GEORGE TOWN: They were born long after Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s passing but they still cherish the late superstar’s evergreen films and songs.
To mark P. Ramlee’s Remembrance Week themed Sepanjang Riwayatku and the 100th anniversary of his ancestral home, several schoolchildren dressed up like him, draping sarongs over their shoulders, sporting drawn-on moustaches and sunglasses.
They are pupils of SK Francis Light, the icon’s alma mater.
Year Four pupil Ilham Mansiv Mohd Hadafi, 10, said although his parents had often spoken about P. Ramlee, he did not know the entertainment icon was an alumnus of his school.
“From now on, I want to watch his films and learn more about him,” he said after visiting the gallery dedicated to P. Ramlee at his birthplace in Jalan P. Ramlee yesterday.
The three-day celebration, which was launched by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib yesterday, features a variety of events including talks, discussions and musical performances.
National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the government is committed to preserving P. Ramlee’s legacy as a national treasure.
“He is part of the country’s artistic heritage, which is an important medium for strengthening national unity and identity.
“His work not only shaped the country’s artistic landscape but also upheld the values of humanity and unity.
“Art has an extraordinary power to unite people because it creates a collective consciousness – a shared space where people of different races, religions and cultures can share emotions, values and aspirations,” he said.
Born Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, on March 22, 1929, the legendary artist abbreviated his name to P. Ramlee carrying his father’s name (Puteh), followed by the name given to him in school (Ramlee).
With a career in entertainment spanning from the late 1940s until his death from a heart attack in 1973, the actor, singer, musician, filmmaker and composer starred in over 80 films.
