Village revives National Day event with arts theme

AFTER a hiatus of three years, a Hakka village in Kulai is bringing back its National Day celebration with arts and culture taking centre stage.

Event organising chairman Lee Queck Fen said this year’s Let’s Art at Sawit Festival, set for Aug 30 and 31, marks the return of the programme since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

“We started the the festival in 2014 at Kampung Baru Kelapa Sawit to celebrate the country’s diverse and colourful culture.

“This year’s festival will showcase the different Chinese dialect clans through food, three-dimensional artworks and murals.

“Aside from wushu, dance, Chinese yoyo, lion dance and singing performances, the alleys in the village will be turned into an event space for visitors to enjoy activities like mini markets and street shows,” he said.

Visitors can also admire more than 10 new artworks and murals including three-dimensional creations, and a brand new arch at the village.

The festival’s arts unit head Alan Tee encouraged artists and volunteers to jointly make the village more attractive.

“Preparations for the festival are underway and we welcome artists and volunteers to come help elevate the village,” said Tee.

“The artworks and murals in the village will either be refreshed or added to every two years so we always welcome new and creative ideas.”

Those interested in contributing can contact the organiser at letsartsawit9@gmail.com.

In 2020, a group of artists erected a three-dimensional bowl of lei cha, an iconic Hakka ground tea-based dish filled with rice, vegetables, peanuts and sesame seeds, which became a popular spot for visitors to snap photos.

The village located at Batu 26 in Kulai has a large population of Hakka clansmen.

There are restaurants offering Hakka dishes as well as quaint cafes and small businesses.