BACKGROUND & PURPOSE
Yasmin Ahmad’s commercials and movies struck a chord with many a local (and more than a few from abroad) for their honest portrayal of the beauty of everyday Malaysian life. She showed us ordinary, flawed human beings who are capable of being extraordinary
– of achieving great things and great happiness, because love and kinship triumph above all else.
It is our ultimate goal to propagate this spirit of universal harmony through Yasmin’s philosophies that she channelled through her many works. If life imitates art as well as the other way round, we can think of no better purpose to establish an outlet
for such artistic expressions to flourish freely.
THE YASMIN AHMAD MUSEUM: Yasmin At Kong Heng
A resource centre as well as unconventional ‘museum’ curated with the objective of educating and inspiring others to write film or commercial scripts of their own. It is a small but flexible space where the late Yasmin Ahmad’s spirit, love, wisdom and sense
of humour can continue inspiring the next generation.
The location of Kong Heng in Ipoh was chosen for its proximity to many of the locales where Yasmin shot her famous films.
It will not be a conventional museum for a ‘dead person’s things’ or stagnant archives with permanent plaques. Instead,
Yasmin At Kong Heng is an evolving space with content that is refreshed every 6 months to 1 year. Yasmin’s life’s work - whether in film, poetry, photography, TV and even print advertising – will be shared in a “newseum” that inspires and springboards
new talent and ideas.
And, in the near future, we want to make it a place for local creative talent to shine – from students and aspiring filmmakers to new artists who need an exhibition space.
Follow us at www.facebook.com/yasminatkongheng
THE FOUNDERS OF YASMIN AT KONG HENG
Inom binti Yon
Hajjah Inom binti Yon, Yasmin’s mother – better known as “Mak Inom” – has wanted, since Yasmin’s passing, to set up a museum or centre that would keep her daughter’s legacy alive.
Mak Inom is a Kirby trained teacher with a wealth of experience in education. She understands the importance of the passing on of knowledge, how it can contribute to and elevate communities.
She has gone so far as to pledge her life savings and retirement fund to the realisation of the museum. However, friends and fans of Yasmin have united in a fundraising effort so that this retiree will not have to sacrifice her hard-earned savings.
Orked binti Ahmad
Datin Orked binti Ahmad, Yasmin’s sister, has had many years of experience in the field of corporate social responsibility. She is the Head of Maybank Voluntary Dvision and CSR at Maybank.
Currently she is working with Mak Inom on the Yasmin Ahmad museum to keep Yasmin’s legacy growing.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT
The endeavours to set up a Yasmin Ahmad centre is more than an exercise in inspiring the next generation of advertising stars or film makers.
It is part of a larger, collective effort to build a culture where love, acceptance, friendship and familial bonds come before our superficial differences.
The nation is in a period where issues pertaining to race and economic divides are at large. Yet there is still plenty of harmony to be found in the common friendships and daily joys and struggles of Malaysians. It is a harmony that must be preserved at
all costs if we are to prosper and progress.
“Energy cannot be destroyed, it just takes different forms.”
Please donate to keep Yasmin’s spirit alive.