Gallery tribute to the Johnsons soon
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025
By: James Sarda Text Size: Liew discussing at the proposed gallery site. SANDAKAN: Some 125 years after they first visited this pre-war state capital to introduce Borneo through their Hollywood movies, a Martin and Osa Johnson Gallery will be set up at the PWD 2002 Building in the vicinity of the equally famous Agnes Keith House, here, this year. The initiative would coincide with a proposal to make a documentary on the American couple from Kansas, whose 1920 silent movie 'Jungle Adventure' on the Kinabatangan became the world's first wildlife documentary. The State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has approved funding for development of the facility that is certain to attract legions of Johnsons fans. It is one of four ecotourism projects approved for Sandakan this year. Liew said two of the projects totalling RM750,000 would be funded by the Federal Government, while the other two by the State Government amounting to RM500,000. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article.
Support Independant Journalism
Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper
Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News
Exclusive News Invites to special events
Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards
1-Year Most Popular
(Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
Labubu hype hits new heights with RM600k mega sale
Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Reuters Text Size: The human-sized Labubu figurine is displayed before the auction. – Tingshu Wang | Reuters BEIJING: A Beijing auction house sold a human-sized Labubu figure for 1.08 million yuan (RM636,792.20) on Tuesday, setting a new record for the "blind box" toy as it moves from craze to collectible. The event held by Yongle International Auction, which traditionally specialises in modern art as well as jewellery, marked the first ever auction dedicated to Labubu, toothy monster figurines that are mainly sold by China's toy company Pop Mart, opens new tab and have been at the centre of a global frenzy for the past year. Advertisement The auction offered 48 lots for sale and was attended in person by roughly 200 people, while over a thousand bidders put down offers via Yongle's mobile app, the auction house said. The starting price for all the items started at zero and it eventually raised a total of 3.73 million yuan. The highest grossing item, a mint green, 131 cm (4.3 feet) tall Labubu figure, received several bids to sell for 1.08 million yuan. The auctioneer said it was the only one available in the world. A set of three Labubu sculptures, about 40 cm tall and made of PVC material, sold for 510,000 yuan. The set, from a series called "Three Wise Labubu", was limited to a run of 120 sets in 2017 and another one sold for HKD 203,200 (RM109,707.30) at Sotheby's most recent auction in Hong Kong. Labubu was created a decade ago by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. In 2019, Lung agreed to let them be sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that markets collectable figurines often sold in "blind boxes". A buyer of a blind box toy does not know exactly what design they will receive until they open the packaging. The starting price for Labubu blind box toys sold in Pop Mart's stores is around 50 yuan. The character's popularity skyrocketed after Lisa of the Korean pop music group Blackpink was spotted with a Labubu and praised the doll in interviews and online posts. Many celebrities followed. In May, British football star David Beckham shared a photo on Instagram of his Labubu attached to a bag. One Yongle auction bidder, a restaurant owner who only gave her surname as Du, said she had planned to spend a maximum of 20,000 yuan but walked away empty handed as the final prices were too high. "My child likes it so every time when Labubu released new products we will buy one or two items. It is hard to explain its popularity but it must have moved this generation," she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Trump to attend 'Les Miserables' at revamped Kennedy Center, where sales have fallen
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while he poses for a picture at the presidential box at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Months after orchestrating a conservative takeover of the Kennedy Center's leadership, President Donald Trump will attend "Les Miserables" on Wednesday, his first show at the performing arts facility that has become a symbol of U.S. cultural and political divides. Trump did not attend events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during his first term, but has taken a keen interest in it during his second. Deriding it on social media for putting on "Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth," he pushed out its former chairman, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution he described as being in tremendous disrepair. The fallout has been swift. The musical "Hamilton" canceled plans to appear there, staff left and sales of subscriptions and individual tickets for Kennedy Center shows have dropped, according to two people briefed on the data. Overall subscription revenue was down 36% to $2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to one source. Theater subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the center, were down 82%. A Kennedy Center spokeswoman declined to comment about the facility's sales. The center depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate. "President Trump cares deeply about American arts and culture, which is why he is revitalizing historic institutions like the Kennedy Center to their former greatness," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. Trump's appearance at "Les Miserables", a show about citizens rising up against their government, comes just days after he sent U.S. Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Trump will sit in the presidential box overlooking center stage, but he is not guaranteed a friendly reception in the 2,300-seat theater. When Vice President JD Vance attended a Kennedy Center show with his wife earlier this year, the crowd booed. Supportive donors will be present, but tickets for the musical were available for purchase by the public as well, along with regular subscribers. The night is sold out. Trump's appearance is meant to juice fundraising. Donors who pay $100,000 to $2 million get to attend a reception before the show, receive a photo with the president and be seated in good locations in the theater. Vance is expected to attend as well. The Kennedy Center is turning the event into one on par with its signature shows, including the Kennedy Center Honors, featuring a red carpet for high-profile guests with reporters and photographers in place. Under the leadership of Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany, the Kennedy Center has sought to add more conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Meanwhile, while Trump zeroed in on drag shows when he said the Kennedy Center had lost its way, multiple upcoming musicals include characters dressed in drag, such as "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Chicago." Other musicals have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Center official. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jamie Freed)
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
M'sian influencer cooks RM4k Wagyu rendang, internet divided
MALAYSIAN influencer and businessman Aliff Awang, better known as Opai on TikTok, recently turned heads online after revealing that he spent over RM4,000 on premium Wagyu beef to cook rendang for Aidiladha. In a video shared on social media, Opai who is also the husband of local actress Fatin Afeefa, showcased the preparation of the festive dish, using none other than A5 Miyazaki MB11 Wagyu beef—a top-tier cut that typically costs RM1,600 per kilogram. ALSO READ: Netizens grill RM28 chicken tenders, fries sold in Shah Alam food festival Despite the hefty price tag, he remarked, 'it was cheap.' He explained that he purchased 4kg of the meat but paid less thanks to a discount from a friend. To prepare the dish, he selected the tenderloin cut, which he deemed most suitable. 'I think it's okay for a first timer like me. Those who have eaten Wagyu would not use it for rendang,' he said, acknowledging that the luxury beef is usually reserved for other cooking styles. Opai also noted that tenderloin works well for rendang due to its lower fat content compared to sirloin or ribeye. He said the dish was made specially for his wife and family, adding that it turned out 'super delicious.' Netizens flooded the comment section with mixed reactions, ranging from admiration to criticism. One user called Shima commented: 'Wow, you're truly blessed... RM4K is two months' salary for me... you're really fortunate. Even the sacrificial meat turned out really delicious when I cooked it with soy sauce.' 'His trademark is showing off. Unapologetically,' Princess_Prawn chided. 'If I had money like them, I'd also want to give my family expensive and delicious food that we couldn't afford before. There's nothing wrong with treating your family well. Opai's right — if you don't have money, go work,' LadyBoss wrote in support.
