Vibrant costumes ignite creativity at book fair
Books galore and more: Book lovers visiting the 43rd edition of PBAKL 2025 at WTC in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: While most vendors and staff at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025 opted for t-shirts and jeans to stay comfortable amid the bustling crowd, a few stood out by donning creative costumes to draw visitors in.
A check at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here found one of the main attractions to be a cheerful tiger mascot, waving enthusiastically and winning the hearts of children who couldn't resist stopping for photos and joining storytelling sessions.
Nur Asna Harun, 35, from the Kuala Lumpur Library's Programme and Activities Unit, said the costume was more than just a gimmick – it served as a visual aid to capture children's attention during interactive storytelling sessions and promote the library's activities.
'I wear the tiger costume so the children stay focused and excited during the sessions. If I just speak plainly, they quickly lose interest. So I match the costume to the theme – sometimes I'm a fairy tale witch, sometimes a princess – and invite them to imagine along with me,' she said, Bernama reported.
Meanwhile, Shahrizal Selamat, who was promoting books related to child therapy, chose to wear medical scrubs with the label 'Occupational Therapist', reflecting his role as head of the Family Support Programme at the Education Ministry.
He said the attire helped him appear more approachable and trustworthy, especially when interacting with parents seeking resources for children with special needs such as autism, speech disorders or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
'We also use props like baby-sized dolls. When customers are intrigued, we take the opportunity to introduce the books while raising awareness about early intervention support for children in need,' he said.
Adding to the vibrant atmosphere was a group of male vendors dressed in traditional silat attire, complete with headgear, while the women wore black traditional outfits paired with batik cloths wrapped over their heads and draped over their shoulders – creating a scene reminiscent of a bygone warrior era.
Although it initially felt awkward to dress up in costume in public, Nur Adila Fadhlin Ruslan, 21, said she was heartened by the positive response, with many visitors offering compliments that strengthened her pride in portraying national heroes like Mat Kilau and Yamtuan Antah.
'We sell comics with historical and warrior themes, so we try to bring that setting to life. When we wear costumes, people get curious, come over to ask questions and often end up buying the books.
'Our title Rentap: Pahlawan Iban Yang Menggemparkan Penjajah is one of the bestsellers,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Expo 2025 Osaka: 'Flying Roti Canai' draws long queues at Malaysia Pavilion
Roti canai maker Muhammad Muiz Ruzaini, 24, demonstrates the art of flipping 'flying roti canai' at the Malaysia Pavilion Cafe during Expo 2025 Osaka. – Bernama photo OSAKA (June 2): The 'Flying Roti Canai' has quickly become a crowd-puller at Expo 2025 Osaka, drawing visitors to the Malaysia Pavilion with its skilful preparation and the irresistible buttery aroma wafting through the air. The sight of roti canai being expertly tossed high into the air by Muhammad Muiz Ruzaini and Mohamad Zul Imran Zulkifle, combined with the tempting aroma, has whetted the appetites of visitors. Some are willing to queue for up to two hours. Muhammad Muiz said he did not expect to be selected as part of the Malaysian delegation to Expo 2025 Osaka, where he would showcase the rich flavours of Malaysian cuisine on the world stage. What makes the experience even more rewarding is the overwhelming response from visitors, said the Kedahan. 'Many praised the deliciousness of the roti canai and gave very positive feedback, both in terms of taste and our presentation. 'After they ate, many would come up and say 'oishī' (delicious). Some even repeated it seven times,' he said, adding that most of the visitors were from Japan, South Korea and China. The freshly made roti canai, served with chicken curry and dhal, is priced at 1,680 yen per serving. Daily sales average between 1,000 and 1,600 pieces, underscoring its growing popularity among visitors from Japan, South Korea, China, and beyond. Roti canai is a pan-fried flatbread that is a popular breakfast choice in Malaysia, made from a mixture of flour, water, salt, butter and eggs. The dough is skillfully stretched, flipped and spun in the air to create a layered texture – crispy and flaky on the outside but soft on the inside. In 2023, TasteAtlas, a global food database, ranked roti canai among the 'Top 100 Best Street Foods in the World'. Meanwhile, Mohamad Zul Imran, a roti canai maker from Penang, expressed hope that the growing popularity of roti canai at the Expo would help elevate it on the global culinary map and inspire more tourists to visit Malaysia. 'I hope the Malaysia Pavilion roti canai becomes the number one dish at Expo 2025,' he said. Japanese visitor Yoko Yoshinaga described the dish as 'sweet, had a unique texture, and addictive'. 'This is my second time having roti canai. I first saw it on X (formerly Twitter), and the unforgettable taste brought me back. I lined up again just to relive the experience,' she said. Yoshinaga, who visited Malaysia 30 years ago, praised the nation's development, calling it a peaceful and modern country. Another visitor, Hanako Sekimukai, who tried roti canai for the first time, said she was pleasantly surprised by its flavour. 'I've been to Malaysia before, but I never had the chance to try roti canai. The chicken curry served with it wasn't too spicy, which made it even more enjoyable,' she said, adding that the cultural performances at the pavilion brought back fond memories of her time in Malaysia. Located on a 2,654.52-square-metre site across three floors, the Malaysia Pavilion reflects the nation's diverse culture and dynamic economy. Under the theme 'Weaving a Future in Harmony', the pavilion highlights Malaysia's commitment to a sustainable, inclusive and forward-looking future. – Bernama Expo 2025 Osaka lead local food Malaysia Pavilion roti canai
The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Japanese designer takes top honour at Chelsea flower show
LONDON (Bernama-Kyodo): Japanese landscape designer Kazuyuki Ishihara won the Garden of the Year award for the first time at the Chelsea Flower Show, a globally renowned landscaping competition in London, in May with a Japanese tea garden. According to Kyodo News Agency, veteran participant Ishihara also won the gold medal in the Show Garden category for the first time, among other awards at the annual event held by the Royal Horticultural Society, Britain's leading garden charity, according to his office. It was the 13th gold medal overall for the 67-year-old, who has been competing in the show since 2004. Describing the Show Garden gold as the most difficult to obtain, he said he was "proud" to have won it with his Japanese Tea Garden. He also won the People's Choice award, voted for by the public. The garden, themed on communication and harmony and called Cha No Niwa in Japanese, uses plants and trees commonly seen in the Japanese countryside, such as Japanese maples and irises, around its tea house. "I wanted to convey the beauty of the spirit of Japan that enables heart-to-heart communication through tea and beautiful scenery in a world of chaos," said Ishihara. Japanese designer Masataka Taniguchi, 42, won the gold medal in the category of container gardens featuring small-scale landscapes with his work Komorebi Garden. Komorebi is a Japanese word for sunlight piercing through a tree canopy. -- BERNAMA-KYODO
Borneo Post
19 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Modern elements eroding identity of traditional dressing of Sabah, Sarawak
Sarah Sanapan said that the Dusun Tindal shirt is among the best-selling, especially among Sabahans in the Peninsula, foreign tourists and cultural dancers. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): The combination of black fabric with touches of golden lace and sparkling beads continues to make traditional Sabah and Sarawak attire an admiration among many during the Kaamatan and Gawai Festival. Now, traditional clothing that was once popular only in two states in Borneo is increasingly gaining ground among young people, especially those working in the federal capital. The evidence was clearly visible at the Borneo Native Festival (BNF) at Pasar Seni here last week when many visitors appeared in traditional Sabah and Sarawak clothing, matched with modern styles. However, the increasing variety of modern styles is a little worrying for Sarah Sanapan, 59, a traditional Sabah tailor who strives to maintain the authenticity of each of her designs, especially the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, and Rungus (KDMR) clothing, so that it does not become lost over time. 'I am afraid that amidst the increasingly rapid stream of modernisation, traditional clothing is starting to lose its touch of authenticity with attempts to modernise it,' she told Bernama when met during the BNF recently. With over 20 years of experience sewing traditional KDMR clothes, the Bisaya woman said that traditional clothing tailors like her should play the role of cultural ambassadors to advise customers to maintain authentic traditional clothing. Sharing the process of sewing traditional clothing, Sarah noted that Sabah's traditional clothing varies according to tribes and regions, but the Sinipak Dusun Tindal shirt from Kota Belud is among the most complicated and time-consuming to complete. 'To complete a set of Dusun Tindal shirts takes five days because it requires precision when sewing the para-para (sleeves), siling (golden lace) and beads and the easiest is the Kadazan Penampang shirt with five suits completed in a day,' she said. However, Sarah said that the Dusun Tindal shirt is among the best-selling, especially among Sabahans in the Peninsula, foreign tourists and cultural dancers. Regarding the price of traditional clothing, she said it is sold between RM300 and RM2,000, depending on the jewellery and needs to be matched with accessories such as necklaces, bracelets and belts called himpogot or tangkong. Also sharing the importance of maintaining the authenticity of traditional clothing is Catherine Eric, a 57-year-old tailor from Sarawak, who first brought a collection from her state to Peninsular Malaysia through BNF. The Iban woman is concerned that incorporating too many modern elements or applications into traditional clothing will dilute the traditional art and meaning inherent in each garment. Catherine also shared that she receives many orders for traditional Bidayuh clothing, however, the sewing process takes time because the lis (golden lace) part needs to be sewn carefully. 'Usually it takes me two to three days to complete a set of Bidayuh clothes, but if there is an urgent request, I will try to at least complete the clothes in a day,' she said. A pair of Bidayuh women's clothes without any ornaments cost between RM250 to RM450 and it could reach RM1,500 if worn complete with ornaments such as a scarf, belt, bracelets and anklets, she said. Regarding BNF, Sarah and Catherine agreed that it is like a cultural bridge that introduces the rich arts and traditions of Sabah and Sarawak to the various ethnic communities in Peninsular Malaysia as well as foreign tourists. The annual festival, the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day, are always eagerly awaited by the Borneo community in Peninsular Malaysia.-Bernama
