13/12/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | DEC 13, 2025

FOLLOW

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

24

@thesundaily

Senario reunites after 30 years o Iconic comedic sextet to throw concert bash for Malaysians

T HE bond among members of the musical and comedy group Senario has remained strong despite the many challenges it has faced throughout its three decades in the entertainment industry. Also known as SenarioUnion, the iconic troupe was formed in the early 1990s by several participants of the reality programme Sinaran Passport Kegemilangan . The group currently comprises Azlee Jaafar, Wahid, Lan Pet Pet, Ilya Buang, Saiful Apek and Yassin Yahya. Senario is set to stage a mega concert, titled The Last Kopek: SenarioUnion 30 Tahun, at Idea Live Arena in Petaling Jaya on April 25 next year to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Azlee, 58, said preparing for the concert involves more than routine rehearsals – it requires stamina, commitment and teamwork among the members as they would need to entertain the audience for more than two hours with over 20 songs. “We need to gather our strength and energy because this is not a short concert. And with our age, it’s not easy to sustain our performance on stage for such a long period,” he said at a press conference to announce the group’s upcoming concert. Azlee said although disagreements occasionally arise among the members, their relationship remains strong thanks to mutual respect and the courage to admit mistakes as they give each other space to improve themselves. Saiful, 56, whose real name is Muhammad Saiful Azam Mohamed Yusoff, said the concert will not only feature comedy but also singing – so the members will have to ensure their vocal quality is good enough to satisfy their fans. “The most important thing is that we don’t sing off-key. That’s why we still practise to strengthen our performance although we’re not full-time singers,” he said. Lan, 56, whose real name is Mazlan Ahmad, said the concert will also bring together longtime fans who now have families of their own, while introducing Senario to a new generation. The concert will feature musical and comedic performances accompanied by seven musicians, along with three horn and accordion players. The refreshed musical arrangements will be led by Chaan & The Leman Band as the concert’s music director. The tickets, which go on sale starting Dec 15, are priced between RM138 and RM488. – Bernama

(From left) Ilya, Saiful, Wahid, Azlee, Yassin and Lan performing on stage. – BERNAMAPIC

Upanda Cinema brings China-themed programmes to M’sian telly MALAY S IA NS can now enjoy

broadcast on Astro’s television channels during Chinese New Year 2026 – featuring a curated selection of Chinese programmes. More than 100 hours of China-themed content will be presented, including drama series ( Flourished Peony, Romance in the Alley) , documentaries (Master Class, Rediscovering Home Truths) and animation ( MooBoo Cops). More programmes will be curated to present a rich cultural viewing experience. In addition, CICC signed two major film and television cultural cooperation projects with Mango Media Sdn Bhd and Juxta Films: China–Malaysia Themed Short Drama Co-creation Programme, China–Malaysia Film and Television Cultural Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. These agreements aim to advance bilateral collaboration in micro-drama co-creation, filming-based partnerships and industry development. A new China–Malaysia co-produced light-variety programme Melody Bridge was also announced.

curated Chinese content, from documentaries to animation, that showcases the rich culture of China via UPanda Cinema, which was recently launched in Kuala Lumpur. The initiative is jointly guided by the State Council Information Office of China, National Radio and Television Administration of China and the Communications Ministry – co-organised by the China Intercontinental Communication Centre (CICC), Astro Malaysia and Mango Media Sdn Bhd. The State Council Information Office of China deputy director-general (External Promotion Bureau) Li Zhuang expressed hope that traditional Chinese culture would help strengthen people-to-people ties and enable both countries to better tell the story of China–Malaysia cultural exchange and mutual learning. He added that deeper audiovisual cooperation – including co-production, content exchange and talent development would further broaden channels for mutual understanding. Li also highlighted

Li (fourth from left), Teo (fifth from left) and others at the launch of Upanda Cinema.

Our screen industry has attracted over RM1 billion in investments, supported more than 160 projects, created 16,300 jobs, and generated an economic multiplier effect of RM3.5 billion,” she said. The showcase season will be

share long-standing cultural ties that continue to strengthen mutual understanding between our peoples. “UPanda Cinema offers Malaysian audiences wider access to Chinese content and opens new opportunities for collaboration in film and television.

youth exchanges can serve as an important driving force in solidifying these bonds and opening new pathways for the next “Golden 50 Years” of China–Malaysia relations. Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said Malaysia and China