(From fourth left) Chandara, Sipraseuth, Mohd Yusri, Asean Festival organising chairman Eldrick Koh and Aung at the launch of Asean Festival 2023.
Asean Festival 2023 was hosted for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together the region’s diaspora for an unforgetable four-day event.
Organised by GenYouth, the event was a convergence of Asean’s rich and diverse heritage, all under one roof.
This festival was supported by Tourism Malaysia through its Cuti-Cuti Malaysia and Malaysia Truly Asia campaigns.
Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Madani government had also set up booths at the event which was held at LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC).
Among the event highlights were the Asean Mini Museum, Asean Market, Asean Travel Fair and Asean Music Festival.
The mini museum showcased the cultural wealth of Asean embassies, while the market had about 100 booths offering diverse products and crafts from member countries.
Golden Destinations and Suka Travel presented the Muslim and non-Muslim Asean Travel Fair, featuring representatives from various travel agencies.
The Asean Music Festival offered cultural performances by the embassies from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, including local traditional dances, muay thai, Indonesian traditional dance, fashion show, Vietnamese cultural show and live bands.
The festival kicked off with a grand opening ceremony featuring the presence of the Palestinian Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali, the Republic of Uganda High Commission’s Betty Oyella Bigombe, Cambodia Royal Embassy ambassador Ouk Chandara, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Embassy ambassador Viengsavanh Sipraseuth, Republic of the Union of Myanmar Embassy ambassador-designate Aung Soe Win as well as distinguished embassy representatives from various countries.
Held at LaLaport BBCC in Kuala Lumpur, the Asean Festival 2023 is supported by Tourism Malaysia through its Cuti Cuti Malaysia and Malaysia Truly Asia campaigns.
Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (culture) Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff and International Promotion (Asean) director Mohd Shahrir Mohd Ali were also present.
The launch marked a historic moment as Asean embassies and dignitaries jointly inaugurated the first Asean Festival in Malaysia.
On the second day, the Asean Cashless Day was launched, with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation as the key partner. More than 20 business associations and their presidents participated.
The third day of festival was dedicated to recognising achievements, as the Youth Achievement Records presentation ceremony took centre stage.
The ceremony recognised outstanding individuals in various fields.
Thirteen records were acknowledged, with 12 individuals receiving certificates from International Youth Centre director Dr Mohamed Maliki Mohamed Rapiee, who was representing Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
The day also featured various kids shows, including an ao dai show by 20 Vietnamese children, “Indonesian Raipai Aceh From Aceh” by Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysian children’s fashion show.
The festival concluded with a mix of cultural performances including lion dance, fashion shows and muay thai demonstrations.
Attendees were treated to exciting lucky draw prizes worth RM20,000, which included domestic and overseas travel packages to Bangkok, Langkawi and Penang.
