Pahang Youth Peace Culture Festival: A Youthful Showcase of Multiculturalism and Empowerment Stirring New Waves of Peace

On 23 November and 13 December 2025, SGM Pahang held its Youth Peace Culture Festival at the SGM Pahang Culture Centre, launching a series of youth peace culture festivals across the country. Themed “OMBAK – Be the Wave of Peace,” the festival showcased the boundless vitality of youth and the beauty of cultures interacting, inspiring participants with the conviction to create a peaceful future.

The Pahang event vividly portrayed young people courageously pursuing their dreams amid real-world challenges, integrating theatre, music and other cultural performances. It conveyed core values of courage, solidarity and hope, echoing the shared vision of promoting world peace.

Integrating theatre, music and culture performances, the two shows vividly portrayed young people bravely pursuing their dreams amid real-world challenges. Audience member Tan Hui Xian said that the unforgettable festival, fuelled by youthful performances filled with passion and power, inspired her to be a driving force for peace. 

The two shows, which drew a crowd of 370 members and their friends and families, involved 101 performers and 60 event staff. Throughout the performances, the audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Setting Out from a Foundation of Unity

In early 2025, the SGM Pahang Branch Culture Group held its first preparatory meeting, establishing the goal of “fostering a fresh atmosphere through unity and expanding our ranks” to officially launch the festival preparations. Beyond strengthening the commitment of existing members, the team actively visited families in remote areas and reached out to new members. High school division meetings were also held, focusing on nurturing the younger generation.

The Bentong region, which had been without a culture group for several years, took this festival as an opportunity to establish a new young women’s division culture group. Meanwhile, in Mentakab, the dedicated efforts of the young women’s division members led to children of non-SGM members joining the performance, reflecting the openness and cohesive spirit of the local community.

Every weekend, performers set off from various locations, enduring a two-and-a-half-hour commute to Kuantan for practice. Despite the long journey, they remained firm in their determination to nurture future pillars of society for the community.

As the host of the culture festival, Tan Yuen Yi gained a profound understanding of the true meaning of unity. During the preparatory period, she was mourning the loss of her mother and had to return to Johor to be with her family. Her co-host and the organising committee remained steadfast in their support; their words, “We will wait for you to come back and practise together,” deeply moved her. This support strengthened her resolve to give her absolute best on the day of the performance, leaving no room for regret.

Lim Wen Yi shared that although the rehearsal schedule was intense and demanding, the laughter and camaraderie among team members filled the atmosphere with warmth and motivation. At the time, she was juggling the multiple pressures of her studies, dance competitions and the festival, yet she learned how to manage her priorities through this process. She reflected that her most unforgettable moment was stepping onto the stage; as the lights shone down and she faced the audience, the months of exhausting travel and hard work were instantly transformed into pure joy.

Reported by Lim Bee Chiu, Tan Yan Yun and Wong Wee Yan, photographed by Tan Book Keong and Yeo Thiam Fook