Art & Culture Festival for Penang

It was one of the least publicized public events during Pesta Penang 2008 month (29 Nov - 31 Dec '08), and held on Sunday evening of the 14th of December, at one of the most unexpected venue - deep in a low-cost residential area of Sungai Ara (third biggest town in Penang after Georgetown and Butterworth - in terms of population)...

But it was a festive nite indeed for the residents of Desaria Sri Merpati and visitors, with performance by popular artist like Nassier Wahab, and folks musical and dance show including Ghazal, Boria, Tarian Rampaian Melayu Tradisional, Chinese & Indian Dance and Fireworks show.

Officiation for "Program Merakyatkan Seni Budaya dan Festival Kesenian Rakyat 2008" was done by YB Dato' Seri Dr Hilmi bin Haji Yahaya, State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Teluk Bahang, one of the three ADUNs for Balik Pulau parliamentary or Southwest District of Penang (although Sungai Ara is supposedly in the Bayan Baru parliamentary district). Also presence were Syed Amerruddin Syed Ahmad and Sr. Muhammad Farid Saad, the other two ADUNs of Balik Pulau. The hosting VIPs were Puan Fariza binti Ahmad, Assistant Director of Art & Culture Dept of Penang and En. Abdul Rahim bin Mohamed Sultan, Chairman of KRT Taman Desaria Sri Merpati.



The event was closed by a finale performance involving all performers on site:



Other public events in Penang during the same weekend include Karnival Mesra Rakyat @ Pasar Awam Balik Pulau, Starwalk Carnival @ PISA, Seminar Usahawan Rakyat @ Dewan Budaya USM, Mr Pesta Muscle Beach @ Tanjung Bungah and Ping Pong Competition @ Pesta Penang in addition to on-going events including Pesta Penang @ Sg. Nibong (with appearances by Hilmi Gimik, Zizan Nin and Datuk SMS), TenPin Bowling @ Prai (12-20dec08), and Red Bull Power Grind Extreme Games @ Taman Perbandaran (14-17dec08).

[It seems that the term "rakyat" being aggresively used by both sides of the Malaysian politics - Barisan Nasional that's leading the federal government and Pakatan Rakyat that's leading the state government (as well as by non-political entities) to attract the crowd nowadays]