Chan (left) and Chen (right) visited Guan Libo (centre), the oldest living majie from China at 93, at her home in Panyu, Quandong, in 2024. — CHAN LEAN HENG
This March and April, a special event in Georgetown, Penang will honour a forgotten yet remarkable sisterhood, the majie.
These women were more than just domestic workers during the colonial era; they were a unique fraternity of independent women from China who devoted their lives to serving families in Malaysia and Singapore, particularly raising their children, in the 19th and early 20th century.
