Penang event to honour majie who helped Malaysian and Singaporean families

GEORGE TOWN - This March and April, a special event in George Town, Penang, will honour a forgotten yet remarkable sisterhood, the “majie”.

These women were more than just domestic workers during the colonial era – they were a unique fraternity of independent women from China who devoted their lives to serving families in Malaysia and Singapore, particularly raising their children, in the 19th and early 20th century.

The upcoming event, organised by three friends – retired Malaysian academic Chan Lean Heng, Chinese artist Chen Jialu and Malaysian educator-entrepreneur Soonufat Supramanium – will feature a series of talks, film screenings, theatre performances, exhibitions and a heritage walking tour.

The tribute aims to not only preserve the majies’ legacy, but also recognise their immense contribution to society.

The majie were women who left their homes in China and came to Malaysia and Singapore in the 1930s. They were part of a sisterhood who bucked convention by choosing not to marry.

They underwent a ceremony called “sor-hei” (combing up) at a temple, ancestral hall or at home where they had their hair combed into a bun, or plaited, and took a vow of celibacy.

In pre- and post-independence Malaya and Singapore, they raised children and managed households.

The majie upheld a strict code of discipline and solidarity. They formed their own “kongsi” (clan houses), where they found support. These communal living spaces became the heart of their unique sisterhood, offering them a refuge and sense of belonging.

Dr Chan says her fascination with the majie started since childhood, growing up next to a “majie kongsi fong” in Stewart Lane, George Town.

“As a young adult, I became passionate about advocating for working-class women,” she says.

When Dr Chen, who was researching the majie, visited Malaysia in 2023, Dr Chan’s interest was rekindled.

Understanding history

In 2024, together with Dr Chen, Dr Chan visited Ms Guan Libo, 93, the oldest surviving majie, in Guangdong, China.

“Meeting and talking with her was electrifying. It motivated me to do something to commemorate (the majies’) lives and contribution in history, and their dedication and service. This was how this event started,” says Dr Chan.

Ms Ng Mei Quin, who grew up with a majie named Hou Jie, says: “Loving, fiercely loyal, extremely dedicated and overly protective – she was like a second mum to me.”

Mr Ronni Pinsler, who shared a photo of him as a baby with his family’s majie, says: “I spent more time with Ah Toh than my own mum.”

Dr Chan highlights that while majie worked as domestic workers or “amahs”, not all amahs were majie, who were specifically assigned to take care of children and had taken a vow of celibacy.

Remembering their sacrifice

The Remembering and Celebrating the Lives of Majie programme will take place at several locations, including creative space Coex, Journal Cafe in Muntri Street, and Poon Yue Wooi Koon in Love Lane.

The official launch on March 8, which is also International Women’s Day, at Coex will introduce the history and legacy of this unique community, alongside a discussion on the hidden labour of women in domestic spaces.

One of the event’s highlights is a talk titled “Who were the majies? A historical and personal perspective”, featuring stories from historians, researchers and those who grew up under their care.

There will also be a screening of Thoe Jia, A Simple Wonderful Life, a film based on true events about the life journey of a majie who dedicated her life to her employer’s family, as well as a theatre performance at Journal Cafe – a former abode of majie.

At Poon Yue Wooi Koon, a historical clan house where majie once gathered, there will be an exhibition which offers a glimpse into their world, featuring photographs, personal belongings and real-life stories.

Dr Chan says: “For decades, the contributions of majies 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 STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK