12/12/2025

FRIDAY | DEC 12, 2025

23

LYFE

New wave of CNY culture T O welcome the upcoming Year of the Horse, JYY Group has launched the 2026 Chinese New Year (CNY) o JYY Group holds concert inspired by five elements ahead of Year of the Horse

Concert “Horseh! Lucky Bee with You”, presenting the “most authentic spirit of Malaysian CNY” to audiences through cross-industry collaborations with a fresh, international and contemporary touch. This year’s JYY CNY concert takes inspiration from the five elements – metal, wood, water, fire and earth – weaving these classical symbols into the production’s artistic direction. With a stronger artiste line-up, elevated staging and production standards, and a deeper cultural narrative, the concert aims to usher Malaysia into a new chapter of CNY cultural export. The launch event brought together a star-studded cast spanning generations, including Hong Kong’s beloved “Good Auntie” Nancy Sit, Malaysia’s “Smiling Prince” Nicholas Teo, national singer-songwriter Ah Niu, popular singing-and-dancing trio 3P, vocalist Angeline Khoo and entertainer Jaspers Lai – all uniting to present a festive cultural showcase at the highest standards. Stability, value As a homegrown brand, JYY Group believes the best of Malaysia deserves to be seen by the world. Therefore, for CNY 2026, the theme of “stability and value” is highlighted through music, performances, festive gifts and cross-industry collaborations, allowing Malaysian culture to be seen, understood and cherished. The launch of the CNY celebration opened with performances by the Zeppo Dance Crew and traditional instruments by a hands percussion group. The rich rhythms showcased Malaysia’s multicultural heritage. Over the past three years, JYY Group’s CNY songs have been loved by audiences at home and abroad, nourishing a new generation’s memories of the festive season. This year, the brand once again leads CNY cultural trends with two new songs Horseh and Lucky Bee with You , inspired by the core CNY value of “building blessings”. These songs

Fuying and Khoo deliver a heartfelt performance together, spreading early CNY cheer to the audience.

represents momentum, growth and riding the wind. Additionally, the “h” in Horse + h extends to symbolise health, hope, happiness, harmony and huat! brought by the Year of the Horse. “Horseh!” is a colloquial exclamation and a heartfelt wish for a prosperous new year. The full MV of Horseh will be released in mid-December. In their performance, Khoo and Fuying delivered a cross-genre collaboration. Khoo’s sweet and classic festive vocals carried the deep traditional roots of CNY culture, while Fuying infused strong modern and trending elements. Their styles blended traditional melodies with contemporary sounds, with rhythms that flowed freely like water. Their performance was not only a creative showcase, but also a vivid interpretation of the theme “Flow and Fusion” – cultural elements from different backgrounds and eras soaking into each other, intertwining on Malaysian soil, and ultimately converging into a vibrant, uniquely Malaysian New Year cultural trend. As one of the finale performers, Hong Kong’s evergreen “Queen of New Year Songs” Sit ignited the entire venue with her signature charm and festive energy. Her joyful singing and lively performance instantly elevated the atmosphere, immersing the audience in the peak of New Year spirit. Singer Ah Niu performed his popular song Saying ‘I Love You Through Malaysia’s Weather , delivering a heartfelt, nostalgic moment filled with Malaysian warmth. On-ground initiatives in support of Visit Malaysia 2026 In support of Visit Malaysia 2026, JYY Group is implementing initiatives under the “Made in Malaysia” banner.

Singer Ah Niu (left) and JYY Group founder and CEO Alann Tan performing Saying ‘I Love You’ Through Malaysia’s Weather .

Through media and government collaborations, these local products have evolved into cultural symbols, representing Malaysia’s treasured offerings. For 2026, JYY Group aims to take this further – the “MY Treasures” series not only tells Malaysia’s story but also contributes to the tourism economy and supports national economic growth. JYY Group has launched limited-edition Visit Malaysia 2026 packaging, initially available on AirAsia flights from January 2026, later expanding to airport duty-free shops and tourist zones. In partnership with Tourism Malaysia, these locally sourced products are being introduced to an international audience. Throughout 2026, JYY Group plans larger-scale cultural promotion campaigns, highlighting “culture, gifting and local production” to showcase Malaysia’s treasures. Experiential events, music, tasting sessions and interactive blind boxes will engage students from primary to university levels. The nationwide expansion of Trigona Honey

will also make “honey culture” a must-experience for visitors. During Visit Malaysia 2026, JYY Group and Tourism Malaysia view CNY as a key cultural window to promote the country. The second festive song Lucky Bee with You features bright and cheerful melodies that reflect Malaysian lifestyle warmth, conveying the belief “Good luck follows you”. Its slogan, “Bee healthy, bee happy!” embodies the core message: health brings luck, keeping wellness and fortune close to everyone. This production has been fully upgraded in scale, narrative and emotional depth. The MV features VM2026 mascots Wira and Manja, symbolising a warm invitation to global travellers and using cultural content to boost international attention, reinforcing Malaysian CNY as a national cultural symbol. Budget airline AirAsia also participated in the MV shooting, representing travellers from around the world coming to Malaysia for CNY, making the country a hub for reunion and cultural exchange. This festive production has evolved from a “brand story” to a “Malaysia story,” showcasing Malaysian cultural soft power with confidence and collective spirit. The MV brings together over 10 local artistes who frequently collaborate with JYY Group, including Ah Niu, Nicholas Teo, 3P, Khoo and Jeff Chen. The finale unites Malaysia’s three major ethnic groups, indigenous communities and friends from overseas countries such as South Korea, China, Japan and Hungary, forming a diverse yet closely connected grand reunion scene, embodying the “Satu Malaysia” spirit and the nation’s warmth and inclusivity.

Teo delivers a heartfelt performance of his signature hit Who Will You Think of When You’re Lonely . blend traditional warmth with modern Mandopop. Continuing the Malaysian tradition of “celebrating the New Year through music”, they also showcase to the world a CNY that is creatively rich and deeply festive. Horseh features a high-energy, rhythmically engaging music style. The music video (MV) uses a one-take filming technique, delivering a seamless, fast-paced visual rhythm. Multiple dazzling costumes and bold colours symbolise the vigour, momentum and unstoppable energy of the Year of the Horse. The term “horseh” is a common Malaysian expression meaning “awesome.” In the context of the Chinese zodiac, it continues the concept of the Snake Year as a period of preparation and patience, while the Horse Year

Malaysia’s viral singing-and-dancing trio 3P ignite the atmosphere with a high-energy medley of their past CNY hits.

Sit lights up the stage with her signature vocals and lively dance moves, bringing the festive spirit to its peak.