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Daily Express
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Express
Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race: 141 teams to battle for honours
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 Text Size: WSG Banana team members are training hard for the dragon boat race. Kota Kinabalu: Registration for the 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2025 has officially closed, with a total of 141 teams from Sabah, Brunei, Hong Kong and Singapore competing across 11 categories. The participating teams, including WSG Banana under WSG Group, have begun intensive training in preparation for the race. Organising chairlady cum The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) deputy president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen recently visited the teams' training site at Kinabalu Yacht Club in Tanjung Aru. She was accompanied by the club's commodore Albert Shim and bosun Omar to inspect the venue in preparation for the team managers' briefing and draw of lanes, scheduled for Friday (May 16) at 9am at Kinabalu Yacht Club. Susan expressed her gratitude to Albert and the Kinabalu Yacht Club for once again allowing the use of their venue as the training ground for the dragon boat race, and for providing facilities and services to ensure athletes can train in a safe and pleasant environment. 'Last year was our first time receiving permission from the Kinabalu Yacht Club to train here. 'This year, we decided to hold the draw of lanes and team briefing at the club for the first time. 'That's why I came today to inspect the location and ensure preparations are in place for the May 16 events,' Susan said. Albert personally welcomed and accompanied Susan during her inspection and expressed his appreciation for the federation in choosing the yacht club as one of the event's venues. 'It is our honour to contribute to Chinese cultural activities and the dragon boat race, and to allow more people, especially the athletes, to experience and learn about the Kinabalu Yacht Club,' he said. WSG Bananas led by WSG Group director Vanessa Wong was coincidentally undergoing their training at the club. Susan, along with Albert and Omar, offered Vanessa, Melissa Wong and their team words of encouragement and support. 'This year, a total of 141 teams will compete in 11 categories. The response remains very enthusiastic. Thank you to everyone for your support for the dragon boat race and Chinese culture,' Susan said. She urged the public to participate in the series of dragon boat race activities to be held from Friday (May 16) to Sunday (May 18), and to experience this exciting cultural and sporting festival unique to Sabah. The 10th Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2025 will be held from May 16 to 18 at Likas Bay this year, with a total cash prize of RM94,000 to be won. Day one (May 16) of the event entails a briefing and draw of lanes for the participating teams at Kinabalu Yacht Club. A sunset beach party will be held at 5pm in the evening at Likas Bay to welcome the participants. Day two (May 17) kicks off with the sportsmen oath taking ceremony at 6.30am and heat races for 11 categories till noon, followed by a seven-kilometre Dragon Run at 3.30pm. The Head of State Tun Musa Aman has agreed to grace the final race day on May 18 and officiate the event with drum beating and Chinese dumpling (zong zi) offering ceremony and thereafter present prizes to the winning teams. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is also expected to grace the event as a special guest, along with state cabinet ministers, members of parliaments, assemblymen and other dignitaries. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
Daily Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Movie on Papar is shown at Beijing fest
Published on: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 07, 2025 Text Size: Melissa (left) and Michelle (centre) at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. Kota Kinabalu: The Story of Papar Town made its official debut at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in China, bringing Sabah's rich heritage to the global stage. The heartfelt documentary was among two Malaysian films showcased at the prestigious event, held from April 18 to 26, highlighting the country's cultural diversity and community spirit. Malaysian filmmaker Michelle Xin represented the nation at the festival, presenting The Story of Papar Town and The Rise of Lion II, an inspiring feature film rooted in traditional lion dance culture. Produced by WSG Group, led by prominent Sabahan property developer Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, The Story of Papar Town is a poignant memoir of her mother, Datin Seri Chen Si Mui, who endured immense hardship during her childhood in 1940s Papar. The film, directed by Michelle Xin, took two months to prepare, 10 days to shoot and involved 80 actors across locations in Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu. Melissa Wong, Susan's daughter and a director at WSG Group, played the younger version of Chen in the film. She hoped the documentary would foster cultural exchange while sharing Malaysia's unique narratives with the world. Susan, deeply moved by her mother's struggles, had long dreamed of turning her family's history into a film. 'My mother endured a difficult childhood, her father died tragically and she was sold as a child bride, living like a slave. 'I wanted future generations to know her story of resilience,' Susan said. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the film recounts how Chen escaped her oppressive life one stormy night, finding refuge from a kind-hearted landowner, Kapitan Chen Chee On, who became her saviour. His intervention changed her fate, leading to a life of hope and dignity. The Beijing International Film Festival, celebrating 130 years of global cinema and 120 years of Chinese cinema, serves as a vital platform for cultural exchange. Michelle sees Malaysia's participation as a significant step in promoting the country's stories internationally. 'I hope for more collaborations to bring Malaysian narratives to the world and to bring global perspectives back to our communities,' she said. For Susan, the film is more than a tribute, it is a legacy. 'Today, I have finally fulfilled my dream of sharing my mother's extraordinary journey,' she said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
Borneo Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Malaysian films shine at Beijing International Film Festival
KOTA KINABALU (May 5): Two Malaysian films shot in China and Sabah shone at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival which was held from April 18 to 26. Malaysian filmmaker Michelle Xin has represented Malaysia in showcasing the two works that highlight the rich cultural and community spirit of Malaysia. The first, The Rise of Lion II, produced by Xin World Sdn Bhd, is an inspiring feature film rooted in the traditional art of lion dance, telling a story of perseverance, heritage and belief. The film starred Melissa Wong and Ricky Lee in the leading roles, and was filmed in Chengdu, China. The second is the heartfelt The Story of Papar Town, presented by Melissa of WSG Group, featuring an inspiring story about Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui. 'I look forward to more international collaborations in the future, to bring more Malaysian stories to the world stage, and to bring the world back into our local communities,' Michelle the Beijing International Film Festival. This year also marks the 130th anniversary of cinema in the world and 120th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema. The Beijing International Film Festival not only showcases Chinese films to the world but also provides a gateway for foreign films to enter the Chinese market, serving as a platform for cultural exchange between filmmakers from China and around the globe. Michelle added that the participation in the Beijing International Film Festival marks an important step in strengthening cultural exchanges and promoting Malaysia's unique narratives globally. The Story of Papar Town made its official debut at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in China recently. Produced by the WSG Group spearheaded by Sabahan property developer, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, the film showcases Malaysia's rich and diverse cultural heritage and communities. Its screening at the film festival not only brought the story of Sabah to the global stage, but also invited the world to step into the heart of the local community. Directed by Michelle, The Story of Papar Town was meticulously crafted over two months of preparation. The film involved 80 actors and took 10 days to shoot, and a month to edit. Filming took place across several locations, including Sandakan, Tenom, Keningau, Kinabatangan, Papar and Kota Kinabalu. The Story of Papar Town stars Melissa, Susan's daughter, in the lead role. She portrays the childhood version of her grandmother, Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui. The male lead in this documentary short film is 37-year-old Sam Loo from Penang, who plays the younger version of Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Kwok. Sabah-born singer Wesley Liew takes on the role of the Chen's saviour, Kapitan Chen Chee On. Melissa, who is also a director of the WSG Group, brought The Story of Papar Town to the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. In an interview at the event, she expressed hope that the film would promote cultural exchange whilst share Malaysia's unique story with the world. Meanwhile, Susan said she often listened to her mother recounting stories about Papar when she was little. 'I would follow my mother to my grandmother's house in Papar every school holiday. 'That's why Papar has left a deep impression on me — its memories are etched in my mind.' Susan said her mother has endured a difficult childhood in her hometown. 'I told myself that one day, when the time was right, I would turn my mother's stories into a documentary short film, so that future generations of our family, as well as the world, could understand the incidents that took place in the small town of Papar during the 1940s. 'Today, I have finally fulfilled that dream.' Told in the form of a memoir, the film recounts the hardships and struggles faced by Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mu during her early life in her hometown of Papar. It is a touching and emotional narrative, which culminates in a satisfying and fulfilling ending. The film highlights the remarkable resilience of individuals in the face of adversity. Set during the 1940s, amid the turmoil of World War II, the story depicts the difficult childhood of Chen, who came from a poor family. Her father tragically died after being tortured by the Japanese army, leaving her mother to raise several young children on her own. In her early teenage years, Chen was sold by her mother to a wealthy family as a child bride — but in reality, she lived a life of hardship akin to that of a slave. She had to wake up before sunrise at 4 am, to chop firewood, fetch water, and grind grains — taking on every household chore. Her meals consisted only of leftovers from the family, and at night, she slept on a wooden plank in a corner outside the house. As a teenage girl, she endured unbearable suffering. She recalled that another girl who had shared the same fate had once been tortured to death in that very place. And that planted the seed of escape in her heart. One dark, windy night, under the cover of darkness, she seized the moment while her masters were fast asleep. She ran with all her strength, heading toward a place where she saw lights in the distance. That night, she arrived at the home of Kapitan Chen, a prominent landowner in Papar town. Fortunately, he took her in with kindness and gave her refuge. The next day, the family tracked her down at the Chen's residence and came to reclaim her. After some negotiation, Kapitan Chen paid to redeem her freedom and kept her on as a helper in his household. From that moment on, Kapitan Chen became her life saviour.
Daily Express
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Sabah stories shine at the Beijing International Film Festival
Published on: Monday, May 05, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 05, 2025 Text Size: Melissa (left) and Michelle (centre) elaborated on the film at the festival. KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan filmmaker Michelle Xin represented Malaysia at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival held from April 18 to 26, marking the 130th anniversary of global cinema and the 120th of Chinese cinema. Two Malaysian productions were showcased — The Rise of Lion II, highlighting the traditional lion dance, and The Story of Papar Town, a poignant tale set in wartime Sabah. The Story of Papar Town, produced by the WSG Group led by Datuk Susan Wong and starring her daughter Melissa, tells the true story of Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui's harrowing childhood in 1940s Papar. Directed by Michelle and filmed across Sabah, the documentary recounts Chen's escape from servitude, her rescue by Kapitan Chen, and her journey from oppression to safety during the Japanese occupation. Both Michelle and Melissa expressed hopes that the film would promote cultural exchange, with Susan saying it was a dream fulfilled to immortalise her mother's story for future generations. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
