A group of Penang artists are lamenting that the planned month-long George Town Heritage Festival, to begin on Aug 1, will sadly be lacking in local flavour.

The group of poets, musicians, singers, story-tellers and comedians, led by lawyer Cecil Rajendra ( left ), expressed disappointment that the annual festival is set to showcase more outsiders, who perform in expensive venues.

He said heritage festivals should feature local talents and be held in accessible venues, where the cost would be affordable for most people.

“We are 100 per cent made in Penang. No parachutists, please,” Cecil exclaimed during a press conference held in Haw Pin Kopitiam along Church Street in Penang, yesterday.

Cecil claimed, however, the group’s proposal for more Penang artists to be able to showcase their various talents in “down to earth” venues such as coffee shops failed to attract the interests of the federal and state governments.

“Our Konsert Kopitiam Trail, which features purely Penangites, is not promoted by the organisers of George Town Festival,” Cecil claimed.

“Two years ago, when we proposed this idea to the Tourism Ministry, we were also rejected, and often, we are ignored by the authorities.

“This is sad because cultural or heritage events should be from the ground, from the locals, not from top down.”

Hence, the group announced they are abandoning the bright lights of five-star hotels or modern cafes, preferring instead to perform at five local kopitiams in George Town in a five-day event, beginning Aug 2.

Among the performers are prominent social activist Anwar Fazal, lawyer Hacharan Singh and veteran journalist Himanshu Bhatt.

Unknown to many, Anwar, who served as senior regional advisor with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 1991 - 2004, is a poet, while Hacharan, a well-known Penang lawyer, is also a stand-up comedian and singer, while Bhatt does story-telling on Penang’s vast history and heritage, Cecil said.

Other performers include veteran singers and musicians Kathy Rodgrigues, James Rozells, Hamid Khan, Joe Pragasam, Bonnie Jeremiah, while sketch artist Abdul Rashid Abdul Razak will be in attendance all events.

Tourists want to hear local performers

Performances, will be held between 6pm to 8pm at selected kopitiams at Asia cafe, Pitt Street (Aug 2), Hock Leong Yen, King Street/China Street (Aug 8), Hock Poh Lye, Penang Street/China Street (Aug 15), Eng Loh, Church Street/Penang Street (Aug 22) and Hwa Pin, Church Street (Aug 29).

“These kopitiams, unlike the modern cafes, have rich histories, are part of our living heritage and are unique to Malaysia, which is why we oppose the new type of cafes which are taking over Penang these days,” said Cecil.

“What we are doing is also trying to change the mindset of people, as all festivals around the world are locally-based,” he added.

Rozells said most tourists come to Penang wanting to see and hear local artists perform, not foreign ones, like Filipino bands which are dominating the music scene in Penang.

“Like Thailand, the authorities must do something to ensure that local musicians like us have more opportunities to perform, so that our standard of music can improve,while catering to the demands of tourists,” he added.

Cecil and Rozells remarks follow recent allegations in two English mainstream newspapers that renowned entertainer, the late P Ramlee, is “ missing ” from the George Town heritage celebrations and promotions, which is in its sixth year now.

However, state-sponsored think tank Penang Institute executive director Zairil Khir Johari denied the claims, saying that dedicated events honouring the well-loved entertainer have been annually organised in the state.

One of these events include the annual P Ramlee Festival which was held in 2013, while the 2014 edition is presently being planned.