VIDEO: Meet Malaysia’s No.1 Tarot Reader Dr Sarah May Low (Video Podcast)

In this first episode of Humans of Kuala Lumpur, we dive deep into the world of Tarot with Sarah May Low, a professional tarot card reader who shares her journey, insights, and how tarot can guide us through life’s twists and turns. 🌿🔮 Tune in for a fascinating conversation about intuition, self-discovery, and the power of ancient wisdom in the modern world. 🌙✨

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POLY – A absurd, surrealist theatrical play about crime, cult, and couple dynamics

Get ready for a surreal and thought-provoking journey as POLY returns to the stage this February! Following its successful Phase 1 launch, tickets for Phase 2 of POLY are now on sale for its highly anticipated run at Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) from 6th to 16th February 2025. This absurdist, surrealist play promises to take audiences on a wild ride through deception, obsession, and turmoil. But the question remains: Will they escape?

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DPAC and T.H.E Dance Company to Present ‘Invisible Habitudes’ in Malaysia, January 2025

Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) is proud to announce an exciting international collaboration with Singapore’s acclaimed T.H.E Dance Company, bringing their critically lauded production Invisible Habitudes to Malaysia. The performance will take place on 10th and 11th January 2025 at DPAC, offering local audiences a powerful and thought-provoking experience that delves into themes of personal identity, belonging, and diversity in a world marked by social and political change.

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Singapore Ballet’s Ballet Illuminations 2024 Brings Magic to KLPAC

This December, Kuala Lumpur will be treated to a spellbinding ballet experience as Singapore Ballet, the city-state’s premier professional ballet company, returns for Ballet Illuminations 2024. Taking place from 29 November to 1 December at Pentas 1, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), this exciting performance will showcase excerpts from two beloved ballet classics: Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

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VI Marching Band Story

VI Marching Band Story
“Last year, together with 81 of my students, we as Malaysia won 2nd place at the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) World Championship held in Taiwan.
It was the proudest moment of my life, as the Band Director for the Victoria Institution’s Cadet Corps Band (VICCB), which is the first marching band in Malaysia that started in 1909 – and the oldest in the whole of Southeast Asia.
I am proud of the team. We spent 6 months in preparation, training them to perform at their best. During band camp we spend 8 to 10 hours training, even during Ramadan (fasting month) we would practice after terawih until sahur.
Yes, after sembahyang terawih, from 10pm onwards we would practice until 5am in the morning.
The competition in Taiwan last year was held one month after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, so we didn’t have any time to bond. We had to practice, practice, practice. And they only had 2 weeks off for Raya holiday.
And I actually work full time as a software engineer, so as the band director I had to go and practice with them every weekend to make sure we are ready to compete on an international level.
To motivate them, I told them to do their best, to bring out their ‘A game’, and to not feel regret because we have already practiced and worked together as a team.
‘Don’t let down your teammate’, I would say. And managing 80 different boys from ages 13 to 17 with different behaviours and attitudes to work closely together is not an easy feat!
And in that competition, we broke our record, achieving a score of 91.63 (out of 100), considering that we had 9 judges from the US, Canada, the Netherlands, to name a few. We didn’t think we were able to get that score, and we did, Alhamdulillah.
And even though Taiwan won 1st place, many of our students cried, because we lost by 0.6 points! But I told them that they have done what they have been trained for, they have done all they can.
My dream is to always bring the best out of VI. And as the oldest marching band in Southeast Asia, there are a lot of traditions and standard to uphold so there’s a big shoe to fill.
It all started when I saw my older sister played the trumpet at Sekolah Sri Putri. Afterwards, when I joined Victoria’s Institution, I watched the band perform at Pesta Flora Dataran Merdeka, and was really fascinated. When I got the opportunity to get involved with the marching band during my student days – I picked up the trumpet.
Tapi, I think there’s a negative perception by Malaysians that marching bands aren’t exactly a ‘cool’ thing to do. It is also seen as a ‘Western thing’. And it takes a lot of time to practice.
We don’t just sit for a few hours and then perform. We invest a lot of hours in it, especially with us training outside under the hot sun, and many people don’t want to ‘berhitam’ their skin.
Right now, we’re struggling to get new members to join the band, as student enrolments are also down. And once the Form 5 students graduate, we have to start from scratch, looking for new students to train all over again. New year, new members, new problems. We have to start from 0, it’s quite a struggle for us.
I think you (students) should join a marching band; it is a very athletic activity, you need to have good coordination, memorization of the music notes, and have good body posture so as to march, drum, and to play the flag. Also each musical equipment requires a different skill set, and you should be trained for a minimum of 2 years.
Sometimes disciplining the students can be tough, and cash is lacking, as the instruments are very expensive – the tuba costs from RM20,000 to RM30,000. No sponsors, no band, and maintenance can be expensive as no matter how much we teach the students, the instruments will be damaged and unusable within 3-5 years.
As long as you are passionate about it you will always find time to do so. And the more you get involved, the more you perform, plus with the music and teamwork – the more you will be drawn to it.
And remember, the World Association of Marching Show Bands is the highest competition in the world. You, students, will have stories to tell, as you make the country proud.
If you have the opportunity to do something out of your comfort zone you should totally do it. Don’t be afraid to try everything.
And as long as my service is required by the school, I will continue as long as I can – continuing the tradition and the standards of Victoria Institution’s Cadet Corps Band is all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

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.

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