THE YEAR THAT IS, AND THE YEAR THAT WILL BE
Malaysians spoilt for choice in picking spots to welcome new year
QISTINA ATIKAH KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
MUSICAL performances, celebrity appearances and dazzling fireworks will usher in 2018 tonight at various locations and hotspots in the city, its fringes and across the nation.
City folk and visitors will be spoilt for choice on which extragavanza they should go to, but without a doubt, the people will be entertained as soon as the sun sets.
The No. 1 city spot, Esplanade KLCC Park, will feature a threehour performance by local singers Alif Satar and AF Megastar winner Idayu, as well as DJ Roundhead of Traxx FM.
Organised by KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, the celebration will culminate in a 10-minute musical fireworks display at midnight in the vicinity of the KL Petronas Twin Towers.
“We wish to invite the nation to come together and usher in the New Year,” KLCC Holdings said in a statement.
The show begins at 9.15pm and will continue into the night with the finale of a musical fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.
New Year Eve 2018 @ KL Tower will allow revellers to celebrate from its Sky Box and the observation deck, which is 300m above ground.
Partygoers are given free party packs for the event, which starts at 10.30pm tonight.
Not to be left out, The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur will usher in the New Year by hosting the 2018 World Lion Dance Extravaganza. The lion and dragon dance performances will feature more than 1,000 members from 40 dance troupes. The event will be headlined by a parade featuring 100 “lions” and two 27mlong “dragons”.
Sunway City in Petaling Jaya is another place which promises a jaw-dropping display of fireworks. Astro radio DJs from Era FM, Mix FM, and My FM will be spinning live.
Every Dec 31, the Curve Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya hosts a massive, free street party and fireworks display at The Street, which is a spacious open-air 500m-walkway linking the mall with adjacent malls.
Bistros, cafes, bars and restaurants situated along The Street will offer special New Year’s Eve happy hour promotions — perfect for those who want to dine as they usher in the New Year.
For Shah Alam folk, they will be enthralled by the i-City themedtechnology park, which comes alive with an amazing forest of man-made trees, brightly illuminated with millions of colourful LED lights as well as exciting rides and unique museums.
It is undoubtedly the place to visit for New Year as you can experience the colourfully lit trees and creatures that will bring you to a whole new world.
In Putrajaya , residents can make a beeline for Dataran Putrajaya in Precinct Three for the Festival of Light and Motion Putrajaya (Lampu) 2017.
About one million local and foreign visitors are expected to attend the festival, which began last night .
In addition to Dataran Putrajaya, the festival, which enters its fourth year, involves government buildings in Persiaran Perdana, PPj Complex and the Palace of Justice.
Separately, songstress and host Adibah Amin will perform at Citta Mall in Ara Damansara.
In Negri Sembilan, property firm Matrix Concept Holdings Bhd will hold its own New Year celebration at D’Tempat country club while Royal Chulan Seremban will be the only hotel in the state to light up the Seremban skyline with a fireworks spectacle.
Down south, in Johor Baru ,a New Year’s Eve celebration will be held at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru at 3pm today. The event is part of the Festivities@IIBD (Ibrahim International Business District) programme that will last for three days.
In Penang, the celebration at Straits Quay Retail Marina promenade in Tanjung Tokong starts at 8pm with dance performances by LED Brazilian Samba, Futuristic Mirror Dance and Laser Board dance as well as street dance performances and a zumba party.
Meanwhile, DJs will spin on the deck at the outdoor carpark at Queensbay mall.