27 November, ISKANDAR PUTERI, JOHOR – Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) along with UEM Sunrise Berhad (UEM Sunrise) and Iskandar Investment Berhad (Iskandar Investment) jointly presented the sixth installment of the ISKARNIVAL 2017 with the launch of the Iskandar Puteri (IP) City and Community Portal on 25 November 2017. The portal will serve as an online resource for communities living and working in Iskandar Puteri as well as the public.
With Iskandar Puteri’s landmark achievement of gaining City status on 22 November 2017 officiated by the Sultan of Johor, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, ISKARNIVAL 2017 is set to be a double festival, celebrating art, culture and sporting activities in Iskandar Puteri, Johor through ISKARNIVAL Kool and ISKARNIVAL Aktif.
Guest-of-honour, the Mayor of Iskandar Puteri, Tuan Haji Adib Azhari Daud launched the Iskandar Puteri City and Community Portal as a dedicated online point of reference for the people of Iskandar Puteri and as a move towards the creation of a more digitally-empowered and engaged community in the region. The portal will enable residents and visitors alike to share and exchange ideas and information, and create opportunities for interaction amongst various communities of residents and businesses that will go a long way towards strengthening the community living in Iskandar Puteri. The portal will also help to brand Iskandar Puteri locally and internationally as an open, engaging, collaborative, vibrant, optimistic, effective and futuristic city.
Aimed at bringing various communities together, the IP City Portal features Communa, a one-stop online smart service for township and community management developed by Edgenta Township Management Services (ETMS) – a joint venture between Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, UEM Edgenta Berhad (UEM Edgenta) and UEM Sunrise.
ETMS was established to bring together UEM Sunrise’s experience in creating great communities with UEM Edgenta’s established record in Asset and Property Management to deliver a new world-class service to UEM Sunrise’s townships and other projects in the Iskandar Puteri region.
Operating under the Communa brand, this new Property and Services management company delivers the world leading Communa residents portal to provide residents of Iskandar Puteri with instant access to smart services, community events and information, online payments as well as a range of lifestyle services and solutions.
“The launch of the Iskandar Puteri City Portal is another key milestone in the development of Iskandar Puteri, and a fitting tribute for the elevation of Iskandar Puteri as a city. As the second City in Johor and the 14th in Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri has now joined an elite club, where nationally and internationally it is recognised as a place that means business,” stated Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, Iskandar Investment’s President/Chief Executive Officer.
“Iskandar Puteri is now poised for greater achievements as we continue to chart and map its growth and maturity culturally, economically and socially through the various initiatives such as this IP City Portal as well as varied place-making activities like ISKARNIVAL 2017. As the catalytic developer for Iskandar Puteri, Iskandar Investment is honored to be able to work collaboratively and synergistically with the Iskandar Puteri City Council, UEM Sunrise and other stakeholders within Iskandar Puteri to be a part of this great journey,” asserted Datuk Khairil.
ISKARNIVAL 2017, comprising ISKARNIVAL Kool and ISKARNIVAL Aktif, brings the local communities and creative talents from various sectors together to raise awareness of the city’s key ecosystems and showcase the good life in Iskandar Puteri through the flourishing varied and creative placemaking activities. This rakyat-festival highlights unique creative experiences and outdoor activities in addition to live music, performance art, career opportunities and creative workshops from notable Malaysians. The musical and cultural performances spread out over the two weekends also include free concerts by several renowned artists.
With free admission for all, this Johor-based arts and culture festival has continued to grow exponentially since it was launched in 2012.
The celebration began with ISKARNIVAL Kool, led by UEM Sunrise at Puteri Harbour from 25 to 26 November 2017, heralding the elevation of Iskandar Puteri as a hub for innovation and creativity while recognising the trends and successes in Malaysian lifestyle and culture. Curated to commemorate Iskandar Puteri’s newly-acquired City status, ISKARNIVAL Kool showcased local culture, creative communities and new trends in entertainment and lifestyle, whilst providing local initiatives and talents a platform to showcase and share ideas on better living and community empowerment.
ISKARNIVAL Kool showcased novel experiences, hands-on learning opportunities and diverse entertainment options for locals, tourists and families seeking quality time together. Across one weekend, Puteri Harbour will play host to creative workshops, treasure hunts, live music, outdoor and recreational activities, photo and video competitions, locally-grown foods and produce, skill-building opportunities, dialogues and workshops, art installations, poetry slams, numerous traditional and contemporary cultural performances, and many more.
Talents who supported ISKARNIVAL Kool included Los Angeles-based internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter Yuna, Datuk Sheila Majid, Datuk Zainal Abidin, Datuk David Arumugam of Alleycats, community growers Johor Green, gourmet food bazaar Taste of Tiffin, Johorean ska-punk outfit Plague of Happiness, and tech and start-up initiative, Johor Startup. They were accompanied by outdoor activities, such as flyboarding, giant board games and the Mini Spartan Race.
According to UEM Sunrise’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, “This year’s ISKARNIVAL Kool had some of the most exciting performances and activities spread over four stages and numerous other locations within the majestic waterfront of Puteri Harbour. With Johor currently ranked by consulting firm Mercer as the third most liveable City in South-East Asia and Iskandar Puteri recently accorded a City status, the festival was a culmination of many celebrations that highlighted abundant opportunities available in the new ‘creative economy’ for local community, especially Johoreans, and showcased talents developed over the last 10 years of Iskandar Malaysia’s inception and history. We attracted 65,000 visitors from diverse backgrounds to sample the lifestyle as experienced by residents or home owners, workers or holiday-makers at Iskandar Puteri.”
“ISKARNIVAL Kool definitely reinforces UEM Sunrise’s position as the master developer of Iskandar Puteri and a creative placemaker. This is a platform that encourages the exchange of ideas and elevate the rakyat’s sense of appreciation for Johor’s rich heritage and culture. It will narrate the evolving story of Iskandar Puteri through the shaping of the area’s identity and character. Our hope is that this festival continues to attract emerging skills and ideas, and become a signature event unique to Iskandar Puteri and one day, it will be recognised as an international event,” Anwar added.
Following the lifestyle-oriented ISKARNIVAL Kool, ISKARNIVAL Aktif will take place from 2 to 3 December 2017 at EduCity Sports Complex; and will be offering a variety of sports and fitness events ranging from international sports tournaments to demonstrations and workshops. ISKARNIVAL Aktif, organised by Iskandar Investment, brings people together through youth and family-friendly entertainment, fun-filled activities and music, while attracting locals to experience the attractions and offerings in Iskandar Puteri.
ISKARNIVAL Aktif focuses on sports and outdoor recreation, offering a variety of fitness-themed events and games for participations of all ages. Highlights include the inaugural Iskandar Puteri Sevens rugby tournament, an international event by the Johor Rugby Union; Iskarnival K1 International, a two-day competition showcasing fighters from Brazil, America, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia, and MMA Ultimate Beatdown – a mixed martials arts (MMA) half-day tournament consisting 20 bouts. Other activities include a youth futsal tournament, skateboarding and drone workshops, archery tag and the Academy of Esports (AOES), which brings partners to educate Esports enthusiasts and explore career opportunities in the Esports industry. In addition, ISKARNIVAL Aktif will also feature free concerts with local artistes Joe Flizzow, Zainal Abidin and Alleycats.
The successful launch of IP City Portal on 25 November 2017, was followed by a VIP Walkabout at ISKARNIVAL Kool activities where Mayor Adib Azhari was joined by Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Azman Mokhtar, Managing Director of Khazanah; Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, Johor Bahru Member of Parliament; Dr. Zaini Abu Bakar, ADUN of Nusajaya; Konsul Jenderal Haris Nugroho, Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru; Dato’ Azmir Merican, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UEM Edgenta; Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad; Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, and other dignitaries.
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