Riuh x Asean 2025 to turn Malaysia into Southeast Asia's biggest creative playground
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil
KUALA LUMPUR – Mark your calendars, as Malaysia is set to host the region's biggest creative celebration this year.
The Communications Ministry, through MyCreative Ventures, will be hosting Riuh x Asean 2025 from Oct 17 to 26, a ten-day festival blending arts, culture, music, food and entrepreneurship on a scale never seen before.
Announced today by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, it will be the largest Riuh edition ever staged.
'The organisation of Riuh x Asean is part of MyCreative Ventures' ongoing efforts to foster patriotism through exposure to Malaysia's arts, culture and creative community,' Fahmi said in a press conference at Pickle Depot, here, today.
The programme aims to boost the presence of Malaysian music and creative practitioners on the international stage, foster collaborations with foreign artists and organisations and open doors to global competitions, tours and festivals. It will also support Malaysian professionals as judges and speakers abroad, while expanding the local creative industry's network and market access. The Communications Ministry, through MyCreative Ventures, will be hosting Riuh x Asean 2025 from Oct 17 to 26, a ten-day festival blending arts, culture, music, food and entrepreneurship on a scale never seen before.
The centrepiece, the Riuh x Asean Marketplace, will take place from Oct 22 to 26, here, featuring over 200 retail brands, 100 food and beverage vendors, 40 performances, 30 workshops and 20 exhibitions from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The marketplace will also feature special cross-border networking sessions for creative entrepreneurs.
For music lovers and industry professionals, the FrequenSea Asean Music Conference will debut on Oct 21 and 22. Open to the public and free of charge, it will bring together more than 200 musicians, producers, content creators and industry leaders to discuss the creative and commercial future of Southeast Asian music.
Leading up to the main event, a series of pop-up programmes will run across the Klang Valley from Oct 1. These include Ruma Sora (visual arts), Festival Panggung Gelak (comedy), Sea Slam (spoken word poetry), Suara Belacu: Malaysian Identity (arts and heritage), Litt Connect (literature) and Tiba-Tiba Talk: Music (industry sharing sessions).
Riuh Merdeka 2025 – 30 hours of non-stop national celebration
Before October's festivities, MyCreative Ventures will launch Riuh Merdeka 2025 on Aug 30 and 31 at the Car Park, Millennium Monument, Putrajaya. The 30-hour non-stop festival will celebrate Malaysia's independence with performances by Yuna, Misha Omar, Pop Shuvit, Aliff Satar & The Locos, IamNeeta and more.
Visitors can enjoy 82 food vendors, a bustling creative market, art installations, workshops and a midnight fireworks display to usher in Merdeka Day.
From shopping for indie brands and feasting on street food to jamming with Asean musicians and discovering hidden art in the city, Riuh x Asean 2025 promises something for everyone and, if Fahmi's vision plays out, it might just put Malaysia at the centre of Southeast Asia's creative map.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
20 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Four music icons, one family legacy
FOR the first time, four of Malaysia's most powerful musical voices — all connected by family ties — will perform together on one stage. The historic 'Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025' concert promises to be a landmark event in local entertainment. "This is such an exciting project," shared singer Anuar Zain. "None of us ever thought that fate would bring the four of us — my elder sister Ziana, our niece Ernie, and her husband Syamel — together not only in the same industry but now performing side-by-side on the same stage," said the 55-year-old, who first rose to fame in the mid-1980s as half of the duo Anuar & Ellina. The concert is scheduled for Oct 18 at Mega Star Arena, Kuala Lumpur. It is set to be one of the most meaningful musical collaborations in Malaysia's music scene, distinguished by the heartfelt family connection shared by the four performers. Dream comes true Anuar explained that the idea for the concert had been in the works for two to three years, but they had to wait for the right moment due to everyone's busy schedules. "This will be more than just a concert. "It's a celebration of family ties, of the talent we are grateful for, and a token of appreciation for the incredible support we've received from fans of all generations. "We truly hope the audience will come with a spirit of love, unity, and appreciation for the musical journey we've shared," he said. His 33-year-old niece, Ernie Zakri, echoed his sentiments, describing the opportunity to share the stage with her musical heroes as both emotional and surreal. "I cried when I was asked to be a part of this," Ernie recounted. "To be on stage with them, two singers I've admired since I was a child and watched working so hard to achieve greatness, is beyond a dream come true. This is a long-time dream of mine, which is finally happening." A new single Organised by Anuar Zain Network, the concert will be helmed by director Jennifer Thompson and music director Sze Wan to ensure an unforgettable sonic experience. Adding to the excitement, the four artistes will release a brand-new single, specially composed by popular songwriter and producer Edry Abdul Halim. The single is expected next month as a lead-up to the big night. "I've worked with Edry before, most notably on the song 'Sedetik Lebih'. During our recent meeting, he presented us with two options. One of them immediately resonated with all four of us. The moment it was played, we just knew it had to be that one. We were all in agreement without needing to say much," said Annuar. Edry, who is currently based in Manchester, will handle the song's mixing from his personal studio there. "He's a brilliant musician who understands each of our vocal characters, which makes the entire process more efficient and natural," Anuar elaborated. Anuar hopes this family collaboration will become a legacy for the future, both for their family and the Malaysian music scene. "We want this to be more than a one-time show. We want it to become a legacy that celebrates music, family, and the connection we share with our fans." As both a performer and organiser, Anuar is committed to delivering a top-tier experience. "My top priority is the sound system," he said. 'You can have great vocals and stunning costumes, but if the sound system is poor just because someone wants to cut costs, it will haunt me for months. For me, a concert must have excellent sound. When our performances are uploaded on social media, I want people to clearly hear the richness of our vocals and musical arrangements. "Fans might not notice technical aspects like the sound system, but as the organiser, I carry that responsibility. People are paying good money to attend this show, and we want to ensure they leave feeling completely satisfied." With powerhouse performances, heartfelt storytelling, and the powerful thread of family running through it all, 'Empat Live In Kuala Lumpur 2025' is set to be a once-in-a-generation experience.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Celebration of Malaysia's favourite culinary creation
Sunset Terrace is serving a nostalgic journey through Malaysian flavours in the form of the beloved 'nasi lemak'. THIS National Day and Malaysia Day season, diners can enjoy a nostalgic journey through the country's most iconic flavours with a spectacular 'Nasi Lemak Buffet'. Curated by chef Amir Roslie, the buffet at Sunset Terrace, Sunway Resort Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, highlights the nation's culinary creation with a vibrant display of rice, sambal, sides and heritage hot dishes. Fragrant coconut rice, believed to have originated as far back as 15th century Melaka, takes centre stage. A charming tale surrounds its name – when a daughter accidentally spilled coconut milk into a pot of rice, her mother, Mak, returned home and asked what the delicious aroma was. The daughter replied: 'Nasi le, Mak!', which turned into the moment that may have given rise to the name nasi lemak. This legend is brought to life through Amir's creative interpretations such as Nasi Lemak Hijau Pandan, Nasi Lemak Kuning Royal, Nasi Lemak Bunga Telang and Nasi Lemak Putih, each cooked with distinctive ingredients and presented with flair. Complementing the rice is slow-cooked sambal made from premium chillies, including Sambal Bawang and Sambal Nyonya, alongside a curated showcase of anchovies, from Pangkor's Ikan Bilis Mata Biru to the delicate Ikan Bilis Jepun. Guests can also enjoy a colourful spread of traditional crackers and an array of spiced chicken, beef and fish serunding. The buffet also features rotating selections of hot dishes that highlight the diversity and depth of Malaysian cooking. Highlights include Ayam Goreng Berempah, Cockles Rendang, Chilli Fried Beef Lung, Sambal Sotong, Daging Dendeng and Lamb Rendang. Vegetarian options such as tempeh and Tauhu Goreng Kicap also make an appearance, ensuring there's something for every palate. While nasi lemak remains the star of the show, guests can look forward to a wide selection of international buffet favourites including seafood on ice, salads and sushi. The Nasi Lemak Buffet is on from Aug 22 to Sept 16. It is available for lunch on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, priced at RM188+ per adult and RM94+ per child or senior citizen. The dinner option from Fridays to Sundays and on public holidays is at RM198+ per adult and RM99+ per child or senior citizen. For reservations, call 03-7495 2009, WhatsApp 019-381 5568 or email
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Beloved Chinese climber killed by falling rocks on K2
A CHINESE climber renowned among her peers for her warmth and friendliness, as well as her handstand antics on a recent expedition, has died, Kwong Wah Yit Poh reported. Guan Jing, 38, from Hunan province was struck by falling rocks while descending K2, the second highest mountain in the world, in the Pakistan-China region on Tuesday. The report stated that Pakistani authorities were searching for the remains of the victim despite facing bad weather. It also said her mountain climbing peers had confirmed the tragedy. Guan, who was a yoga practitioner, had reached the K2 summit along with a group of climbers and sherpas from China, United States, Romania, Nepal and Pakistan the day before her death. In May last year, Guan stunned the world when she made a handstand for 20 seconds at the summit of the world's highest mountain – Mount Everest – after completing her ascent. Reports said historical records since 1953 showed that no one had succeeded doing such antics at the summit. > Sin Chew Daily reported that Malaysian singer Firdhaus Farmizi has been nominated for three songs in the Best Local Chinese Song category of the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) 2024 awards. This means that the 26-year-old Johor-born singer has a two-third probability of winning the award. There are only five songs nominated for the category, namely Eternal Friendship, Imperfection and Divorce In Ghana by Firdhaus as well as Beyond The Stars by Uriah See and The Ideal Adult In Our Heart by Brian Chew and Tan Yin Ern. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
