04/07/2025

FRIDAY | JULY 4, 2025

23

LYFE

Motors roar at Sepang T HE inaugural Malaysia Auto and Lifestyle Festival 2025 (MALF 2025) has wrapped up its three-day run earlier o Record-breaking MALF2025 fuels tourism, regional ties

this month. It attracted over 20,000 local and international automotive enthusiasts and featured a showcase of 1,800 vehicles from a wide range of brands. MALF 2025 also made headlines by setting a new Malaysia Book of Records entry for the “Largest Sports and Classic Cars Gathering in Sepang International Circuit”, with a total of 1,000 cars assembled. The recognition ceremony, held at Sepang International Circuit, was officiated by MALF organiser Jon Tan and MALF coordinator Datuk Alex Goy, who jointly received the certificate from Malaysia Book of Records operations manager Edwin Yeoh. “With plans to bring the event to an international scale, the organisers aim to make MALF a flagship event contributing to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VMF2026) by attracting more international visitors,” said Tan. According to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot, the festival also attracted international visitors from Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, which has strengthened regional

The legends of speed gather on stage to share their insights and experiences from the automotive world.

Goy (left) and Tan (far right) receive certificates from the Malaysian Book of Records.

Djan, Karamjit Singh, Alex Wong, Sonny Soh and Akash Nandy. They spoke on several matters, such as using proper race tracks instead of public roads, the challenges of securing sponsorships, the potential for social media to be used to build a racer’s personal brand and stories on racing struggles. Furthermore, MALF 2025 offered a comprehensive lineup of attractions such as the Legends of Speed appearances, Auto Icons exhibition, MALF Mega Gathering, Malaysia Bike Festival, Classique at MALF Concours of Elegance, JDM Salon Display, Track Day Fest, Malaysia Bike Festival, sim racing and one of the crowd-favourites Drift Taxi. Visitors were treated to thrilling on-track action with professional and enthusiast racers, as well as live drift and track demos by some of the Legends of Speed racers themselves. During the gathering, there was everything from custom modifieds, to classics and exotic cars. Beyond automotive experiences, the festival celebrated Malaysia’s cultural richness with performances including the Muhibbah Drum, Joget, Sarawak and Sabah traditional dances, along with a wide array of

ties while promoting Malaysia. “MALF2025 not only celebrates the excellence of the motoring world, but also serves as a significant promotional initiative in the lead-up to VM2026. This aligns with the Malaysia Madani aspiration to further strengthen the nation’s tourism sector.” Champions take the spotlight A highlight of the festival was the Legend of Speed segment that showcased Malaysia’s rich trove of racing champions and winners. These include former Formula 1 and A1 GP driver Fairuz Fauzy, racer Zen Low, Tengku

Shaharuddin at the event.

About 1,000 cars come together for MALF 2025.

Route 77 Harley-Davidson of Kuala Lumpur and more. With record-breaking crowds, unforgettable experiences and roaring engines still echoing through Sepang, MALF has cemented its place as a must-visit event on Malaysia’s festival calendar.

local delicacies. MALF 2025 was supported by automotive communities and lifestyle groups, including BMW Club Malaysia, Lamborghini Owners Malaysia, McLaren Owner’s Community, Mustang Club Malaysia, Porsche Club Malaysia,

A wide variety of vehicles gather at the Sepang International Circuit, including race cars.

Reconnecting Malaysians with nature, culture, well-being IN support of the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026, natural mineral water brand Spritzer’s nationwide encourages travellers to reconnect with nature, and staying refreshed and revitalised with its natural mineral water. healing journeys, cultural adventures and sustainable travel moments further deepening brand affinity and reach.

campaign “Air Love Cuti-Cuti: Jom Healing” is centred around the concept of “healing”, inviting Malaysians to reconnect with nature, explore cultural heritage and embrace a more balance, healthier lifestyles through local travel. Running until July 2025, Air Love Cuti-Cuti: Jom Healing will feature an original six-episodes travel variety series, an interactive art installation, social media activation and integrated content marketing. “Healing” has emerged as a buzzword among Malaysia’s younger generation, symbolising a break from daily stress through short getaways to restore inner peace and emotional balance. Recognising this trend, it

The campaign also highlights environmental consciousness, urging travellers to explore Malaysia in a sustainable and responsible way. It aims to inspire Malaysians to cherish the nation’s natural ecosystems, rich heritage and culture diversity while preserving their beauty for future generations through mindful recycling and environmental care. The campaign seeks to deepen Malaysians’ emotional connect with domestic travel with nature. Beyond on-ground activations, the campaign extends into digital spaces through original travel shows, social media engagement and immersive art installations to encourage Malaysians to share their own

Malaysia’s hidden gems Jom Healing is a web series that journeys through various nature centric wonders such as waterfalls, island, mountains, caves, lakes, national park and recreational forest on top of heritage towns, cultural activities and local eateries, capturing moments of relaxation and self discovery. This programme offers more than just sightseeing, it is a journey of healing and connection. Its relatable format inspires viewers to embrace healing travel as therapy. The show is now showing on Viu, every Monday and Friday until July 14.

Jom Healing is a web series on Viu.