It’s back! Fiesta Malaysia 2012

FIESTA Malaysia is back, with a three-day long festival starting this Friday from March 23 to 25 at Argyle Square on Lygon St.

Brought to you by the Malaysian Students’ Council of Australia, Victoria (MASCA Victoria), the theme this year is “Embracing the Colours”, and the organisers have pulled together an exciting program aimed at giving festival goers the opportunity to experience a “potpourri of sights, sound, taste and aroma of Malaysia”.

And much like the pasar malam in Malaysia where friends and even whole neighbourhoods descend on the night markets as a community event, Fiesta Malaysia is best experienced in the company of a bunch of friends.

The main attraction definitely worth drooling over this year has got to be the Penang Festival – notably with hawkers flown in all the way from Penang.

Just to name a few on the menu: Hokkien mee, satay, roti canai (rumour has it that there will be a free flow of this local favourite!), teh tarik, laksa and more. And for those who love to cook, do attend the Malaysian culinary workshop where you’ll learn how to fry a mean Char Kuey Teow.

And befittingly – the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will be officiating Friday’s opening together with Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

The Biggest Mamee Eater Challenge will also be a fun spectacle to watch as contestants down as many cups of noodles as they can in three minutes.

Another event highlight is the stand-up comedy performance by well-known Malaysian comedian Phoon Chi Ho, who has been performing alongside fellow comedians Douglas Lim and Kuah Jenhan, and is a big part of the Young Comedians of Malaysia (YCM).

He’ll also be giving a workshop teaching you the ins and outs of stand-up comedy. Spaces are limited, so be sure to get in early if you want to know how to crack a good joke or tickle a girl’s funny bone.

For a taste of Malaysia’s rich heritage – do poke your head into the Exhibition Booth and the “Cultural Houses” where you can experience the multi-cultural wedding traditions celebrated in Malaysia.

On the way, stop by the Traditional Costume Photo Booth, don Malaysia’s beautiful cultural costumes, and have your snap taken with a kampung backdrop inspired by Malaysian cartoonist Lat.

And last but not least, have fun at the Jom Main! (Let’s Play!) games booth featuring traditional fun like Chinese checkers, mah-jong, sepak takraw and more.

For more information, visit www.fiestamalaysia.com.au.