SEREMBAN: It is indeed a rare experience for elementary pupils from a county in Taiwan to learn more about 24 festive drum and Malaysia, where the drum originated.

Dasi Elementary School pupils from central Taiwan’s Changhua County were in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak and Negeri Sembilan to visit 24 festival drum troupes set up at various Chinese primary schools.

The 15 Taiwanese pupils were also treated with durians by coaches from the Northern Drum troupe in Penang, where they watched the drum performance by adults.

The Taiwanese pupils played the drums at SJKC Bandar Sri Sendayan, and SJKC Bandar Sri Sendayan pupils also presented a drum performance, in exchange of skills and experience.

SJKC Bandar Sri Sendayan also signed a memorandum of understanding with Dasi Elementary School for more collaboration over the next three years.

Chan Mun Eng, headmistress of SJKC Bandar Seri Sendayan, said the 24 festive drum coach Yew Hong Shen was to be credited for making the visit possible.

The school only started its 24-festival drum group last August and this is the first time the school has signed a collaborative MoU with another school.

Chan said the 24 festive drum, also known as 24 season drum, has become an icon of the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, created by two Malaysians – a cultural activist and a musician.

It has since been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage of Malaysia in 2009.

Chan said the school started a drum troupe as an extra-curricular activity last year. The troupe is made up of pupils of all races, reflecting the facet of Malaysia’s multiracial society.

The 24 festive drum was introduced to Taiwan about 10 years ago by Malaysian students studying at Taiwan universities.

Xu Ming Yu, the headmaster of Dasi Elementary School, said the five-day visit to Malaysia was an eye-opener for the Taiwanese to learn how Chinese schools are supported by fund-raising while the schools in Taiwan are supported by public funds.

He was touched by the hospitality of Chinese schools in Malaysia as well as the effort of the Malaysian Chinese community in preserving Chinese traditions and culture.