Cadenza Music & Performing Arts Academy, is open to all Malaysians aged 15 years old and above.
“Participants from diverse musical genres are welcome to submit their entries, reflecting the vibrant cultural tapestry of Malaysia. This offers an inclusive platform for budding musicians to showcase their talent and passion.
“Participants will have the opportunity to win prize money. Best of all, entry is free! Registration starts today (April 18) to June 17, with submissions accepted from June 18 to July 31 this year.
“Therefore, we encourage all budding musicians and talents to participate in this competition,” Chow said during a press conference on the Penang Hill Festival 2024 at Komtar today.
The winning entry will be selected as the official theme song of Penang Hill.
The champion will receive RM3,000, first runner-up RM1,500, second runner-up RM800, and there will be three (3) Awards of Excellence, each accompanied by a trophy and a certificate of achievement for the winners.
Chow continued: “Since its inception in 2018, PHF has been at the forefront of promoting and bringing about greater awareness of Penang Hill’s nature, rich tapestry, history and cultural heritage.
“PHF offers visitors and locals a glimpse of Penang Hill’s uniqueness, from its century-old railway to its lush greenery and rich biodiversity that was certified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site in 2021.
“This festival features a series of exciting activities aimed at celebrating the splendour of Penang Hill and showcasing the talents of local individuals. It is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors locally and abroad.”
Alongside the songwriting competition, the three-day PHF2024 promises an array of exciting programmes, including talks, heritage and nature discovery walks, exhibitions, photography workshops, and the much-anticipated ‘Music on the Hill – East Meets West’ on July 21.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy captivating performances by local talents such as the Penang Youth Orchestra and Sada Borneo.
Sada Borneo, a Malaysian band formed in Penang in 2013, gained popularity for representing Malaysia in AXN’s Asia’s Got Talent 2015, reaching the semi-final stage, and airing in over 20 countries across Asia.
Furthermore, BhaavaNarthana Naatyalaya, a prominent Penang-based classical Indian dance academy helmed by Guru Pavaani Thannimalai; Culture Shot, a homegrown ethno fusion band; and Wak Long Music & Art Centre, the only traditional Malay performing group in Penang, will also be featured at the “Music on the Hill – East meets West”.
The talks at PHF2024 will focus on key topics such as the remarkable transformation of Penang Hill and the pressing issue of illegal wildlife trapping in the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve (PHBR).
The talks will feature esteemed speakers Wong Hon Wai, the state exco for Tourism and Creative Economy; Datuk Cheok Lay Leng, general manager of Penang Hill Corporation; Lngeshwary Bhaskaran, manager of Project Planning and Development Division, Ong Jin Cheng, director of Arkitek LLA, Dr Beh May Ting, head of the History & Regional Studies at Penang Institute, who will lead the discussion for the ‘Rejuvenating Penang Hill: Unveiling the Hill’s Remarkable Transformation’ talk.
Meanwhile, Tan Poai Ean, superintendent of Penang National Park; Dr Nadine Ruppert, senior lecturer of the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia; and Kanda Kumar, adviser and an honorary member of the Malaysian Nature Society Reserve Office; and Dr Yang Kok Lee, senior project officer of Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Office, will provide valuable insights and potential solutions to safeguard the hill’s delicate ecosystem in ‘The Impact of Illegal Wildlife Trapping: A Silent Threat to Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve’s Ecosystem’ talk.
The talk session on ‘Memories of Penang Hill’ will feature esteemed speakers Ahmad Chik, Linda Batten and Dr V. Rajananda, who will share their personal narratives, offering unique insights into the past and future of this iconic landmark. Guiding this engaging discussion is Allen Tan Heng Poe, manager director of The Habitat Penang Hill.
Moreover, PHF2024 teams up with MinitAgo, an innovative and community-driven digital platform, to host an exciting digital treasure hunt during the three-day festival whereby visitors can enjoy Penang Hill’s nature, history and culture while hunting for ‘treasures’ on the hill.
PHC is looking for individuals to join them as volunteers for the festival. Interested individuals may look out for the registration link which will be shared on PHC’s social media pages and website.
For more information on the programme details and registration for the events, please stay updated on Penang Hill Corporation’s official Facebook page.
Also present at the press conference were state executive councillor Wong Hong Wai, PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng, Penang Motac (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) Penang director Dr Annuar Mohamed, Tourism Malaysian northern region director Shahrul Aman Sabir Ahmad, Penang Global Tourism (PGT) chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan, and several other stakeholders.
On a separate matter regarding the call by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) to halt the upcoming construction of the Penang Hill Cable Car project until a local plan is established, Cheok addressed concerns by highlighting the evolution of the planning process.
Cheok noted that the Draft Local Plan 1998 had initially identified locations which were later deemed unsuitable, prompting subsequent changes.
“The plan was old anyway, and subject to be reviewed,” Cheok said in reply to a reporter’s question.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis