A book fair supported by community grants brought together Malaysia’s creative community in a showcase of art publishing, print culture, and contemporary expression.
Kuala Lumpur Art Book Fair (KLABF) 2025 presented a refined curation of local and international exhibitors, complemented by a vibrant programme of talks, workshops and live demonstrations.
The event, held at the historic Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, was supported by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV) through the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme in collaboration with Think City.
PNBMV in a media statement said the collaboration was part of its commitment to Warisan KL, an initiative revitalising the historic heart of Kuala Lumpur.
PNBMV chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud said the fair reflected the vibrancy and evolving creative energy of the city.
“We are proud to support platforms that nurture Malaysia’s cultural ecosystem and provide opportunities for creators to grow, innovate and reach wider audiences.
“KLABF embodies the spirit of community, creativity and collaboration that defines the Merdeka 118 precinct, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to uplift local talent and strengthen Kuala Lumpur’s cultural landscape.”
Think City managing director Datuk Hamdan Majeed said KLABF reflected the growing appetite for accessible and community-centred cultural experiences in the city.
“We believe a thriving creative economy is essential to building vibrant, liveable urban environments.
“Our collaboration with PNBMV through the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme underscores our shared commitment to nurturing local talent, supporting independent creative practitioners, and ensuring that culture remains an integral part of Kuala Lumpur’s urban regeneration journey,” said Hamdan.
KLABF organiser Loo Chee Keong said the grant allowed the team to allocate resources to build better content and experiences for visitors.
“For example, this year we were able to set up a dedicated exhibition and do better marketing for the fair.
“It is rewarding to see the fair improve and we hope to elevate it even further in the future.
“We hope to keep growing steadily and attract more general public to the fair, bringing greater awareness to the art and design industry,” Loo said.
“My bigger hope is to build a healthy creative ecology – where creators continue producing meaningful work, and visitors stay inspired and engaged.”
The grants programme, now in its third cycle, champions initiatives that empower local talent, enrich community spaces and grow Malaysia’s creative economy.
KLABF is an annual platform celebrating art publishing and print culture, bringing together artists, designers, publishers, writers and creative practitioners from Malaysia and across the region.
The fair, PNBMV said, had played a role in fostering creative exchange, collaboration and discovery within South-East Asia’s creative landscape.
