‘Riuh Benor’ Brings Creative Rejuvenation to Ipoh
RIUH, the nation’s favourite curated creative platform and champion of the Malaysian creative scene is in Ipoh for another day! For those who missed them on Friday and Saturday, you still have Sunday. Head over to the Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru anytime from 10am to 10pm and get creative with your family and friends.
The 3-day event running from Oct 21 to 23, is a “feel-good” hipster festival that’s aimed at spreading the message of hope and positivity throughout the country. Reflective of the Government’s commitment towards restoring the creative industry following the COVID-19 pandemic, the creative industry is given special focus under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan. It is targeted to contribute RM31.9 billion to GDP by 2025. It is estimated that KRKM will create 7,000 job opportunities and support 5,000 local businesses across 14 locations nationwide.
Led by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (K-KOMM) through MyCreative Group, KRKM aims to empower practitioners and entrepreneurs of the creative industry nationwide by providing a platform for them to generate income from their creative pursuits. The programme also connects the creative community with the general public, boosting the status of the creative industry through public awareness and social impact.
Following previous editions in Johor, Sabah, Melaka and Kelantan, Ipoh in Perak serves as a perfect backdrop for KRKM’s fifth edition – ‘RIUH BENOR!’. Ipoh is home to many celebrations of creativity such as Mural Art’s Lane which is decorated by colourful street art and Kong Heng Museum which showcases the films of Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad.
At its venue in Ipoh, ‘Riuh’ can be seen from a distance. White nomadic tents dot the landscape with bright lights while live music can be heard from the moment you park your car. There is a sense of merriment in the air throughout the area. One of the many reasons why the organisers chose this venue, albeit further out of Ipoh’s city centre, is that there is ample car park space for visitors and a perfect landscape for the many vendors that are participating there.
Yes! It rained, a lot on the first night, but the show went on! There are many covered areas for guests to sit and watch the live shows, all vendors are under tents and rain ponchos were handed out generously by the organisers. Most people were seen holding umbrellas, while millennials were in hoodies; yet everyone was totally unfazed by the wet evening!
It must have been the ‘high spirited’ live music (fantastic sound system, btw), the smell of yummy eats everywhere and the eclectic mix of creative vendors waiting to show off their works of art, that nothing could have dampened the mood.
The pop-up market is my favourite thing about RIUH. About 50 retail booths are set up and run by talents from all over Malaysia to promote their homegrown brands. There are interesting ‘one of its kind’ accessories, toiletries, jewellery and many more items not available in any physical store, anywhere.
All sorts of food are also sold at the venue, ranging from cookies and cakes, burgers to pastas and lots of local delicacies to try. Suffice it to say, you would probably find just about anything you crave.
Many people stayed on and enjoyed the live performances by Jaclyn Victor, Ruffedge, and cultural showcases such as Bhangra Dhol and the Bharatanatyam folk dance. Towards the end of the night, the mood at ‘Riuh’ felt like a huge party, with everyone cheering, clapping and making merry.
In line with the Perak Sejahtera Development Plan 2030 and Ipoh City Council’s Strategic Planning Plan to transform Ipoh into a low carbon city, ‘RIUH BENOR!’ places special focus on eco-creative elements. Don’t miss the Terrarium and Daun Concrete Planter, and the candle crafting workshops which promote the use of recyclable materials and sustainable practices.
‘Riuh Benor’ ends Sunday night, local communities in Perak and nearby states are invited to join with family and friends in support of Perak’s creative industry at ‘RIUH BENOR!’. For more information on other events and even workshops, visit @riuhinthecity on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop.
by Anne Das
