By Tan Mei Kuan
Perak Women for Women Society (PWW) presented a fully sold-out charity dinner with a performance titled, “Women in Love: A Night at the Opera” on Saturday, September 21 at the ballroom of Syeun Hotel, Ipoh.
After a video presentation by PWW, a Chinese fairy dance by Geok Dance Centre and QiPao Association unfolded followed by joget (traditional Malay dance) by PWW members and friends. With a crowd of up to 450, the concert also featured various singers with powerful vocals including PWW members, friends from VoxPop Choir Kuala Lumpur, Bayty, Kanna Jeyaratnam who sang duets with Jason and Kareem. Emcee for the evening PWW member Lim Pui San did a great job in announcing in both English and Mandarin and kept time for both the audience and the performers at a rapid pace as the evening’s program was so full.
The PWW members were all dressed in multi-hued kebaya (traditional blouse-dress combination) to celebrate the lively occasion.
“We have managed to raise also RM60,000 and this amount will help PWW set up and maintain our new centre which is now placed at Market Street Ipoh, just above our PWW Shop. With this centre, we will continue to support and help victims of abuse and violence. We advise them and assist them. We will continue to conduct outreach programmes where trained members give talks in estates, schools, colleges, government agencies and factories on issues relating to domestic violence, sexual harassment, bullying and legal rights of women and children,” Sumathi Sivamany, President of PWW explained.
“These outreach programmes are actually the first steps towards awareness of any abuse and disadvantaged victims. It makes them realise that they are not to be blamed for the abuse inflicted on them and that they are actually victims who have legal rights,” she added.
The PWW Shop is an empowerment project which sells new and pre-loved items donated by supporters as well as hand-woven crafts by the Penan tribes to help empower them to put their children to school.
The highlight of the evening was the five-act Cantonese opera performed by Kam Seen Kiu Art Crew (KSK Art) from Kuala Lumpur which depicted the common themes of love, hope, sacrifice and betrayal in a woman’s quest to find eternal love.
A colourful and intricate art form rooted in southern China, Cantonese opera was declared part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009. Meanwhile, Kam Seen Kiu Art Crew is helmed by the very talented Grand Master Kam Seen Kiu having over 50 years of performing and teaching Cantonese opera in Malaysia and abroad.
Happy guests went home with goodies such as homemade pouches, coffee scrub and vouchers. For more updates, visit the PWW’s Facebook page.
