Senior Citizens Raise Funds for Tabung Harapan By Busking in Penang with Pots & Cans

Ever since it was discovered that Malaysia was in a debt of over RM1 trillion, many citizens have rushed to aid the new government in decreasing the incredible number by organising various fund-raising events to make contributions to Tabung Harapan Malaysia. And now, another group of senior citizens in Penang has set a good example!

On Sunday (June 10), a band of musicians comprising five senior citizens busked along a small lane called Armenian Street in Georgetown, Penang playing golden oldies to raise funds for Tabung Harapan. In place of normal musical instruments however, were alternative ones made out of scraps and other household items. How creative! 

Source: nst

They played with ‘instruments’ such as a complete drum set made out of pots, tin cans and containers; a guitar made out of a tennis racquet; and a bass guitar that was modified from a shovel, Bernama reported.

If you’re wondering who came up with this innovative way of creating new musical instruments from disposed items, the mastermind is 73-year-old drummer and handyman Jimmy Tan. After all, he believes that anything can be crafted into something musical, be it something as small as a coin or as large as a vehicle part.

Moreover, this isn’t his first time playing his own innovative musical crafts as he has been doing so since 1964! However, he went into a long, 43-year hiatus after he was mocked and ridiculed by people, including those he was close to. Many thought he was insane, including his own mother.

Source: bernama

Then, two years ago in 2016, he made a comeback when the Penang House of Music (PHoM) held their grand opening in Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) and invited him to be a part of PHoM on top of encouraging him to perform in the UNESCO Heritage Site, reported NST.

Interested in giving this unique band a listen? Tan said he performs every Saturday with volunteers, and donates their proceeds to the St Joseph’s Home orphanage.

Meanwhile, the lead vocalist Elvis Kuna, 69, said, “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.”

So nice to see everyone’s interest in helping the new Malaysia! 

It’s clear what the effect of the new government has had on the rakyat as more and more Malaysians are beginning to step up to the plate and play their part in forming a new and better Malaysia. Kudos guys! 

Also read: You Can Dine at YMCA Ipoh and Donate Up to RM10,000 to Tabung Harapan on July 22