logo
Malaysia's Ombak Festival 2025: Simply Red, Joss Stone and The Pinholes among music acts performing

Malaysia's Ombak Festival 2025: Simply Red, Joss Stone and The Pinholes among music acts performing

CNA05-08-2025
If you're looking for something fun to do overseas with your family this September school holiday or want some relaxing time by the beach, head to Malaysia's Ombak Festival 2025. Held at Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia, the festival will take place from Sep 12 to 14 and feature electrifying performances from top global music acts, food from the region's top chefs, art exhibitions and game stalls.
Some of the music acts to look forward to include chart-topping English band Simply Red, English singer-songwriter Joss Stone, Malaysian rapper Joe Flizzow, Singapore band The Pinholes and American musicians George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic.
Festival-goers can savour rich ingredients and dishes from the ASEAN region, courtesy of Sazon Tapas & Grill by Andrew Walsh, Carbon KL and Flavours of Johor.
Once you've had your fill, take a chill pill and explore Pasar Seloka at Ombak Festival, a marketplace with handcrafted goodies.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ombak Festival (@ombakfestivalmy)
Tickets for the Ombak Festival 2025 can be bought at this website, with prices starting at RM200 (S$61) for a one-day (Friday) pass and three-day passes going for RM650.
Singaporeans who want to get to Desaru Coast, home to several five-star resorts, can simply board a ferry at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal or drive to the destination.
In a statement, Karina Ridzuan, director of Ombak Festival, said: "For our second year, building on our intentionally diverse ethos, we are going bolder in vision, broader in scope and bursting with Southeast Asian soul. The play this year is to intrepidly represent the best of ASEAN by uniting global icons with regional talents to stage an unparalleled experience of live music, taste explorations and artistic expression in one ultimate weekend."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘What a nightmare': Shoppers vent over gridlock at Mid Valley Southkey carpark
‘What a nightmare': Shoppers vent over gridlock at Mid Valley Southkey carpark

Independent Singapore

timea day ago

  • Independent Singapore

‘What a nightmare': Shoppers vent over gridlock at Mid Valley Southkey carpark

Photo: Facebook/MY SG Road Trip - Eat, Play, Stay Malaysia! -Amanda Yap JOHOR BAHRU: What was supposed to be a relaxing shopping trip turned into a logistical nightmare for many shoppers at Mid Valley Southkey over the weekend, after massive gridlock inside the mall's carpark left some stranded for hours. A Facebook post detailing the ordeal quickly gained traction, with several users sharing their frustration at being stuck inside their cars for nearly three hours just to exit the parking facility. Some even claimed they resorted to pressing the SOS button in the car park, only to receive no response from mall security. Shoppers vent their frustration Netizens poured in with stories of their own, ranging from sarcastic quips to exasperated recounts of how bad things had gotten. One shopper said, 'The three-hour wait is for the times three you get from changing SGD to ringgit,' while another asked bluntly: 'Why don't you all park outside the mall? Another option is not to go there. That mall targets Singaporeans. You see the prices there? Cheap ah?' See also Seek help from Singapore or the UN says M'sian environmental group Others painted a more vivid picture of the chaos. A Facebook user recounted checking with the information counter, only to be told that the gridlock was caused by an expressway jam outside. 'So, pressing SOS is also no use. We waited 30 minutes and decided to park back and went up to get coffee,' they wrote. One visitor said they heard mall announcements advising shoppers to stay inside until the jam cleared. 'I was there at Mid Valley with my family. We heard an announcement at the mall around 3 p.m., advising shoppers to stay in the mall for a while cause there was a massive jam. So we left at 7:30 p.m. and the jam was over.' Another chimed in with a tongue-in-cheek observation: 'Fun fact: On Saturdays, locals steer clear of the area around Mid Valley.' Bigger questions about Johor's urban congestion Beyond the jokes and gripes, many commenters highlighted how the incident reflects larger issues with Johor's worsening congestion, particularly around new malls and development zones that are popular with Singaporean visitors. Some questioned the design of Mid Valley Southkey's carpark and its traffic management system, arguing that the mall should anticipate high weekend crowds and provide better flow. Comparisons were also drawn to other malls in Johor Bahru, where shoppers said traffic is still heavy but never quite as paralysing. For some, this fiasco added to growing frustration about urban planning in Johor, where rapid development has often outpaced transport infrastructure. As one netizen summed it up: Mid Valley Southkey may have branded itself as a premier shopping destination, but until its parking woes are fixed, shoppers might be better off bringing an overnight bag — just in case it takes that long to leave. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });

Experts call for Singapore–Johor cross-border taxi revamp amid e-hailing debate
Experts call for Singapore–Johor cross-border taxi revamp amid e-hailing debate

Independent Singapore

timea day ago

  • Independent Singapore

Experts call for Singapore–Johor cross-border taxi revamp amid e-hailing debate

MALAYSIA: Calls are growing for Malaysia and Singapore to work together to modernise the Cross-Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS), with transport consultants arguing that it no longer meets the needs of thousands of daily commuters between Johor Bahru and the island republic. According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) , transport experts Wan Agyl Wan Hassan and Rosli Azad Khan said the current scheme — limited to 200 licensed cabs from each country operating only between Larkin Sentral and Ban San Street Terminal — is outdated and underutilised. Limited reach leaves commuters frustrated Rosli noted that the CBTS' fixed points fail to serve many passengers, particularly those living in western Johor. 'Commuters have to travel all the way to Johor Bahru to cross to Singapore (via the Causeway). No one talks about this bigger issue and problems faced by those who live on the western side of Johor Bahru,' he said, as reported by FMT . He added that there are still no taxis or buses serving the Tuas Second Link, despite it being a vital route for travel to southern and western Johor. Proposals for reform Wan Agyl, founder of transport think tank My Mobility Vision , argued that modernising the CBTS is the most practical short-term solution, FMT reported. He proposed expanding pick-up and drop-off points, integrating licensed taxis with ride-hailing apps, and piloting a controlled bilateral e-hailing programme. 'This ensures the service meets commuter needs without eroding licensed operators' livelihoods or creating (the need for) new enforcement,' Wan Agyl explained, citing models from other busy border cities such as Hong Kong–Shenzhen and San Diego–Tijuana. He also suggested safeguards like reciprocal driver licensing, cross-border insurance, digital booking verification, and geofenced pick-up zones to prevent congestion and protect existing operators. Rising urgency as congestion worsens Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah has also called for talks with Singapore to ease restrictions on cross-border e-hailing, arguing that many Johoreans prefer travelling via Changi Airport when heading overseas. However, experts emphasised that quick fixes such as limiting rides to airports or ferry terminals would not be enough to address the long-standing issues haunting the region. The urgency for reform is further highlighted by the worsening traffic at the Causeway, exacerbated by long queues and limited transport choices. Read related: 'No bus at all': Commuters endure long, miserable waits as public transport falls short Netizen frustrations Netizens are quick to express just how frustrated they are over the daily stress they have to face during their commute. Many agreed that reform should focus on making legal services more efficient rather than letting unlicensed ones fill the gap. One user wrote that authorities should 'expand the taxi services facilities and not promote 'illegal' services. If the public licensed transport services are good and relevant, then all these illegal services will not be in demand. Those who wish to drive to earn a living, then join the licensed platforms.' Others vented about the state of congestion at the Causeway and Tuas Second Link. 'The traffic is so bad,' one netizen sighed, while another remarked that during peak hours, 'we can't even get on a bus.' Sarcasm also peppered the comments. A few suggested that instead of debating e-hailing, governments should first figure out how to unclog the Causeway jams, with one saying the only real solution is to 'build three more bridges before talking about apps.' Another quipped that no amount of fancy pilot programmes will matter if travellers are still stuck for hours in a sea of brake lights Looking ahead With the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link set to open in late 2026, experts believe reforming the CBTS and piloting regulated e-hailing services would complement rather than compete with the upcoming infrastructure. For now, however, cross-border commuters are left waiting in traffic — and waiting for policy change. Read also: 'Don't embarrass yourselves': Singapore car caught (again) pumping subsidised RON95 in Malaysia

Malaysia's Interior Ministry chief inspects RTS Link sites ahead of 2027 opening
Malaysia's Interior Ministry chief inspects RTS Link sites ahead of 2027 opening

Independent Singapore

time3 days ago

  • Independent Singapore

Malaysia's Interior Ministry chief inspects RTS Link sites ahead of 2027 opening

Photo: Facebook / Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) JOHOR BAHRU: The Secretary General of Malaysia's Ministry of Interior (Kementerian Dalam Negeri, KDN), Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman, conducted a working visit to the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project on Wednesday (Aug 13), touring key locations at the Bukit Chagar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and the Wadi Hana Depot. The visit — announced in a Facebook post by the Ministry — was aimed at assessing progress on the cross-border rail link, set to begin operations on January 1, 2027, and evaluating the readiness of agencies under KDN, particularly the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), to manage their roles once the service goes live. According to Malaysia Rapid Transit System Sdn Bhd (MRTS), the RTS Link is expected to handle up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, a key step in easing chronic congestion on the Johor–Singapore Causeway. Officials say the line will not only divert heavy traffic from the road link, but also provide a faster, more dependable commuting option between the two cities. The inspection was attended by senior officials from multiple agencies, including the National Security Council, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Royal Customs Department, Immigration Department, and Royal Malaysia Police. Read related: 'Sometimes we have to wait for two to three buses': Growing calls for second RTS link as Tuas commuters face daily crush Why this matters for Singapore While the RTS Link is being built on both sides of the Causeway, Singapore stands to benefit directly from Johor's progress. For Singaporean commuters, the RTS Link promises shorter, more predictable travel times, which is definitely a welcome change compared to the hours-long jams that are currently happening. With a capacity for thousands of passengers per hour, the RTS could also improve regional economic ties by making it easier for workers, shoppers, and tourists to move between Johor Bahru and Singapore. For Singapore's businesses, particularly those dependent on cross-border labour or customers, this could help build smoother connectivity, which could boost productivity and create more reliable operations. Finally, for leisure seekers, the establishment of the line might make spontaneous weekend getaways across the Causeway a reality again. This will enable these visitors to go to Johor Bahru without the dread of sitting in traffic for hours. See also CLAS reports 4% YoY gross profit increase for Q1 FY2025 Read also: PETRONAS, ENI, and Euglena to develop biofuel refinery in Johor for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store