In celebration of the late Malaysian literary icon Arena Wati’s centenary year, the Telekom Museum in Kuala Lumpur will host a full-day tribute on Nov 15, honouring his life, work, and lasting impact. Photo: The Star/Filepic
BOOK EVENT: ARENA WATI CENTENARY TRIBUTE
Venue: Telekom Museum, Kuala Lumpur
Date: Nov 15, 10am
This year marks 100 years since the birth of Arena Wati, one of the towering figures of Bahasa Malaysia literature. Born Muhammad Abdul Biang on July 30, 1925, in Makassar, Indonesia, he went on to play a pivotal role in shaping Malaysian literary life.
To honour the late writer's centenary year, the Telekom Museum in Kuala Lumpur will host a tribute on Nov 15, celebrating his life, work and enduring influence on the literary world. The day-long event is presented by the acclaimed literary journal Svara.
Named Malaysia’s fifth National Laureate in 1987, Arena Wati’s works – including Sukma Angin, Bunga Dari Kuburan, and Sandera – continue to resonate with their exploration of humanity, culture and regional identity.
Known for his poetic yet incisive prose, Arena Wati, who died in 2009, was not just a writer but also an editor, critic and intellectual leader, unafraid to tackle themes of colonialism, injustice, and national struggle.
The free-admission tribute - in Bahasa Malaysia - this Saturday begins at 10am at the Telekom Museum with an exhibition and a mini book market, followed by a curated reading session featuring Arena Wati’s works – Panrita, Gelora, Gandaria and Enda Gulingku.
The day continues with the main forum, “Gelora Laut dan Tekad Anak Jantan” and the lecture session “100 Tahun Arena Wati”, led by National Laureate Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan, guiding literary enthusiasts through Arena Wati’s remarkable journey and legacy.
The other panelists through the programme include Azrin Fauzi, Beduk Logam, Jaymani Sevanathan, Naim al-Kalantani, Qurratul 'Ain, Zin Mahmud, Hani Salwah Yaakup, Roosfa Hashim, Norsamila Samsudin, Arif Danial, and Hafizah Iszahanid.
More info here.
BOOK EVENT: OMAR MUSA'S 'FIERCELAND'
Venue: Lit Books, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 15, 8pm
Australian writer and artist Omar Musa, who has familial roots based in Sabah, is doing a Malaysian book tour all month to promote his latest novel Fierceland. Set in Sabah, Omar’s book weaves a powerful tale of family, betrayal and forgiveness.
Before his appearance at the George Town Literary Festival later this month, readers can catch him at a couple of book events in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.
On Nov 15, he will be at Lit Books, Petaling Jaya to talk about Fierceland’s origins, the ideas that shaped it, and how its stories continue to speak to the world we live in today. The event begins at 8pm, featuring Omar in conversation with Fong Min Hun, the co-owner of Lit Books.
Then on Nov 16 at 1pm, Omar will join the panel discussion “Love, Loss and Legacy in Malaysian Literature” at Tsutaya Bookstore, Pavilion Bukit Jalil in KL alongside fellow authors Faisal Tehrani (The Prau With The Silent Soul) and Kam Raslan (Malayan Spy).
More info here.
At the 'Rediscovering Each Other' event, learn how Sarawak’s Sa’ban community used giant Uun Teep leaves to roof homes, huts, and chicken coops - and as natural wraps for cooking rice, steaming fish, or carrying jungle veggies. Photo: Handout
COMMUNITY EVENT: REDISCOVERING EACH OTHER: CONNECTING MALAYSIA'S HIDDEN PEOPLE AND CULTURES
Venue: Hetam+ Cafe, PJ Trade Centre, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 15
This Saturday, Hetam+ Cafe in Petaling Jaya will open a window to Sarawak’s Orang Ulu communities at "Rediscovering Each Other: Connecting Malaysia’s Hidden People and Cultures", presented by Canvas Art Creative. The free admission event, supported by Yayasan Gamuda, takes place from 10m to 6pm. Visitors can meet three ethnic groups - the Sa’ban, Ukit/Bhuket, and Kayan Uma Pu - and hear their stories firsthand.
You can also try weaving traditional roofing, rattan crafts, and join dance workshops, all guided by community members themselves, bringing Malaysia’s hidden cultures vividly to life. Exclusive short films document Canvas Art Creative’s journey across Sarawak, capturing the stories of 15 Orang Ulu groups, including the Tering, Penan, and Kelabit, offering intimate glimpses into lives rarely seen beyond Sarawak.
Beyond workshops and screenings, visitors can converse one-on-one with Orang Ulu representatives to learn about their way of life, values, and challenges. Initiatives like this help preserve languages, traditions, and identities at risk of fading, giving everyday Malaysians a rare chance to connect with new communities and celebrate the diversity that unites the nation.
More info here.
PERFORMING ARTS: 'CAMARADERIE' BY HANDS PERCUSSION
Venue: Stage 1, PJPAC, 1 Utama, Petaling jaya
Date: Nov 14-16
For Hands Percussion, camaraderie is more than togetherness - it’s the spark that turns strangers into friends, the rhythm connecting teacher and student, parent and child, colleague and companion.
That spirit takes centre stage in Camaraderie, Hands Percussion’s concert series at Stage 1, PJPAC from Nov 14–16. The series looks back to move forward, celebrating the bonds that have shaped the ensemble’s remarkable journey.
Audiences will experience more than percussion: intergenerational stories, mentors and students, friends collaborating across cultures, all coming alive in sound and movement.
Through reimagined classics and daring new works, Camaraderie honours both the group’s past and its future.
Highlights include two premieres - Kenangan, a gamelan-inspired piece by Teuku Umar of Gangsapura Gamelan, and a composition rooted in Teochew heritage - alongside duets and cross-cultural collaborations featuring gamelan, cello, guzheng, martial arts, and DeafBeat performers sharing the stage.
More info here.
In 'Ravel 150' at PJPAC this weekend, Charmaine Gan stars as The Child. Photo: KL City Opera
CLASSICAL CONCERT: KL CITY OPERA'S 'RAVEL 150'
Venue: PJPAC, 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 15 and 16
Classical music lovers can look forward to Ravel 150, a special KL City Opera (KLCO) concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of French composer Maurice Ravel. Performances take place at Nero Event Hall, PJPAC this weekend.
This year marks a milestone for KLCO, following acclaimed productions like The Golden Age of Broadway, Young Mozart Voyager, and last month’s Don Giovanni.
Ravel 150 adds another highlight to the company’s 10th-anniversary celebrations. The double-bill programme features Ravel’s enchanting Ma Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose), the vibrant Rhapsodie Espagnole, and the playful opera L’enfant et les sortilèges (The Child and the Spells).
Directed by Danny Chen and conducted by Andre Ng Hong Liang, the production brings Ravel’s imaginative brilliance to life through lush orchestration and lyrical storytelling. Charmaine Gan stars as The Child, joined by Angie Cheah, Renna Kim, Irma Lailatul, and others, with the KLCO Orchestra Ensemble and Chorus.
Young talents from KLCO’s Opera for Kids and Teens programme add charm and energy, creating an intergenerational celebration. Supported by Yayasan Lim Yee Hoh, Ravel 150 promises an unforgettable evening honouring one of classical music’s greatest visionaries.
More info here.
Lam will be at Sunda Shelves in Petaling Jaya this Sunday to talk about his new book 'Secret Kuala Lumpur'. Photo: Handout
BOOK EVENT: 'SECRET KUALA LUMPUR'
Venue: Sunda Shelves, Petaling Jaya
Date: Nov 16, 4pm
Discover the hidden layers of Kuala Lumpur with “Secret Kuala Lumpur” by author and journalist Lam Seng Fatt.
This compact yet richly detailed guide uncovers over 100 lesser-known gems across the city – from tucked-away shrines and forgotten heritage sites to quiet back lanes that whisper stories of the past – offering readers a deeper, more intimate view of the city beyond the usual landmarks.
On Nov 16 at 4pm, Lam will share the stories and adventures behind “Secret Kuala Lumpur” in a talk (registration required) at Sunda Shelves, Petaling Jaya, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s hidden corners.
The two-hour session will also feature a Q&A and book signing.
More info here.
