Penang holds special tribute for majie - the nannies of olden S'pore and M'sia
Between the 1930s and 1970s, it was common for women in Singapore to work as amah.
An amah was a girl or woman hired to clean, look after children and perform other duties of a maid.
And among the amahs was a group that hailed from Shunde, a district in China's Guangdong Province.
The women were called majie, which comes from ma cheh, the Cantonese term for mother and sister.
"They wore samfu (Cantonese for everyday clothes) - white tops over black trousers - and had their hair plaited or in a bun," explained historian Jaime Koh, adding that the majie would also take a vow of celibacy and they were mainly hired to be nannies to the children.
This month and next, three friends - retired Malaysian academic Chan Lean Heng, Chinese artist Chen Jialu and Malaysian educator-entrepreneur Soonufat Supramanium - are holding a special tribute in Georgetown, Penang, to honour the majie.
The event features a series of talks, film screenings, theatre performances, exhibitions and a heritage walking tour, reported The Star.
Dr Chan and Dr Chen in 2024 visited the oldest surviving majie, 93-year-old Guan Libo, in Guangdong.
"Meeting her was electrifying. It motivated me to do something to commemorate the lives of the majie and their contribution to history, their dedication and service," said Dr Chan.
"For decades, the contributions of the majie remained largely invisible. They were the unseen hands that nurtured generations, yet history barely remembers them.
"This event honours their labour and sacrifices, and recognises the often-overlooked role of domestic workers, both past and present. It also serves as a reminder that even in the most humble of roles, there is power, dignity and legacy."
The event will be launched on March 8, which is also International Women's Day, at Coex in Penang.
Majie in Singapore
A notable majie in Singapore history was Ms Ouyang Huanyan, who worked in the household of Chinese community leader Tan Kah Kee for nine years before working for founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew from the 1940s.
Ms Ouyang worked with the Lee family for 40 years, helping with the children and cleaning around the house.
Another majie who came into the limelight was Ms Loi Ooi Toh, who had left a Mr Lim her life savings of $100,000.
Mr Lim, who was shocked to receive the money from his majie, used the money to set up a charitable fund in her name with the Community Foundation of Singapore in 2023.
By the 1970s, many majie in Singapore had gone into retirement and were replaced by maids from neighbouring countries.