SunStrong Entertainment initiates ‘Speak Up Bravely If Something Happens’ charity campaign to lend a voice to social causes

Group Photo: Jment Lim (third from the left), Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching (centre), and guests at the event.

(KUALA LUMPUR, 11 January 2024) Following its Scam Prevention Short Film Contest, SunStrong Entertainment continues to drive social responsibility efforts with the initiation of ‘Speak Up Bravely  If Something Happens’ cha

rity campaign, which highlights seven themes – scams, mental health,  suicide, substance abuse, bullying, sexual assault and abortion – through radio drama and a  specially recorded single. 

SunStrong Entertainment has long been zeroing in on social causes through music, films and TV  series. ‘Speak Up Bravely If Something Happens’ charity campaign once again demonstrates its  unremitting pursuit to help bring about a more harmonious society.  

The campaign was launched at A Quiet Place, Federal Arcade by Communications Deputy Minister  Teo Nie Ching, who said that the government has stepped up efforts on content removal and setting  up helplines and reporting channels for the hardships highlighted by this campaign. 

“This is yet another commendable initiative by SunStrong Entertainment, which has been persistent  in their prevention education and awareness efforts. We call on more parties to utilise various  mediums and platforms to spread educational and informative content for a better Malaysia,” she  said. 

SunStrong Entertainment founder Jment Lim says, “Over the years, besides being part of some great  films such as Snow in Midsummer directed by Chong Keat Aun that received nine nominations at  the Chinese-language Oscars known as Golden Horse Awards, SunStrong Entertainment has also  been sponsoring, supporting and holding numerous social causes including the Scam Prevention  Short Film Contest as we believe that every company has a responsibility to lend a hand or voice to  important matters in whichever way they could.” 

SunStrong Entertainment founder, Jment Lim, believes that if a company does not fulfill its social responsibilities, help solve social problems, or create value for society, then its existence is meaningless.

My Masterpiece and Innovation Media founder Joseph Seow shares, “These hardships are not just  numbers or stories but real suffering, real pain affecting real people. It is important that we do not  turn a blind eye but to do our part to spread awareness and prevention methods while creating a  more caring society.” 

Highlighting the campaign’s 7 subject matters, a 7-episode radio drama will be aired on AiFM  beginning 11 March at 12:20pm every Monday and Tuesday. Set to be one of Hari RTM anniversary celebration featured programmes this year, the voice cast comprising of Jordan Voon, Coby Chong,  Jordan Sen, MayJune, Remon Lim, Crystal Ong, Xie Songfan and others, recorded their parts in just  one take. 

Attendees at the launch were also treated to the premiere of the music video for the uplifting single  Right Here, Right Now performed by Jment Lim, Daniel Lee, Yise Loo, Soh Chin Chuan, Daniel  Chezi, Nicole Lai, Aki Huang and Harn. The track, specially recorded in support of the campaign, is  written by Wong San San and composed by Yu Heng. 

Also present were TV2 channel manager Ng Leng Leng and AiFM general manager Lim Yen Leng together with hundred guests including the voice cast, singers, personalities and industry players.

Iban Culture’s Threads and the Art of Pua Kumbu

A proud Iban lady carries forward the legacy of her ancestors to the new generations.

In the heart of Kapit, Sarawak, an orang Iban learned the ancient art of Pua Kumbu at age 5 under her grandmother’s guidance. Now, at 65, she bears the responsibility of passing this legacy to the 4th generation. The intricate weave, born from ancestral dreams, shapes the lives of the Iban community, from birth to death. Pua Kumbu serves as more than a ceremonial textile; it is a cradle for newborns, a shield against mosquitoes, and an integral part of rituals. It becomes traditional dress, safeguard during celestial events, and a symbol of status. Recognized by figures like Nurul Izzah and ThinkCity CEO, Pua Kumbu’s preservation faces challenges as the weaver strives to inspire a return to traditional methods. This story unfolds at the launch of IKAT 2.0, an initiative spotlighting Borneo textiles, aiming to preserve Malaysia’s rich textile heritage.

Continue reading

Sailing Through Adversity: The Remarkable Story of a Hero

My Dad, First Admiral Ramli Samjis, born in 1944 to Javanese immigrant Grandpa Samjis, who was a family man and a hospital clerk. Atuk Samjis passed away when Daddy was 17, leaving his wife and son without a breadwinner. Daddy decided it would be best to drop out of school, before completing form 6. He started looking for a job through the newspaper and came across an ad from the Royal British Navy about recruiting cadet officers for their Far Eastern Fleet to represent Malaya. He made it to the UK. He returned to Malaya in 1964, sent to defend the front from invading Sukarno forces. He found a beautiful Minangkabau wife and became a First Admiral at 39. Later, he became the Chief of Logistics for the Malaysian Armed Forces. Daddy had four sons, including himself, and lived until his 75th birthday. During his peaceful death, he was surrounded by family members and friends he gained during his schooling days. Daddy lived his Navy life with contentment and without regrets, leaving a legacy of service and friendship.

Continue reading

Aspiring Malaysian filmmakers shine at Sunstrong Entertainment’s Scam Prevention Short Film Contest Awards Ceremony in Beijing 

(BEIJING – 20 June 2023) Recognising the greater need to increase awareness of scam prevention, Malaysia’s SunStrong Entertainment organised the Scam Prevention Short  Film Contest which concluded with an awards ceremony in Beijing, China recently, where a total of US$128,000 (RM590,656) was awarded to winning entries, including a number of Malaysian-made works. 

The international contest co-organised by China’s Horizon Corporate Volunteer  Consultancy (HCVC) kicked off in November last year and received a total of 59 entries and 29 entries for the Open Category and Student Category, respectively. Ten entries were shortlisted for each category. 

Themed “Contribute Your Talent To Prevent Scam”, the contest also marks a friendly engagement between the people of Malaysia and China in the arts for a common cause,  further demonstrated by performances of Malay traditional dances and Chinese fan dance at the ceremony. 

SunStrong Entertainment founder Jment Lim, who is also one of the judges, says, “These  works not only show the creativity and talent of the contestants but also the significance  of this contest as we get to see that the society at large is concerned about the prevalence  of scams, as well as everyone’s enthusiasm and devotion for the public interest.” 

He remarked that the contest’s effort to fight scams does not end with it as the winning entries will be made available on major social media platforms and the company’s website,  hoping that these works will continue to play a role in preventing scams. 

“We may not completely stop scams from happening, but we can make an effort to prevent as many tragedies as possible,” he says. 

HCVC founder and chief executive officer Wang Zhongping commended SunStrong  Entertainment for putting together this innovative initiative that benefits society at large. 

He says, “I would like to thank Jment Lim for his strong support and everyone else who has dedicated themselves throughout this contest to allow the process to run smoothly.  If it were up to me, all shortlisted works deserve to receive an award. 

Although there have been stumbling blocks at the onset leading up to the award ceremony,  we get to see through to the end with perseverance. We will continue to utilise the medium  of short films as a tool to raise public awareness.” 

For the Student Category, the first prize of US$5,000 (RM23,073) went to A Forever  Promise (China) which centres around a young graduate who ended up as a job scam  victim, while the second prize, Got Trapped (Malaysia) and third prize, Sink (Malaysia) were awarded US$3,000 (RM13,844) and US$1,500 (RM6,922), respectively.

The seven winning entries of the US$500 (RM2,307.25) Excellence Award are Malaysia’s The Distant Job, Got Trapped, The Untouchable Sight, Catherine’s Love Story and Anti Fraud Operation; China’s The Naked Price and If. 

As for the Open Category, Help (China) which tells the story of a phone scam victim,  bagged the first prize of US$50,000 (RM230,725). 

Coming in second is Bad Days (Malaysia) which won US$20,000 (RM92,290) while Scripted (Malaysia) came in third to win US$10,000 (RM46,145). Thanking the judges for  the recognition, the Malaysian winners say that this inspires them to put out greater works  in the future. 

It was a proud moment when Malaysian entries won every Excellence Award for this category. All seven – Putih Hati, Love Chess, I’m Here For You, Susan, Money  Tree, Bungkam and Desire were awarded US$5,000 (RM23,073) each. 

Open Category winners get to submit their film proposals to SunStrong Entertainment for an opportunity to receive a grant of up to US$1 million (RM4.61 million) to fulfil their dream of making a feature film. 

Golden Horse Award-winning Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun who sits on the judging panel noted that most entries are based on human trafficking stories, which shows the extent of this worrying matter. He shares that there are bound to be challenged when telling a story within a ten-minute time frame. To his surprise, all these entries took into account the mobile viewing experience for viewers. 

Another judge, Oscar-winning Chinese-American documentary filmmaker Ruby Yang,  sang praises of the entries during the selection process and was amazed by many students’ entries which use news broadcasting as a mode of storytelling and even cast their friends due to limited resources. 

Also on the panel are Shanxi Film Academy director Jia Yue, Leopard Change Academy director Zhang Dadou and Nanhai Academy of the Arts and Technology honorary dean  Zhou Shixing. 

The short films are available for viewing at https://sseshortfilmcontest.com/Gallery  

A Slice of Past & Present Borneo at klpac

Ahead of Gawai and Kaamatan festivities, The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat presents KonTra : Borneo. Celebrating the culture, the people and the stories of the world’s third largest island, the dance show will take place from 4th until 7th May 2023 at Pentas 2, klpac. 

A land of unparalleled beauty and ancient rainforests, there is a wealth of culture and traditions there which serves as the source of inspiration for Zhafir Muzani’s third installment of this experimental dance series. Growing up in the small port town of Lahad Datu, Zhafir dreamt of showcasing a slice of Borneo through a fusion of contemporary dance. 

KonTra : Borneo is not your typical traditional cultural showcase. It will be presenting six new dance works, bridging our past and future, by a contingent of five talented choreographers from East Malaysia along with one more from Peninsular Malaysia. 

Stories have been a powerful tool to pass down cultural values and beliefs in Borneo and to connect its people to the land as a reminder to respect the environment. 

One will be able to experience this in Yunnus Enn’s “RUAI” which refers to the great argus, a species of pheasant celebrated by the Iban of Sarawak as well as Andrew Igai Jamu “Dataika Dinihari” (Till Dawn) which draws on the intricate hand and body movements of female bards ‘lemambang sabak’ in the Dayak-Iban dirge called ‘sabak bebuah’. Meanwhile Fauzi Amirudin’s “TOMBIRUO” was inspired by Ramlee Awang

Mursyid’s novel which is set in the forests of Keningau and a young man believed to be the caretaker of the forest. 

Borneo traditional dance is known for its expressive and flowing movements. Hafzal Aziz’s “Penopeng ” incorporates ‘nopeng’ or ‘tandak’, one of the main aspects of bergendang, traditional performing arts of Melayu Sarawak, which is performed in pairs. Sabah dances like Magunatip and Sumazau are known for its bounce-like motion and you will see some of this motion in Jabar Laura’s “Selasih di kanan”, which explores the narrative of young people’s souls who are often rebellious, and Ethel Deidre’s “Don’t Slam The Door”, which highlights the stateless community in Sabah. 

With its colourful costumes and diverse dance styles, KonTra : Borneo is an opportunity to get to know the people of Borneo, its culture as well as their past and present stories better. 

Tickets are priced at RM50. Students can enjoy a 40% discount (limited offer only) while Eslite Malaysia White Card Members, Tiffin at The Yard & Yamatatsu customers can enjoy 5% off and Eslite Malaysia Gold/ Black Card Members can enjoy 10% off. Purchase tickets online via https://bit.ly/kontraborneo. Visit www.klpac.org, or WhatsApp +6018 227 7212 for more information. 

Zhafir Muzani will also be running free trial classes – Jom Menari: Malay Traditional Dance (3pm – 3.45pm, 8 – 15 year olds) and Contemporary Dance (4pm – 4.45pm, 16 years old & above) on 30 April ahead of the actual classes. 

 

SHOW DETAILS 

Title: KonTra : Borneo 

Presenter: Presented by The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat Supporters: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre 

Synopsis: KonTra : Borneo showcases a contingent of five talented choreographers from East Malaysia along with one more from Peninsular Malaysia. Drawing inspiration from the people of East Malaysia, their culture and their way of life, the choreographers weave this rich tapestry of cultures and stories into six contemporary dance works. 

Come experience a slice of Borneo through this experimental dance showcase, a unique way to usher in the Kaamatan and Gawai festivities and celebrate Bornean culture. 

KonTra is an ongoing experimental dance series helmed by choreographer Zhafir Muzani which honours our traditions while forging a new way forward through contemporary dance. 

Creative Team: Executive Producer | Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican 

Artistic Director | Joe Hasham OAM 

Director | Zhafir Muzani 

Lighting Designer & Operator | Yusman Mokhtar 

Sound Operator | Helmi 

Production Stage Manager | Yeo 

Backstage Crew | Halim Ashari 

Choreographers | Andrew Igai Jamu, Ethel Deidre, Fauzi Amirudin, Hafzal Aziz, Jabar Laura, Yunnus Enn 

Date & Time: 4 May (Thu), 8pm (Preview night) 

5 & 6 May (Fri & Sat), 8pm 

7 May (Sun), 3pm 

Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, 51100 Kuala Lumpur 

Tickets: RM40 (Preview Night – 4 May @ 8pm) 

RM50 (Normal Shows – 5 & 6 May @ 8pm, 7 May @ 3pm)

Promotions: Student Discount # 

RM30 

# Concessions: WhatsApp us at +6018 227 7212 the name & contact details (name, designation, school’s name, phone and e-mail) to get a promo code. 

Eslite Malaysia White Card Members / Tiffin at The Yard & Yamatatsu 

Customers ** 

5% off normal-priced tickets (not applicable with other promotions) 

Eslite Malaysia Gold/ Black Card Members**: 

10% off normal-priced tickets (not applicable with other promotions) 

**WhatsApp us at +6018 227 7212 with a screenshot of your eslite member card to get a promo code. 

Buy Tickets: Buy Online via https://bit.ly/kontraborneo 

No phone sales and over-the-counter sales. E-tickets only. 

Enquiry: WhatsApp +6018 227 7212 

Website: www.klpac.org