On Tuesday, PHoM founder and musician Paul Augustin said the museum is set to close because of increased financial constraints brought about by a drop in the number of visitors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

During a trip to Penang yesterday, Fahmi told FMT he had asked the chairman of MyCreative Ventures, the government agency tasked with advancing Malaysia’s creative industry through strategic and innovative investments, to reach out to Augustin.

“We are trying to see how to assist (PHoM). It is just that some of this (problem) is financial in nature,” said Fahmi.

“The Penang government has assisted them for many years, but we need to have some detailed discussions with PHoM to see how they can be sustainable moving forward.”

A repository of Penang’s rich musical heritage, PHoM, which was set up with an initial fund of RM3 million from the Penang Water Supply Corporation in 2016, has been reliant on support from the state government since its opening.

It has consistently ranked among TripAdvisor’s top 10 “must visit” spots in Penang, and was recognised by CNN as one of the state’s essential experiences.

The museum highlights forgotten music genres and has a resource centre which serves as a focal point for musicians, scholars, academicians, students and others interested in Penang’s musical history.