Evanna Ramly

fell in love with the publishing industry working part-time in college and has been writing ever since, covering everything from fashion and horology to beauty and culture. Her skills include editing, proofreading, translating (English and Malay), digital media and language instruction.

Focus Malaysia •

Citizen Architect

Born in Penang, Dr Eleena Jamil’s earliest memories of architecture revolve around her late father. “He was a contractor so I grew up in his office and we would always visit the construction sites together,” recalls the founder and principal of Eleena Jamil Architect. She went on to study architecture in Cardiff University, eventually earning her PhD and qualifying as a Part III Architect before establishing her own firm in 2005. “At first, I wanted very much to be a doctor but he steered me t
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Winds of Desire

This year, The Actors Studio Seni Teater Rakyat marries the language of Shakespeare with the mysticism of Mak Yong. Under the direction of Norzizi Zulkifli, Mak Yong Titis Sakti retells A Midsummer Night’s Dream through one of the country’s oldest art forms. “In the beginning, I had two options: whether to put Mak Yong in Shakespeare or Shakespeare in Mak Yong, to present Shakespeare with a slight Mak Yong sense, or the other way around,” says Norzizi, who would perform herself if not for the f
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Stranger Things

We have all dreamed of walking away from our jobs and making lifelong dreams come true so it is nice to hear stories of those who do. The founders of Lit Books, an independent bookstore in Tropicana Avenue in Petaling Jaya, are one such example. Fong Min Hun was a corporate consultant who, for six years, helped listed companies prepare annual and sustainability reports. His wife, Elaine Lau, was a journalist for 10 years before venturing into corporate communications. “About four years ago, Mi
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Show Time

First constructed in 1995 and launched in 1999, Malaysia’s national theatre, known as Istana Budaya, is the pride of the local performing arts scene. Spanning an impressive 54,400 sq m across its entire complex, with the theatre taking up 21,000 sq m of the space, the venue has seen a wealth of performances, from classical music and opera to Broadway musicals and plays. Some of its most memorable international productions include Tosca, La Bohème and Turandot. The brainchild of Malaysian archit
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Canvassing Culture

Formerly known as the Tanjong Heritage National Level Art Competition, the Usaha Tegas Heritage Art Competition saw 21 participating art institutions with a staggering 955 entries. Only 29 of the 535 shortlisted artworks stood out, winning a total of RM77,000 in cash prizes. Incidentally, 2017 marks the first time Usaha Tegas is organising the competition which is currently in its 18th year running. Taking over from its subsidiary company, Tanjong PLC, at the heart of the competition is Malaysi
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Modern Family

Carey Ng has come a long way since representing Malaysia at the Miss Universe pageant in 2013. Apart from landing magazine covers and television commercials, the former ballerina and rhythmic gymnast has been busy emceeing events and galas, and even held the post of national director in the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation from 2014 - 2016. More recently, she has been juggling her career with a couple of newer roles – wife to F&B entrepreneur Roen Cian Nagapan and mother to baby Shaelyn Rey,
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Screen Sirens

Having rocked the world of digital retail for almost a decade, Reebonz further strengthens its global presence by launching physical stores in Australia as well as its native Singapore. Its third flagship – a sleek 4,000 sqf space of minimalist design – recently opened in Lot 10 Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur. As the largest luxury e-tailer in Southeast Asia with more than 500 designer brands on board, it is essential for the company to constantly innovate its services via holistic use of cust
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Do Not Go Gentle

Do Not Go Gentle The journey of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) began back in May 2005. “We wanted to have a performing arts centre, not too different from the first centre we opened in 1995 at Plaza Putra underneath Dataran Merdeka,” recalls Datuk Faridah Merican, executive producer and co-founder of The Actors Studio (TAS), klpac and the Performing Arts Centre of Penang. When she and her husband, co-founder Joe Hasham, lost their first arts centre to floods, they were
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Modern Ethnic

Homegrown fashion label Frankitas has been making waves since 2015. The independent company is renowned for its use of traditional textiles, woven and hand-dyed to perfection, and crafted into striking bags and clutches with an exotic twist. Its unique materials are sourced from skilled crafters in remote areas around Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Central Asia. Think ikat, batik, songket, tenun and rangrang – elements that are synonymous with its ethos of curated pieces crafted with style. In
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A Beautiful Mind

An announcement comes over the bookstore’s public address system, informing customers about Malaysian author Felicia Yap’s book signing taking place later that day. Yap, 36, pauses at the sound of her name and then laughs. “I thought I was in trouble; it’s like I’m being called to the principal’s office!” One can only imagine that the principal would be proud of her today. Yap made headlines when her first novel, Yesterday, became the subject of a bidding war among eight of the UK’s top publish
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Music of the Land

Fresh from its collaboration with RTM Orchestra, the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) continues to celebrate its 10th anniversary in what promises to be a sensational collaboration with Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia (OTM). Dubbed Konsert Tanah Airku, this partnership marks the second collaboration between the two orchestras, the first being in 2014 in Johor Bahru. Since its establishment in 2006, the MPYO has grown in virtuosity and versatility. There are currently 98 members, and
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Lights, Camera, Action!

In 2006, BMW Group Malaysia introduced a new cultural initiative that would provide local amateur filmmakers a platform to express their creativity and celluloid genius. To date, its popular short film competition called BMW Shorties has received more than 750 entries, many of which have since been screened at prestigious international film festivals in Cannes, New York, Rotterdam, Oberhausen, Rome and Clermont-Ferrand. “BMW Shorties has journeyed a remarkable distance since it first undertook
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Mistress of Spices

It is a sunny Saturday afternoon and Diana Chan, the Malaysian-born winner of MasterChef Australia 2017, has just upturned a large mixing bowl of whipped egg whites high above her clean, silky tresses. “You should be able to put it over your head,” she tells the crowd, as they cheer in delight before continuing to watch her prepare a meringue. The cooking demonstration is taking place at EcoWorld International in Bukit Bintang City Centre. Earlier in August, Chan joined the property developer’s
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Boy Wonder

It all began with an electronic keyboard, a gift from a devoted father. “At the time, I was about six or seven when I found myself fooling around with it,” recalls Tengku Ahmad Irfan Tengku Dr Ahmad Shahrizal. “There were no expectations of where I might go but then I found myself attached to it; I was very excited by the melodies coming out of it.” He remembers it was a Chopin waltz that he was most intrigued by at the time. “Once I clicked on that and saw the keys light up, one leading to an
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Past Perfect

For a significant segment of modern society, the museum experience is underrated. While digital references and online encyclopaedia may boast vast knowledge of global history and culture, nothing beats the power of seeing authentic remnants of the past in real life. Yet somewhere among the stuffy confines and unattractive displays that have regrettably become the norm, certain gallery owners and curators have lost their touch and consequently, their audience. Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Tuanku Muhri
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Infinite Grace

Travel back to 1991, when renowned Malaysian gymnast Farrah-Hani Imran transfixed audiences at the Manila SEA Games with her spellbinding ribbon routine. That year, Farrah-Hani won gold and with it, the hearts and imagination of the entire nation – including that of Sarina Sundara Rajah, who witnessed the memorable event on television as a little girl. “I told myself that I wanted to be just like her,” recalls the founder of Sarina’s Rhythmic Gymnastics Club (SRGC) and former national gymnast.
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Thread Count

Recently, the brilliant artwork of Zuhairah Datuk Shuaib, 76, began making its rounds on social media. At first glance, her depictions of pastoral scenery, underwater landscapes and verdant jungles are captivating in their lively use of colour and evocative imagery. However, it is upon closer inspection that they truly take one’s breath away. What sets Zuhairah’s creations apart is her medium of choice: The collages consist of leftover fabric trimmed to the finest measurements along with varyin
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Stand By Me

Revisiting the joys and pitfalls of childhood, Sifu Productions presents Clark Gesner’s vibrant masterpiece You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown this month. First staged off-Broadway at Theatre 80 in New York’s East Village in 1967, the musical is based on the famous Peanuts comic strip and features some of the most loved characters in cartoon history: Charlie Brown, Sally Brown, Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt, Schroeder and, of course, Snoopy. “We’ve always wanted to do a family or children’s theat
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Chronicles of Malaysiana

Malaysian literature boasts a rich history, from early epics influenced by the Mahabharata and Ramayana to the wonderfully descriptive prose of Hikayat Mara Karma, Hikayat Panca Tanderan and Hikayat Gul Bakawali. National laureates like Datuk Shahnon Ahmad, Datuk A. Samad Said and Datuk Zurinah Hassan, with their vivid depictions of local culture, have brought us much pride and paved the way for the next generation of prolific writers. However, with the proliferation of pulp fiction as well as
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Heartwarming Presents

In addition to the proverbial stork, expectant mothers in Malaysia now have even more little bundles of joy to look forward to. Recently launched is the subscription service, Before She Pops, which curates thoughtful gift boxes for pregnant women to be delivered each trimester. Said to be the first of its kind in Malaysia, it has already won numerous fans in Kuala Lumpur. “The idea came to me when I was in my third trimester. I was working from home because I wanted to rest and didn’t want to s
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