Dondang sayang icon Nyonya Tan succumbs to sickness
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — Dondang sayang art laureate, Nyonya Tan Abdullah, died early today after struggling with illness.
According to a statement issued by the National Heritage Department, she died at 1am at Pantai Hospital, Ayer Keroh, Malacca at age 62.
A descendant of the Peranakan Baba Nyonya lineage, Nyonya Tan had been active in dondang sayang for more than 40 years and had recorded three albums.
She also had performed in Paris under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in conjunction with the announcement of the World Heritage City of Malacca.
Her struggle for art and culture won her many honours and she was named as a National Heritage Living Icon on May 10, said the statement.
Among the awards that she had received were the winner of Pesta Dendang Rakyat 1976, Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM), Bintang Khidmat Terpuji (BKT), Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK), Malacca Cultural Icon and Artists of All Time Award in dondang sayang in 2006 by the Singers, Musicians and Composers Association of Malaysia (Papita).
Expressing condolences over Tan’s passing, the National Heritage Department described her death as a big loss as she was dedicated to retain the dondang sayang national heritage and she also was favoured by the community.
“Her deep love [for] dondang sayang had encouraged her to imbue her talent and be an inspiration to today’s younger generation,” said the statement.
She was laid to rest at the Bakar Batu Muslim Cemetery in Bachang, Malacca at 11am today.
Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was among those to pay their last respects and extend condolences to her family members. — Bernama
