MELAKA: Encore Melaka gets a new lease on life after "Iron Lady of Property" promises to turn the multi-million Ringgit auditorium into a vibrant venue of art, culture and fashion.
Sheng Tai International founder and chairman Datuk Leong Sir Ley said she would not let the state-of-the-art rotating theatre be neglected.
"There are a number of events in the pipeline including international ones and I will announce it when the time comes," she said after a press conference to announce the "The Bountiful Harvest of Baiyue" acrobat show that was organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations at a leading hotel here on Monday (July 31).
The event was also attended by the Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Guangxi Cultural Industrial Group, Huang Kehong.
Encore Melaka was managed by Yong Tai Berhad where Leong took over as the new managing director and CEO after taking over from the company's former CEO Datuk Wira Boo Kuang Loon who stepped down in May.
Yong Tai is a tourism-related property developer and was responsible for Encore Melaka and Impression City, the then-international franchise of China’s famous Impression series.
Encore Melaka is a theatre engineered using the latest technology, and the performance is presented in a new genre.
However, in Aug 2019, it was reported that Yong Tai went into the red with a net loss of RM16.39mil in the nine months ended March 31, 2019, compared with a net profit of RM10.05mil in 2018, impacting Encore Melaka.
Leong said her vision was to elevate Melaka to the status of an international city and her team was working diligently to enhance the global reputation of Encore Melaka after helming the company.
She said the theatre stood as a pivotal initiative for art and culture as well as other significant ventures like fashion and wellness.
Leong said beyond positioning itself as the venue for events, Encore Melaka would also be an integral part of her upcoming "City of Hope" masterplan.
On the acrobatic show, Leong said the event was held for the first time in the country with a breathtaking performance by the Guangxi acrobatic team.
She said the event was also meant to enrich the local cultural landscape and to give a boost to the Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM 2024).
The show slated to start in September is the first globally acclaimed show at Encore Melaka since the Covid-19 pandemic.
