More than 30,000 throng #GegaRia Fest in Ipoh
NST TEAM
New Straits Times24 March 2018
IPOH: After attracting an impressive collective turnout of 85,000 crowd at its three previous editions, the fourth of Media Prima Bhd’s #Gegaria Fest 2018 #KitaOK in Bulatan AmanJaya here maintained the momentum with overwhelming response from the people in Perak. More than 30,000 visitors from various age groups turned up for the vibrant day-long carnival in Bandar Meru Raya which kicked-off at about 8am. The lifestyle and entertainment carnival was first held at the Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam, which concluded with a turnout of 25,000 visitors.
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IPOH 24 MAC 2018. Pengunjung menbanjirii Festival GegaRia 2018 di Dataran Amanjaya, Meru. NSTP/ABDULLAH YUSOFABDULLAH YUSOF
The day-long carnival had attracted more than 30,000 people at Plaza Angsana in Johor Baru, and received the same encouraging response during the third stop in Kuantan. Similar to the three previous locations, the fourth series of the event also started in style with a zumba session led by coach Hanif Shawn and three other instructors. More than 500 healthy-living enthusiasts and followers of Hanif, clad in colourful #GegaRia fest T-shirts, took part in the hour-long session, one of the many activities organised for the #GegaRia Entertainment Zone. Among Hanif’s followers was Alysha Johan, 25, who came to the event with her husband, Mohamad Hidayat Mohd Husni.
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Participants participated in zumba at the 4th edition of GegaRia 2018 Festival at Amanjaya Square, Meru. (NSTP/MUHD ZAABA ZAKERIA)
Alysha, who has been a zumba instructor for five years, applauded #GegaRia for organising activities that promote healthy way of living. “We hope there will be more activities that encourages people to exercise and adopt healthy lifestyle such as #GegaRia organise here in Ipoh. “And the event organiser made the right choice by featuring Hanif since his technique and moves is very easy to follow even if you are new to zumba,” she said. Apart from family fun activities, visitors also got the chance to reminisce about events in the past when they visited the Throwback Tunnel Zone. This is line with the goal of the carnival, which is to unite people from different races, prepare opportunities for society to connect as well as providing a platform for millennials to express themselves. The Throwback Tunnel Zone among others feature the works of New Straits Times Press photographers over the past 60 years on the progress and development of the nation since 1950s. The tunnel, which is set up in the form of artistically decorated container, was open from 8am until 8.30pm. Zulkifli Idris, 48, was impressed with the creativity of the Throwback Tunnel Zone, which allowed him to recall his childhood memories. “The pictures were displayed using television set in the 60s and I could not help but get flashbacks of the time I was growing. “This is a good effort to educate the people especially the youth to appreciate sacrifice by the previous generation in developing the nation,” he said when met at the event.
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IPOH 24 MAC 2018. Chef, Fikree Aznan (kiri) melakukan demonstrasi masakan di Festival GegaRia 2018 di Dataran Amanjaya, Meru. NSTP/ABDULLAH YUSOFABDULLAH YUSOF
Another visitor, Nur Nadia Khairuddin, 30, said the throwback tunnel was a creative way of instilling a sense of patriotism among members of the younger generation. “It is a good concept... it enables the younger generation to learn about legendary Malaysian entertainers and the nation’s success stories in various sectors, including sports,” she said. There were also appearances by animated character Ejen Ali and sessions with celebrities Nabila Razali, Faiz Dickie, Ramona Zamzam, Elfira Loy, Kugiran Masdo and Nadia Brian in the Lifestyle Zone. The other zones were Makan-Makan and Community.
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IPOH 24 MAC 2018. Mentor selebriti YouCanduit, Erma Fatima (kanan) memberi penerangan kepada pengunjung berkaitan eUsahawan di booth Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) di Festival GegaRia 2018 di Dataran Amanjaya, Meru. NSTP/ABDULLAH YUSOFABDULLAH YUSOF
For the Perak series, there were two additional booths - #KitaOkay and #YOUCANDUIT set up with the cooperation of Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Visitors at the booths were given insight of how to take advantage of the social media to start and expand their businesses. The festival ended with the #GegaRia concert, which is the highlight of the event, featuring performances by Kugiran Masdo, Bunkface, Sonaone, Noh Hujan and Nabila Razali. #GegaRia Fest coordinator and New Straits Times Press advertising manager Mohd Anis Abdullah said the response for the fourth stop of the event, similar to the previous editions, had been encouraging.
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Malaysian Digital Economy staff (MDEC) briefed Nur Syahirah Azhar 22, (left) on E Rezeki at the 2018 GegaRia Festival at Amanjaya Square, Meru. (NSTP/ABDULLAH YUSOF)
Present at the event yesterday were New Straits Times Press (NSTP) chief commercial officer Alfian Abu Talib and editor-in-chief Datuk Yushaimi Yahaya, Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Johan Ishak and Media Prima Labs and Operations general manager Nicholas Sagau. Alfian said the next series of the #GegaRia Fest will be held at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Convention and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur this coming Saturday. This, he said, would be followed by Seremban on April 7 and Amanjaya Mall in Sungai Petani, on April 14. “We hope the event will receive the same or even better response from the people at these next three locations,” he said. Reports by Adib Povera, Mohd Hafizee Mohd Arop and Farah Suhaidah Othman © New Straits Times Press
