GEORGETOWN - This March and April, a special event in Georgetown, 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 event, organised by three friends – retired Malaysian academician Chan Lean Heng, China artist Chen Jialu, and Malaysian educator-entrepreneur Soonufat Supramanium – will have a series of talks, film screenings, theatre performances, exhibitions and a heritage walking tour.
The tribute aims to not only preserve their 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 from childhood, growing up next to a majie kongsi fong in Stewart Lane, Georgetown.
“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.
In 2024, together with Dr Chen, Dr Chan visited Ms Guan Libo, the current oldest surviving majie, in Quandong, China.
“Meeting and talking with her was electrifying. It motivated me to do something to commemorate their lives and contribution in history, and their dedication and service. This was how this event started,” says Dr Chan.
“Loving, fiercely loyal, extremely dedicated and overly protective – she was like a second mum to me,” says Ms Ng Mei Quin who grew up with a majie, Hou Jie.
‘I spent more time with Ah Toh than my own mum,’ says Mr Ronni Pinsler, who shared a photo of him as a baby with his family’s majie.
Ronni Pinsler, pictured as a four-month-old baby, being carried by her majie next to his mum in 1950.PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Dr Chan highlights that while majie work as domestic workers or “amahs”, not all amahs are majie who are specifically assigned to take care of the children and have taken a vow of celibacy.
The Remembering and Celebrating the Lives of Majie programme will take place at several locations, including Coex, Journal Cafe on Muntri Street and Poon Yue Wooi Koon on Love Lane, in Georgetown, Penang.
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; and 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’ll be an exhibition which offers a glimpse into their world, featuring photographs, personal belongings and real-life stories.
“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,” says Dr Chan. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Join [ST's Telegram channel](https://t.me/TheStraitsTimes) and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.