PETALING JAYA, 25 June 2023 – Sixteen dance crews across the peninsular met head-to-head at the K-pop Dance Cover Competition Grand Finale 2023 held at CITTA Mall. Over the past three weekends, three preliminary rounds took place at Ipoh Parade (11 June 2023), Klang Parade (18 June 2023) and CITTA Mall (24 June 2023), whereby the top 6 winners from each round converged on 25 June 2023 for the Grand Finale.At the Grand Finale, judged by Andy, Jing Han and Iylia who are all accomplished Malaysian K-pop dancers, MULAN, a team comprising of 6 female and 6 male dancers, claimed the Champion title by performing a riveting version of Oneus’ “Lit” and “No Diggity”. In an interesting plot twist, it was the female crew members who played the main parts, each one taking on a character from the boy band. They performed a highly energetic, and accurately punctuated performance, which included a flute solo and a dress change!
Below is the full list of winners from the Grand Finale: Champion: MULAN (“Lit” and “No Diggity” by Oneus) 1st Runner Up: Valerinx (“Undercover” by Craxy) 2nd Runner Up: SN19 (“Let Me Know” by Pixy) Consolation #1: Voisonous (“Swan” by Izone) Consolation #2: DANNCEROAD (“I’m a B” and “Maria” by Hwasa) Consolation #3: Charmixes (“Run2u” by STAYC)
Each year in March, ARA Asset Management (ARA) Malls are unwavering in their efforts to inculcate an appreciation for the natural world among its patrons through a series of fun and educational activities under the banner of its eco-conscious campaign, “Helping Our Planet Everyday” (or H.O.P.E.).
Campaign mainstays such as the aluminium pull-tab collection, coffee ground collection, and eco-themed arts & crafts workshops make a return to 1 Mont Kiara and CITTA Mall, while H.O.P.E.’s mascot, Mr. Plasticman, will also be making the rounds at both malls, offering to trade eco-friendly bags for plastic ones with shoppers.
“The collection of aluminium tabs will run for the entire month of March at 1 Mont Kiara and CITTA Mall,” remarked Alan Thoo, Head of Marketing. “The tabs will then be sent to prosthetic limb manufacturers through the Lions Club units that we cooperate with.”
Patrons of 1 Mont Kiara and CITTA Mall are encouraged to drop their pull tabs at the malls’ respective information counters between 12pm and 6pm throughout March.
One of the major highlights for Eco Month would be the popular Eco-Fashionista Costume Contest that has drawn the attention of many designer moms and charismatic children to Ipoh Parade and CITTA Mall, and for the first time ever, Klang Parade. A total of RM850 worth of cash and prizes are up for grabs at each mall, so contestants better come dressed in their upcycled best if they want to impress the judges.
In the past, contestants have consistently astounded a wide-eyed audience with their ingenuity, transforming yesterday’s waste into today’s fashion statement using a wide range of recycled materials such as aluminium cans, discarded cardboard, dated newspapers, and our arch-enemy, plastic. The sheer creativity that spills over the runway have only continued to inspire many others to parade their dresses of tomorrow, proving that sustainable fashion can truly start from the home.
1 Mont Kiara is the only mall to break away from this tradition, opting instead to focus on its successful H.O.P.E. Recycled Art Contest once again this year. A total of 132 art pieces were submitted for the contest by its 8 March deadline, exceeding all expectations yet also affirming the contest’s acceptance by the surrounding community. As a result of the overwhelming response, the Top 70 pieces (instead of the previous Top 50) will now be displayed at the H.O.P.E. Recycled Art Exhibition at the mall’s ground floor from 13 – 19 March.
The various sculptures and artworks paint a vivid picture of what the environment means to our youth, and they reveal our youngest generation’s aspirations for a greener future. For most of the submitted pieces, there is an urgent call-to-action to protect the singularly liveable planet that we often take for granted, while others function more like a time capsule that preserves an untainted innocence.
Further up north in Ipoh Parade is where the city’s inaugural Succulent Fair will take place from 31 March to 2 April. Hosted by Cactus Boy Nursery, who has an established base at CITTA Mall, the Succulent Fair will be the site for many colourful and exotic succulents, which have seen a surge of interest since the lockdown days due to their easy-to-care for nature and jaw-dropping diversity.
“It is a great honour to be able to work with Ipoh Parade and make this fair happen, as I have never done anything of the sort at such a scale before,” commented Koh Kuan Meng aka Cactus Boy. “I am very excited to share some of my unique discoveries with the people of Ipoh and to educate everyone on how to properly care for their succulents.”
On 1 and 2 April, visitors to the fair will be able to join personalised workshops where Koh addresses common issues about caring for succulents. Shoppers who have purchased any five succulents and a pot will also be able to learn how to make an arrangement with their selection over two sessions on both days (3:00pm and 6:00pm on 1 April; 12:00pm and 6:00pm on 2 April).
“We hope these activities help people get involved in their own way and be engaged in preserving our environment. We know this may be just a small step in addressing climate change, but we hope it will be the seed that inspires a way of living in the future,” Thoo added.
For a full breakdown of the events across the malls, please refer to the table below:
1 Mont Kiara celebrates Eco Month from 1st to 31st March
Eco-Fashionista Costume Contest will be held under H.O.P.E campaign on 26 March 2023 at Klang Parade
– Eco-Themed Arts & Crafts Workshop – Plant-A-Tree Workshop – E-Waste Interactive Games Corner
25 – 26 March
12:00pm – 6:00pm
– Mr. Plasticman Walkabout
25 – 26 March
12:00pm – 9:00pm
Ipoh Parade
– First Succulent Fair in Ipoh (by Cactus Boy Nursery)
31 March – 2 April
10:00am – 10:00pm
1-on-1 Workshops with Cactus Boy:
– Sharing Session: “What do I do when my succulents are sunburnt?” “What do I do when they become elongated?” – Hands-on Session: Buy any five succulents and learn to pot them together.
1 April 2 April
3:00pm 12:00pm
– Sharing Session: “How do I propagate succulents?” “How do I care for such young succulents?” -Hands-on Session: Buy any five succulents and learn to pot them together.
Group photo of the 3x3x3 Cube First Round event, the largest event of the championship where all the cubers turned up to compete
The YJ Malaysia Cube Open 2022 became part of the nation’s history as the national cubing event with the most participants and the most first-timers.
When registration for the YJ Malaysia Cube Open 2022 opened, the organisers had no idea that participation would exceed 300 to 350 spots, making it Malaysia’s largest cubing event to date. The competition had 155 first-time competitors, setting a new record for the most new participants at the event.
“We were amazed by the flood of registrations and had to request the World Cubing Association (WCA) to increase our participation limit to 350 spots,” Manfred Siew, one of the three organisers, said. “We were also grateful to be able to host this event at The Space, CITTA Mall, which could easily accommodate such a large number of participants, including their supporters by way of family members and friends.”
Manfred Siew, the main organiser of the YJ Malaysia Cube Open 2022
He opined that the recent Movement Control Order (MCO) caused many youngsters to take up cubing while they were sequestered at home. “In fact, many new cubing Tik Tok channels came about during this time, further igniting interest in this sport,” the 22-year-old added.
A participant of the 3x3x3 Blindfolded Final event
The full cubing event, which featured the complete 17 speedcubing competitions, drew participants from a total of 17 countries, including neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Brunei; and further ones such as the USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Russia, New Zealand, South Korea, India, China, and Australia.
Cubing fans of all ages took part, with the youngest participant being a 6-year-old boy and the oldest participant being Siew’s father, Siew Hann Wen, aged 48.
National Records Set
Manfred Siew (center) surrounded by some of the winners and National Record setters of the YJ Malaysia Cube Open 2022
Siew was pleased to report that there were a number of national records set in the 3-day event. Tee Kai Yang of Malaysia won the 3x3x3 Cube Final event with an average score of 6.88 seconds (he broke the National Record in the 3x3x3 Cube Second Round with an average of 6.66 seconds), followed by Natthaphat Mahtani of Thailand (average score: 7.43 seconds) and Yap Jia Yang of Malaysia (average score: 8.20 seconds). Ang Chin Zhen of Malaysia was the champion in the 3x3x3 Fewest Moves Final event with an average score of 24 seconds, which was also the national record. Singaporean Wong Chong Wen was the first runner-up with an average score of 24.67 seconds, followed by Indonesian Firstian Fushada with an average score of 26 seconds. Theodore Chan of Singapore emerged as the champion of the 3x3x3 Blindfolded Final with an average score of 23.17 seconds, which is a national record. Second place in the 3x3x3 Blindfolded Final Event went to Hill Pong Yong Feng of Malaysia (average score: 27.69 seconds) and Chih-Chuan Yang of Taiwan (average score: 28.88 seconds).
Manfred (left) awarding one of the National Record setters, Tee Kai Yang
“Hours upon hours of practice are needed to be an excellent speedcuber who wins competitions,” said Siew, who participated and won third place in the Clock final event with an average score of 7.31 seconds. The 6-time National Record holder in 2019 admitted that his practice time has dwindled considerably now that he is helping out in his father’s hoarding board design business and running his fledgling woodwork product business at Shopee. “I am now focused on supporting the cubing sport by taking over the mantle of organising the national cubing championship from my father, and together with the support of my co-organisers – twin brother Darren and older brother Eason, 23 years old – and dad and my mom, Tiffany Soh, 48 years old, we will continue to take speedcubing to greater heights.”
A Well-run Event
Under the capable leadership of the Siew brothers, the organisation of the event went smoothly with practically no delays, save for a 2-minute delay for one event. “Apart from that, the other events either ended on time or earlier, much to the delight of participants. We received a lot of positive feedback because everything went smoothly, without a hitch,” said Siew. “The one thing that cubers hate is delays, and once that is eliminated, the event becomes even more enjoyable,” he said with a charming grin.
The event was well-run thanks to the efficient system created by Siew Hann Wen and the participants who volunteered as judges
He attributed it to the willingness of the participants who stepped up to be judges of the event. “With the high number of new participants this year, of which none could qualify as a judge, we had to rally the support of many seasoned participants to help out as judges to man our 30 competition tables,” Siew divulged. “On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to thank all those who have contributed their time and effort. I hope to see more of this cooperative and generous spirit as we continue to be willing to help out and give back to the speedcubing community.”
The Siew brothers in blue (left to right_ Eason, Manfred and Darren) flanked by two members of the organising committee All of the new participants were given a comprehensive tutorial on the SOPs of the YJ Malaysia Cube Open 2022
Another contributing factor to the well-run event, said Siew, was the system his father had created when he first organised the event two championships ago. “I basically adopted his system and everything went smoothly as he had basically covered all the bases.”
For all the benefits of cubing, which include being in a network of friendly kindred spirits willing to share their knowledge and experiences with each other, Siew cautioned cubers to adopt a balanced lifestyle. “Many cubers can be very introverted, and being cooped up indoors to practise all day will not be healthy in the long run. As such, I recommend that cubers participate in sports and physical activities like badminton, running, and the like to build up their health and make them well-rounded people. I would also advise them to make friends outside of the cubing community to expand their horizons.”
