Ipoh: A total of 16 '24 Festival Drums' teams will compete in the inaugural National 24 Festival Drums Primary School Invitational Championship, to be held at Indera Mulia Stadium in Ipoh, Perak, on Aug 8.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the championship, organised by the Education Ministry (MOE) in collaboration with the Malaysia 24 Festival Drums Association, is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to strengthen co-curricular development while preserving the nation's cultural heritage through education.

Wong explained that the 24 Festival Drums is a performing art that originated in Malaysia in 1988 in Johor and has been recognised as a National Intangible Heritage since 2009. "The 24 Festival Drums cultural art form was created in Malaysia and has now been introduced around the world, including in China," Wong stated. He further elaborated that as part of the ministry's efforts to promote and develop this art form, several initiatives, including the championship to be held in Ipoh this August, have been undertaken.

Meanwhile, Wong announced that the championship's challenge trophy will be named the Tan Hooi Song Trophy in recognition of the late co-founder of the 24 Festival Drums movement for his contributions to the art form. He noted that this recognition not only honours a distinguished cultural figure but also symbolises appreciation for Tan's dedication in establishing the 24 Festival Drums as a Malaysian cultural heritage that continues to flourish both locally and internationally.