24 Festive Drums Participation In Schools Reaches Over 14,000 - Wong

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Student participation in the 24 Festive Drums continues to grow, with 14,399 participants recorded across 352 schools under the Ministry of Education (MOE) as of 2025, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

He said this demonstrated that the traditional performance, founded in Johor Bahru in 1988, was expanding rapidly in team numbers, overall participation, and performance quality, with 68,781 individuals involved since its inception 38 years ago.

"This shows that through collective efforts from all parties, this art form has flourished. This heritage belongs to all Malaysians," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the national-level 24 Festive Drums Elite Competition 2026 at the Educity Sports Complex here tonight, which was also attended by Iskandar Puteri MP Liew Chin Tong.

Wong clarified that the 24 Festive Drums originated in Johor Bahru in 1988 - co-founded by Tan Chai Puan and the late Tan Hooi Song - and not in China as commonly assumed, before spreading nationwide and gaining international prominence.

Wong said the national-level competition involved 46 teams comprising 1,220 drummers across six zones - North, Sabah, South, Central, East Coast, and Sarawak - with the top 10 teams advancing to tonight's finals.

He highlighted the art form's growing cross-cultural appeal, noting that while the majority of performers were Chinese, participation among other ethnic groups was steadily increasing.

"For instance, SMJK St. Anthony in the Sarawak zone featured a team where over 70 per cent of the drummers were Malay and Iban," he said.

On a related note, Wong disclosed that the 24 Festive Drums Association submitted an application in March this year for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition, with a decision expected by late 2028.

He added that increased participation, systematic data collection, coach training, and MOE's official inclusion of the art form as an annual school activity this year would bolster Malaysia's bid for UNESCO recognition.

-- BERNAMA