Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah (front, left) watching musicians performing with a set of small gongs, known as ‘kulintangan’ and ‘togunggak’, and a bamboo flute at the Borneo Flora Festival 2025. — Photos: Bernama and courtesy photos
THE inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 in Labuan drew 48,132 visitors during the first two days of the four-day event.
The flower festival was launched by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in her keynote speech at the launch, said BFF was designed not merely to add to Labuan’s calendar of events but also serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation, Bernama reported.
The festival themed “Borneo Tropical Flora” features floral parades, garden installations and music performances.
The event, which also saw traditional dance performances and ushers dressed in floral fantasy-themed costumes, showcased the uniqueness and beauty of Borneo’s flora and fauna through themed garden exhibitions.
A perfect spot to take selfies and wefies.
The festival showcased 200,000 varieties of tropical flowering plants across 30 themed gardens.
These included exotic species such as orchids, Rafflesia, medicinal herbs and native ferns.
Participants from the public and private sectors, local community, schools and higher education institutes contributed to the success of the event.
The festival also attracted foreign participants from neighbouring Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
This is the first time the festival is held in Labuan, following 13 previous editions held in Putrajaya.
BFF ends today.
Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah (front, left) watching musicians performing with a set of small gongs, known as ‘kulintangan’ and ‘togunggak’, and a bamboo flute at the Borneo Flora Festival 2025. — Photos: Bernama and courtesy photos
A perfect spot to take selfies and wefies.
A replica of Tombiruo welcoming participants of BFF 2025. According to Borneo legend, Tombiruo was abandoned as a baby because of its ugly looks. The baby was then raised by a jungle spirit and it later became a protector of the jungle.
Dancers in traditional Kadazandusun attire waiting for their cue during final rehearsals.
A performer wows with her costume.
Cultural performances welcome participants to the festival.
A field of orange marigolds and flaming celosias drawing visitors with their beauty.
