Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the contribution was towards the betterment of arts, especially in Penang.

Lim said PenangPAC, under the tutelage of its co-founders Faridah Merican and Joe Hasham, had been instrumental in restoring Penang as a hub for arts and culture.

“Penang has a longstanding tradition of cultural excellence.

“I am sure Faridah, as a Penang girl herself, can play a part in restoring the glory days when Penang was the centre of arts and culture in Southeast Asia.

“They had written to the Penang Government to request for funding and we are happy and glad to help,” Lim said at a press conference today.

Meanwhile, Faridah said she was elated to have received the contribution from the Penang Government.

“Obtaining funding for arts and theatre is difficult. The arts has been always been looking for funding.

“PenangPAC has been doing very well for the past five years, catering to the northern region.

“The response has been good — our multilingual theatre shows are very much sought after.”

PenangPAC Co-Founder and Artistic Director Joe Hasham applauded the Penang Government for supporting the arts over the years, through the George Town Festival.

“It is very difficult for theatre in Penang and nationally, and even universally, to survive without funds.

“It is very important that the state government is seen to assist the performing arts.

“They are already doing a good job with the George Town Festival.

“This wonderful gesture would go a long way in helping us to get more funds and much-needed funds.”

Faridah and Joe Hasham are no strangers to the arts scene and have been dubbed as Malaysia’s “daddy and mummy” of Malaysian performing arts since 1989.

They are the founders of The Actors Studio and the famous Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.