New Attraction on Penang Hill

Story and photos by JEREMY TAN

A PANAROMIC view of the island is not the only thing visitors can enjoy at the top of Penang Hill. There are now exciting stage performances on weekends to keep visitors entertained.

Performers Marsita Saad and Mohd Ali Dastagir have been wowing the weekend crowd for the past four months; the former with her fire tricks and the latter with his snake handling skills.

The performances, held at the hill’s main stage, was a joint idea between the pair and the Penang Hill Residents’ Association.

Their aim was to draw more tourists to the hilltop.

Visitors enjoying a fire show on Penang Hill

“The fire show is something quite special and seldom seem locally. The state government has allowed us to use the stage so we provide the entertainment,” said Residents’ Association secretary Beh Chin Siang.

Beh said that performances were held every Saturday.

Additional performances are also held on Fridays if it’s a public holiday, and on Sundays if the following Monday is a public holiday.

On show days, the snake show is held at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, while the fire show mesmerises tourists at 8pm.

“Penang Hill is one of the state’s tourist icons. But at nights, it could be quiet with nothing much to see.

“The fire show will provide some exciting entertainment for visitors at night,” Mohd Ali explained.

Fellow performer Marsita has been literally been playing with fire for the past four years, performing her stunts at hotels and bistros.

“I learned a lot of fire tricks from the Internet. The important thing is practice.

“Although it may seem dan- gerous, it’s an exciting hobby,” she said.

The snake shows are both entertaining and educational.

As Mohd Ali charms the snakes, he also gives the crowd tips on how to deal with emergencies resulting from encounters with snakes or from snake bites.