From traditional crafts to cultural performances, expo offers glimpse into life at settlements nationwide
From traditional mangrove bark dyeing and legacy brands to cultural exchange, city folk can now discover Malaysia’s new villages through an artistic lens.
Wow! National New Village Expo 2026, third in the series of events highlighting new villages, is putting a spotlight on the unique charm of these settlements.
The vibrant lineup includes Cantonese opera, harmonica performances and Kuala Sepetang’s “Port Weld Ni Siap Community Fashion Walk”.
Organised by non-governmental organisation KG-ing, the expo at Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur, is slated for Sept 25 to 27 from 10am to 10pm.
Built around five curatorial themes – home, industry, craft, taste and habitat, the expo will bring together communities and industries from 26 new villages from across the country.
KG-ing team leader Liew Kit Fye said KG-ing had travelled to over 400 new villages, resettlement villages, and fishing settlements across Malaysia since 2024.
“Through these visits, we connect the people, stories and local experiences we encounter with wider audiences, while helping villages discover and learn from one another.
“While the previous two expos focused on helping the public ‘know’ and ‘see’ new villages, this year’s edition is shifting its focus to ‘understanding’, deepening public appreciation for village history and cultural value.
“New villages are not just for locals; they are Malaysia’s shared asset,” said Liew.
“The expo’s curatorial journey has evolved from simply helping the public learn about new villages, to fostering deeper understanding and participation.
“We hope more people will recognise the cultural value of new villages and see that staying or returning is not a sacrifice, but a choice to create value in a hometown they love.”
Expo chief curator Yap Kah Meng said the culture of Malaysia’s new villages represented a shared yet diverse identity.
“The expo is not intended to be a one-off event, but rather a platform for sustained collaboration among grassroots groups, communities, companies and institutions across Malaysia,” he said.
Dua Space Dance Theatre founder Anthony Meh, curator of the performance programme, said the lineup showcased a rich mix of entertainment featuring harmonica solos, songs in the Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka and Fuzhou dialects, as well as 24 Festive Drums.
A major highlight is the revival of “Ni Siap”, a traditional dyeing technique from Kuala Sepetang, Perak, that draws its distinctive reddish hue from tannins extracted from mangrove bark.
“We will present this craft in a creative runway show blending local heritage, craft and lifestyle,” Meh added.
Alongside these curated showcases, the “Drop By!” Village Market will feature 50 stalls selling food, crafts and cultural products from the new villages.
During the weekend, KG-ing and International Council on Monuments and Sites Malaysia New Village Working Group will present a forum titled “Kampung Baru-ing: The Future Is Already Happening”.
Three sessions will explore the makeup of new village communities, how local collective action can grow and what is needed for people and initiatives to sustain themselves.
Also present during the press conference was Chinese New Village Development Committee Secretariat chief Tan Boon Siang.
Pavilion Exhibition Centre (PEX) is venue partner and Tourism Malaysia is supporting partner for Wow! National New Village Expo 2026.
