Painting from the Heart, Giving Hope to Others
By Pola Singh
Some evenings stay with us because of the warmth they awaken in our hearts. The launch of Art4Good: Painting from the Heart 2026, at the Main Concourse of Bangsar Shopping Centre on 14 October, was one such evening. I went to an art exhibition and came away deeply moved by the generosity of people coming together to help others.
The concourse was packed, with latecomers having to stand. Yet they seemed happy simply to be there. Before and after the launch, guests mingled among the paintings, renewing friendships and pausing to admire works that might soon find a place in their homes. I heard quiet conversations about supporting a worthy cause. There was beauty on display, and there was kindness in the room.
As a Malaysian Sikh, I felt I was witnessing Malaysia at its best. Malaysians of different ethnicities and backgrounds gathered in friendship, with mutual respect and a shared desire to do some good. Racial harmony felt natural and lived. Here were people enjoying one another’s company and opening their hearts to fellow Malaysians they might never meet.
At the centre of this gathering was Yeow Teck Chai, whose career at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) culminated in his appointment as Deputy Director-General. Having spent his working life helping to attract investment and support Malaysia’s development, he is now putting his passion for painting to work for people in need. This is his fourth art exhibition dedicated to raising funds for charity.
The turnout spoke warmly of the relationships he had built. Representatives from the corporate world, including Parkson, joined former colleagues and friends from the public service. Some business people had known Yeow when their ventures were taking shape and they sought MIDA’s assistance. Years later, they had come to support him. Such loyalty says something about the lasting value of treating people well.
Yeow noted in his speech that five former MITI Secretaries-General were present. With MIDA working closely with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the evening also became a happy reunion of people who had served together. One particularly heartening gesture was a banker from Citibank offering RM30,000 to purchase paintings, leaving Yeow to choose the works. It was a generous expression of confidence in both the artist and his cause.
Dato’ Yasmin Yusuff brought her familiar warmth to the evening as emcee. For many of us seniors, her voice carries memories of weekday mornings listening to Radio Malaysia’s Blue Network. Caught in Kuala Lumpur’s traffic on our way to work, we found cheer in her breezy manner and engaging voice. Seeing her that evening reminded me how someone can brighten countless lives through the simple gift of making people feel good.
The exhibition was launched by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, whose support extended to contributing eight of her own paintings for a silent auction. Her five paintings at the 2023 exhibition had raised RM45,000 for charity. This year, she has again offered her talent and time to help the beneficiaries.
Meeting her brought back a personal memory. I teasingly reminded her how, as first-year Economics students at the University of Malaya in 1969, we eagerly awaited her Friday lectures on Rural Economics. Her arrival at the Great Hall rostrum sometimes drew wolf whistles from youthful admirers, which she took graciously. She sportingly told me that she remembered that phase of her life vividly.
What endured most, however, was our admiration for her teaching. Articulate and thoroughly prepared, she made her subject memorable. We enjoyed her lectures and looked forward to them. More than half a century later, I still recall the impression she made on us. It was a pleasure to see her inspiring generosity on this occasion.
For all the distinguished faces in the room, Yeow’s most important message concerned the people who would benefit. He made clear that the exhibition was ultimately for the two charities: Persatuan Makanan Ehsan, better known as the Free Food Society (FFS), and the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped (SSMH). His hope was that the proceeds would bring assistance, hope and happiness into their lives.
That deserves our attention. For a family struggling to put food on the table, support can ease a daily anxiety. For a child with severe disabilities, sustained therapy can help develop abilities that many of us take for granted. Learning to sit, walk or communicate may require years of patient effort. Behind each charity’s work are people whose needs continue long after the launch guests have gone home.
More than 120 original artworks are featured, with almost 100 contributed by Yeow. Fellow artists Oon Soon Keat, Yoon Chooi Wan and Tan Ken Ming also contribute, alongside eight-year-old Winsen Loke, who has global developmental delay and receives therapy and training at SSMH. His participation brings the purpose of the exhibition especially close to our hearts.
The 2023 exhibition raised RM300,000. This year’s aim is to exceed RM400,000. Organising chairman Raja Singham and the team behind Art4Good have created an opportunity for all of us to play a part. A painting bought for our home, or as a gift for someone dear, can also help provide food, care and opportunity for someone else.
Please make time to visit before the exhibition closes on Sunday, 18 October. It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm at the Main Concourse of Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Bring your family or a friend, linger among the paintings and learn about the causes they support. If a work speaks to your heart and is within your means, consider taking it home. You can also explore the silent auction of Tan Sri Rafidah’s paintings, which runs until 18 October.
I left feeling grateful to Yeow, his fellow artists and everyone who had helped make the evening possible. They reminded me that our talents gain a special meaning when we use them to ease another person’s burden. Somewhere beyond the exhibition, a family needs food and a child needs care. A painting that brings joy to your home could help bring hope to theirs.
