PANGKOR: The Manjung Municipal Council has kickstarted the pre-launch for the Pangkor Gallery along with the "Mengangkat Sejarah Bangsa Madani Festival", Ipoh Echo reported.
Coinciding with the school holiday season, this event, open to the public, will run until Feb 29 at the Pangkor Gallery on Pangkor Island.
This festival shines a spotlight on the island's storied past and its present-day significance as a major fishing and shipbuilding hub. Attendees can look forward to an array of activities, including miniature shipbuilding and pufferfish craft processing demonstrations, net sewing tutorials, and exhibitions showcasing historical artefacts and materials.
Pangkor Island Duty-Free Management Unit Director Nadiah Mohd Saruan emphasised the festival's role in highlighting Pangkor Island's long-standing reputation in the fisheries industry. She pointed out that the island's fishing practices, especially in anchovy production, boast a history spanning over a century.
"Also featured are higher education exhibitions, poetry recitations, and historical forums.
"Pangkor Gallery is located not far from the main jetty of Pangkor, and visitors can easily walk there from the jetty," she said.
The gallery itself is housed in a historical building that once served as the Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Pangkor, established back in 1901.
The establishment of the Pangkor Gallery was inspired by Perak Chief Minister Datuk Seri Zambry in 2010, with the vision to preserve and celebrate the unique history and heritage of Pangkor Island. The gallery has since been upgraded to better represent the island's rich cultural legacy.
A notable event hosted by the gallery was the commemoration programme on Jan 20, marking the 150th anniversary of the Pangkor Treaty of 1874, a significant historical milestone believed to have taken place aboard the HMS Pluto, anchored in front of the gallery.
Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, the Pangkor Gallery offers free admission to everyone interested in exploring the depths of Pangkor Island's historical and cultural significance.