09/05/2026

SATURDAY | MAY 9, 2026

COMMUNITY 7

K OTA KINABALU: When Sepilok Jazz returns for its fifth edition at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sandakan this Sept 4 and 5, it will do so with its brightest spotlight yet. International superstar Shila Amzah is set to take centre stage as the headliner, transforming a beloved eco-cultural festival into a landmark event for both music and marine conservation. The acclaimed Malaysian artiste, known for her international victories on reality shows Asian Wave and I Am a Singer as well as for her sold-out China tours, brings both artistic excellence and a commitment to environmental causes, according to festival organisers. “Shila Amzah represents both artistic excellence and extraordinary generosity in supporting conservation causes,” said music director Cheong Kok Ann. “Her participation sends a powerful message – that world-class talent can drive real environmental action.” Organised by Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (Foster), Sepilok Jazz has become one of Sabah’s premier cultural and eco-tourism events. Proceeds from ticket sales directly fund sea turtle protection on Libaran Island, contributing to the successful release of more than 45,000 sea turtles to date. “By attending Sepilok Jazz, audiences become active contributors to conservation, transforming music appreciation into meaningful environmental action,” said Foster president Alexander Yee. The festival’s Bakat Sepilok Jazz programme is expected to draw over 120 contestants from across the nation, while introducing Youth Ambassador Ivan Hii and adding the Foster Annual Review – plus a proposed Borneo Big Band Symposium in collaboration with Jazz Association

Sepilok Jazz 2026 to promote conservation through music

o Star singer Shila Amzah set to show support for environmental cause

Youth Singapore. Alongside Shila, the festival features a curated lineup of Malaysian jazz musicians and international artistes from Italy, Indonesia, Singapore and China – showcasing diverse styles from classic to fusion. Held at RDC, the festival’s lush rainforest backdrop provides an immersive setting in which audiences experience music in harmony with nature. With continued support from the Sabah Tourism Board, the 2026 edition represents the festival’s most ambitious chapter yet, blending performance, education, youth development and regional collaboration. The event is expected to draw over 5,000 visitors, its largest audience to date, while continuing to support local entrepreneurs, emerging artistes and youth talent. The festival’s growth has been progressive, the inaugural 2022 edition drew 150 guests, 2023 introduced music workshops, 2024 launched the Sepilok Jazz Academy and Bakat Sepilok Jazz with international judges and 2025 attracted 115 contestants, including participants from Singapore and artistes from Korea, Germany and Hungary. – by JOSHUA CHANG

Cheong, Hii and Yee (3rd, 4th and 5th from right respectively) during a gathering to promote Sepilok Zazz.

Philanthropic traders donate food to B40 group

IPOH: To help ease the financial burden on low-income residents, specifically those from the B40 segment affected by the current high cost of living, the operators of a food store at Taman Seri Tasek here recently gave away 350 bags of edible rations worth RM150 each. Each bag included frozen foods such as fish, chicken and crab, in addition to vegetables, rice, flour and eggs. The main donor, Ariff Frozen Food, also enlisted some of its suppliers to join the effort by contributing items for the underprivileged. A simple ceremony coordinated by the Perak India Muslim Association was held at the shop on May 3 to distribute the sundry items. Recipients had to ealier register with the association, that vetted their status to receive the aid. Ariff Frozen Food managing director Fauziah Mohamed Arib said they were made aware of the difficulties that the common people were facing and wanted to offer assistance to those affected. “Hopefully, the contribution would overcome their difficulties at the present time,” she said. “This programme started in 2016 with an initial

50 recipients receiving the aid annually and the number has increased over the years. “Hopefully, we will be able to give to more people next year,“ she added. Shop proprietor Mohamed Arib Aliah expressed disappointment that some of the recipients had sold the goods they received to foreign workers. “We are not giving cash but household goods for their consumption, but they chose to sell them to make a quick buck. “Those people who were not sincere have had their names removed from the list of eligible recipients,” he said. “With the price of diesel having gone up, we have to bear high costs for the goods. For now, we can maintain retail prices but our profit margin has been reduced.“ Mohamed Arib stressed that the goods are given to all needy people regardless of race. The programme was scheduled to start at 9am with registration. “However, the crowd showed up as early as 7am, which goes to show there are many out there who need assistance,“ he added. – P. CHANDRA SAGARAN

Thaiveegan, Uvarajan and Palaiya (2nd, 3rd and 4th from right respectively) posing with top scorer Sanmukavannan (in blue) – P. CHANDRA SAGARAN/THESUN Top cop returns to motivate youths at alma mater

Ű P. CHANDRA SAGARAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

and parents. Thaiveegan, who grew up in the Buntong area, was fulfilling a promise he made to donate RM5,000 if students scored more than five As. As it turned out, he was proud to see there were pupils who had attained up to 12 As. Topping the list was P. Sanmukavannan, who landed As in all the 12 subjects he had sat for. As a top policeman in his long career, Thaiveegan is held as a role model for local youths in Buntong. His determination and commitment in life helped him climb the ladder in the police force, before he retired as the chief of police in Penang with the rank of commissioner. Thaiveegan had studied at the Sungai Pari government Tamil school in the 1960s and then went to Sungai Pari Boys Secondary School in a Remove Class in 1972. He completed Form Five in 1977 and scored Grade One in the final examination, becoming the only student to achieve such a high result that year.

IPOH: Former Penang chief police officer Datuk A. Thaiveegan returned to his alma mater SMK Sungai Pari here to make a contribution during the school’s academic excellence event. Apart from officiating at the ocassion and delivering an inspiring and motivating speech to the students, he made a contribution of RM5,000 to the top ten SPM students who scored five to 12 As. They were among 50 students of the school who received appreciation certificates for their outstanding academic results at various exam levels. Persatuan Kebajikan, Sosial, Sukan dan Kebudayaan India Kinta Perak chairman P. Uvarajan, who was present, gave away six watches in his personal capacity, and Persatuan Kebajikan dan Kebudayaan India Ipoh chairman P. Palaiya personally donated four tablets to the top students. Also present were the school’s principal Ahmad Rezaudin Hussein, staff, PTA officials

Some of the recipients posing with Mohamed Arib (with songkok), who is standing beside Fauziah. – P. CHANDRA SAGARAN/THESUN