IPOH: Organisers of the fifth Kembara RIUH Keluarga Malaysia (KRKM) 'RIUH BENOR!' programme has reassessed their targetted visitors to over 30,000 for the three-day event at Sultan Azlan Shah roundabout in Bandar Meru Raya here following an overwhelming response last night.

MyCreative Ventures chief executive officer (CEO) Junady Nawawi expressed hope that the event, a collaboration between the state government and several local state agencies, would achieve its aim of rekindling a warm atmosphere so that creative industry players can continue to develop throughout the country.

"We also intend to reap the returns from local vendors and artists who will perform throughout the three day event," he told reporters at the official launch of the event here today, in the presence of Mycreative Ventures chairman Noor Azmi Mat Said and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) CEO Roslan Ariffin.

He said that they had expected only 20,000 visitors but are revising the number upwards following a strong showing tonight, adding that the programme, headed by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOM) through the MyCreative Group, aimed to empower local creative industry players and connect them with Malaysians, and showed the government's commitment to rejuvenate the creative industry following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Junady said the choice of Perak for this year's event was fitting with the government's objective as the state was not only rich with culture and creative arts, including the traditional Rebana Perak and Tarian Belotah dance, but also filled with vibrant cultural fashion and famous for local cuisine such as Nasi Lemuni, Ikan Pindang Daun Seniar and Kebebe


Junady said, as with its previous reiterations, 'RIUH BENOR!' will showcase cultural performances, music and dances, art exhibitions, pop-up stores, community activities and creative workshops, including concrete vase-making, perfume making, soy wax candle making and hat colouring.

Previous RIUH programmes had been centred around the Klang Valley, but has been expanded early this year to Johor, Sabah, Melaka, and Kelantan, where it broke previous records with 60,000 visitors attending and supporting the 'RIUH SOKMO! Bersama Celcom' event there, he added.

He also invited everyone in Perak and nearby states to visit the event and show their support to local creative industry players as the KRKM programme was a platform that would generate income from creative arts and contribute to the national economy.

-- BERNAMA