04/01/2026

ON SUNDAY January 4, 2026 theSunday Special III

for this one-day event. To be in the pres ence of such greatness yet still have a sense of camaraderie amongst them is an indescribable feeling.” In the coming year, Raja would like to continue improving his knowledge and technical prowess for both professional and personal reasons. The personal one would be to honour his late father, who also had a passion for technical setup and work during his time. He also wishes the JRYHUQPHQW ZRXOG R̆ HU PRUH VXSSRUW LQ policymaking and funding to make the creative industry a sustainable career path. “My hopes and dreams are never to stop reaching for the stars because one day, we could actually become one. My goal for 2026 is to venture deeper into acting for ¿OP DQG WHOHYLVLRQ 7KLV KDV DOZD\V EHHQ a dream of mine. I would love to make that dream another reality to achieve,” said Raja. Magic and mentorship Hailing from Sandakan, Sabah, Charlston Lau has been an avid pursuer of magic since the tender age of eight. As a magi cian, Lau has won multiple awards but has, over the years, switched gears to coach up-and-coming magicians. In ad dition to his career in magic and illusion, he also dabbles in acting and stand-up comedy. Yet his biggest accomplishment for 2025 is not entirely his own. “I’m beyond proud of my students who took home all the major awards at Malaysia Magic Festival 2025. The students I coached won multiple awards in the Junior Magic and Close-Up Magic

Raja would like to honour his late father, who also had a passion for technical setup and work during his time.

To be in the presence of such greatness yet still have a sense of camaraderie is an indescribable feeling.”

Chai wants to explore new directions through different objects or new ways of showing her artwork.

Competitions at the event. This is the most rewarding part of my work as a coach, DORQJ ZLWK VHHLQJ WKHLU H̆ RUW LQ LQYHQWLQJ their own magic tricks.” Since many of his students are children and teenagers, Lau has to ensure their parents are on board with his coaching method. His approach to teaching magic emphasises character building and the courage to face failure. Magic to him is not just a hobby but serious athletics that should be seen as a sport. “More magicians should perform less off-the-shelf magic. I hope Malaysian magicians will take magic the same way most Europeans do: To strive for original ity and grace international theatre magic productions. It would be great to have Malaysian theatre producers creating full-scale original magic shows. “For 2026, I’m planning to do a magic comedy show tour with my buddy to more places across Malaysia. I would invite my award-winning students to feature their special acts at these shows too,” said Lau, hopefully. Stitching her own story Chai Kah Yan is an embroidery artist based in Kuala Lumpur. She studied graphic design at university, but her journey with embroidery started during the pandemic. In lockdown, she saw an HPEURLGHU\ DUWLVW R̆ HULQJ DQ RQOLQH FODVV and decided to give it a try. Fast forward to 2025, Chai showcased her beautiful HPEURLGHU\ ZRUN DW KHU ¿UVW HYHU H[KLEL tion as part of A4 Art Fair 2025 at GMBB. “I’ll never forget when a visitor told me my work touched something deep inside them and they began to share their own story. That moment reminded me why I

create, which is to bring attention to small, quiet moments we often overlook and to remind us that it’s good to be here still,” said Chai. Since the exhibition, Chai’s work has begun to carry more confidence and tenderness. She no longer hides behind quietness but grows from it. The artist is going through a transformation. She is coming out of her shell. “ 7KH ' HPEURLGHUHG ÀRZHU 1DUFLVVXV shows a sense of blossoming, of learning to love myself as I am. I’ve become more fearless and at peace with showing my true self through my work.” For Chai, embroidery always carries a sense of tradition. From the slow rhythm of the needle to the patience and the care passed down through time. In traditional embroidery, the work often emphasises delicate, refined craftsmanship. Her works, however, carry a sense of pencil GUDZLQJ DV VKH SD\V DWWHQWLRQ WR WKH ÀRZ and variation of the lines, allowing them to create depth and movement on fabric. “This year, I want to explore new direc WLRQV 0D\EH WKURXJK GL̆ HUHQW REMHFWV RU new ways of showing my artwork. I also hope to join some art competitions to keep growing and expanding myself as an artist,” said Chai, open to the possibilities of the future. As we step into 2026, these stories remind us that growth comes in many forms. Whether it is embracing a new FDUHHU PDVWHULQJ D FUDIW RU ¿QGLQJ FRXU age through creativity, every experience shapes who we become. The year ahead may still hold its share of challenges, but with hope, resilience and a little faith in ourselves, we can turn them into opportunities for something even greater.

Raja

“I didn’t leave entertainment. I evolved. I still carry those skills with me. I think my creative background actually gives me a unique advantage in corporate environments. I believe growth happens when we step out of our comfort zone, so I will continue to challenge myself, embrace new environments and never shy away from opportunities that push me to become better. “As for the local entertainment indus try, I would love to see more structure, fair opportunities and long-term development pathways for young talents,” said Heizy, full of optimism. Chasing the acting dream There is no easy way to get into the enter tainment business. Naveen Raja tried his hand at everything that would take him a step closer to his dream of becoming an actor. The young aspiring actor has written and directed his own play, acted under the group Hush the Theatre and worked backstage in technical roles as a lighting operator. “Last year, I met my childhood idol, Jaclyn Victor, at a private event that I was working at in Petronas Philharmonic Hall. I got to have a brief, nonchalant exchange of words of comfort and silliness with her backstage. It was an honour to be surrounded by an incredibly experienced backstage crew, all going about their day-to-day in creating magnificent art

Lau is planning to tour with his friend to more places across Malaysia for a magic comedy show.

I hope Malaysian magicians

will strive for originality.”

Lau