With the on-going debate whether scantily-clad showgirls are appropriate for the nightly stage shows during the current Hungry Ghosts Festival, the Teong Gun Association, which is the lead organiser of such celebrations in Penang, has suggested staging singing contests instead.

"It is also more cost-effective to have singing contests," the association's adviser Lim Yam Koi told Bernama today.

More than RM2 million is spent annually in Penang to celebrate the month-long festival which will last until Sept 7. Since the festival began on Aug 10, many " ko tai " or stage shows had been held at street corners in the city or open spaces in the suburbs.

hungry ghost festival 070808 02 The festival is celebrated in the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar by Chinese communities mostly in southern China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

They believe that during this month, the "Gates of Hell" are opened to let out the hungry ghosts who then wander to forage for food on Earth.

Midway through the festival, usually on the 14th or 15th night, food and burning of paper money and incense are made outside the house as offerings to the spirits of dead ancestors as alms and to ensure good luck.

Stage performances comprising Chinese opera and puppet shows are also held for the wandering spirits, including ' Tai Su Yeah ' (King of the Hells).

Women to pull in crowd

In Penang alone, 218 Hungry Ghosts Festival or ' Phor Tor ' committees were formed this year among community leaders, traders and residents in various areas to celebrate the occasion.

NONE But in recent years, such committees have resorted to engaging scantily-clad women to sing on stage to pull in the crowds.

Lim said these committees should hold singing contests for the public which only cost about RM2,000 for renting the sound system and in cash prizes to the winners, as opposed to the showgirls who charge between RM3,000 and RM5,000 to perform each time.

"Singing contests can provide wholesome entertainment for the audience, who include children and the elderly," he said, adding that he would encourage the " Phor Tor " committees to consider this option as it would also encourage greater bonding with the community.

Lim said he would also encourage committee members to organise more Chinese Teochew and Hokkien operas and puppet shows, as such performances not only attract locals but also foreign tourists, especially with Georgetown being recognised as a heritage site by Unesco.

The street operas, a popular and traditional form of entertainment since a long time ago, could also provide a boost to tourism because of their unique cultural features.

Moreover, opera performers only charge between RM2,000 and RM3,000 per show, he said.

- Bernama