BATU KAWAN: The reverberating beat of 10,000 drums at the Batu Kawan Stadium has earned Malaysia an Asean record for the largest simultaneous performance of Chinese, Malay and Indian resonant object drums.

The record-breaking feat saw a total of 11,520 students and teachers from 205 schools across 11 states perform in synchrony, creating a spectacle of rhythm rarely witnessed in the country.

Applause rang through the stadium on Saturday as the sound of the drums pealed across the arena.

Even a brief drizzle failed to dampen the performers’ spirit.

The Asean recognition marked a historic first for Malaysia, placing Penang on the regional stage as the host of one of South-East Asia’s largest multicultural showcases.

Organised by the Bai Shi Yin Society for Culture and Arts Research (BSY), BSY Research and Development and Auto-City Group, with support from Oriental Drums International, the event was endorsed by the Education Ministry.

BATU KAWAN: The reverberating beat of 10,000 drums at the Batu Kawan Stadium has earned Malaysia an Asean record for the largest simultaneous performance of Chinese, Malay and Indian resonant object drums.

The record-breaking feat saw a total of 11,520 students and teachers from 205 schools across 11 states perform in synchrony, creating a spectacle of rhythm rarely witnessed in the country.

Applause rang through the stadium on Saturday as the sound of the drums pealed across the arena.

Even a brief drizzle failed to dampen the performers’ spirit.

The Asean recognition marked a historic first for Malaysia, placing Penang on the regional stage as the host of one of South-East Asia’s largest multicultural showcases.

Organised by the Bai Shi Yin Society for Culture and Arts Research (BSY), BSY Research and Development and Auto-City Group, with support from Oriental Drums International, the event was endorsed by the Education Ministry.

The stadium was a sea of colours, with students dressed in coordinated outfits.

When the opening drum roll began, the performers struck in unison, their beats echoing through the stands and beyond the stadium grounds.

The precision of the sequence reflected months of preparation, with the participating schools training in advance before converging in Batu Kawan for the grand finale.

This was the second instalment of the oriental drums event, following the inaugural performance at Bukit Jalil Stadium last year, which featured 4,000 drummers.

Encouraged by its reception, the organisers scaled up this year’s edition, drawing in schools from every region.

The organisers said in a statement that the event was aimed at instilling discipline, teamwork and harmony among the students while celebrating Malaysia’s cultural diversity.

They added that every beat became a lesson in focus, punctuality and shared responsibility, as the students had to follow the rhythm of both their instruments and their peers.

“The thunder of the drums carried symbolic weight too, underlining how Malaysia’s cultural diversity could be expressed as one rhythm,” the organisers said.

The Asean record was announced at the close of the performance, triggering off a huge round of cheers that matched the intensity of the drums themselves.

For Penang, the award was more than symbolic – it affirmed the state’s capacity to stage events of international standard.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the event, said the showcase underscored Penang’s role as a crossroad of cultures.

“What we saw was not only a record but also an expression of unity and discipline,” he said.

Chow said the energy displayed on the field should ripple into the wider community.

“Let this spirit strengthen the social fabric of our state and our nation,” he said.

State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the Asean recognition confirmed Penang’s standing as a destination for multicultural events.

“This proves Penang can stage programmes of global calibre while boosting the creative economy and projecting Malaysia’s diversity onto the regional stage,” he said.