Most Read
Most Commented
mk-logo
News
Senior citizens hope to turn junk into gold for Tabung Harapan

A small band of senior citizens will stage a musical performance at Armenian Street with musical instruments made out of scraps tomorrow to collect funds for Tabung Harapan Malaysia.

The band of five was found playing golden age music at the corner of Armenian Street today, with a full drum set made out of pots, tin cans and containers, a guitar made out of a tennis racquet, and a bass guitar modified from a shovel.

Drummer and handyman Jimmy Tan, 73, is the mastermind of the innovative musical instruments that were crafted out of disposed items, and he believes that anything could be crafted into something musical, from as small as a coin to as large as vehicle parts.

Tan had played with his own musical crafts since 1964, but went into a 43-year-long hiatus after being mocked and ridiculed by others, including those close to him.

“Back then, they used to think that I’m crazy that this will ever work, including my friends, my teachers… even my mother and my grandparents thought that I’m insane,” he chuckled.

In 2016, Tan got back on his feet after Penang House of Music (PHoM) made their grand opening in Komtar.

The organisation notonly invite him to be part of PHoM, they also encouraged him to perform in the Unesco Heritage Site.

Currently, Tan performs every Saturday with volunteers, and donates the collection to the St Joseph’s Home orphanage.

Elvis Kuna, 69, who was the lead vocalist today, said the performance tomorrow would be from 9am to 5pm.

“We are all Malaysians here, and we all want to contribute to make a better Malaysia. I’m more than happy to volunteer as a singer again tomorrow, but I can’t predict how much we’ll earn on that day.

“Hopefully, luck will be on our side when that day comes,” he said.

- Bernama

ADS