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Philomena Shines as the First Sarawakian Woman to Conquer the Asian Bodybuilding Stage

Philomena Dexclyn Siar, an exceptional Bidayuh athlete hailing from Sarawak, has made history by becoming the first Sarawakian woman to secure victory on the fiercely competitive Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports stage. The remarkable achievement has been officially recognized by the prestigious Jalur Gemilang Book of Records.

At the recent 55th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships held in Kathmandu, Nepal, Philomena, aged 40, clinched the gold medal for Team Malaysia in the Women’s Sports Physique (Over 165cm) category. Her triumphant performance displayed an unmatched combination of strength, dedication, and perseverance.

Philomena was presented with the Jalur Gemilang Book of Records certificate and medal which took place during the 52nd Mr. Malaysia Bodybuilding Championships at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang in Selangor on 14 October 2023. The ceremony was attended and witnessed by both the President and Vice President of Malaysia Body Building Federation (‘MBBF’), Major General Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Badrus Bin Othman (Rtd), and the Vice President, Lieutenant Commander Kamaruzaman Kadir (Rtd) together with the CEO of the Jalur Gemilang Book of Records, Mr. Simon Lau. Remarkably, the certificate and medal presentation coincided with Ms. Philomena’s 40th Birthday, adding an extra layer of significance to the event for our bodybuilding champion.

Philomena’s groundbreaking win not only represents a personal triumph but also stands as a significant milestone for Sarawakian sports and female empowerment. Her success has sparked pride and inspiration within the local community, especially among aspiring athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and challenge conventional norms.

The Start of Her Bodybuilding Career

While currently serving as a state government administrative officer, Philomena embarked on her professional bodybuilding journey in 2018. Her initial motivation was to lead a healthier lifestyle and shed weight. She diligently committed to hours on the treadmill, weight training, and enlisted the guidance of a personal trainer.

In 2018, her talent was spotted by a renowned Sarawakian and Malaysian world-class bodybuilding athlete, Dr. Malvern Abdullah. Under his mentorship, Philomena made her competition debut at the FM League Physique War & Muscle War 2018 in Singapore.

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Wau: Preserving a Vanishing Art

The Malaysian kite, known as “Wau,” derives its name from the distinctive crescent moon-like shape of its lower section, an emblem of its graceful flight.

The term “wau” in Malay mirrors the melodic sound the kite produces as it soars gracefully through the skies, powered by the force of the wind.

Crafting a Wau is a meticulous process, involving the weaving and sewing of fine bamboo sticks to form its unique structure. Different styles of Wau take on varying shapes. Once the framework is complete, the kite is adorned with vibrant colored papers, showcasing an array of artistic illustrations and color schemes.

The art of Wau-making can be traced back to a remarkable inventor named Sang Jaya, who first brought it to life between the years 711 and 839 AD.

Wau exists in a multitude of captivating forms, each with its distinct identity, including Wau Bulan, Wau Burung, Wau Merak, Wau Kucing, Wau Jalabudi, and Wau Ikan.

However, this ancient craft faces the threat of extinction, making it more crucial than ever to preserve the artistry and heritage of Wau for future generations to cherish.

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Kuching Welcomes the World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Smart Tram

Kuching, Sarawak, is set to make history with the introduction of the world’s first hydrogen-powered smart tram, part of the Sarawak Rapid Transit (ART) Hydrogen Vehicle (H2V) project. This groundbreaking tram is scheduled to commence passenger operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.

An exciting development is on the horizon as the hydrogen-powered smart tram embarks on a two-month engineering trial, commencing on September 4.

This milestone achievement represents a significant leap forward for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), setting a new standard for sustainable and intelligent public transportation.

According to Sarawak Metro, its ART H2V can carry up to 300 passengers at a time and has a maximum speed of 70kmh. Aside from the Blue Line, phase 1 of the KUTS project also includes the Red Line which links Kuching Sentral and Pending.

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The Most Magnificient Islamic Museum in Southeast Asia: An Eye Opener About the Islamic Culture

According to Statista, 63.5% of the Malaysian population professed to be Islamic Faith, hence it’s not a surprise that Malaysia has a rich tradition of Islamic art and architecture everywhere in the nation.
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia or Muzium Kesenian Islam Malaysia is a museum in Kuala Lumpur which has the largest museum of Islamic arts in South East Asia with more than seven thousand artifacts from the Islamic world.
The museum consists of twelve gallery spaces spread over two levels; the first level contains galleries devoted to architecture, the Qur’an, and other manuscripts and one each for the art of India, China, and the Malay Peninsula. The second level contains galleries devoted to Arms and Armor, Textiles, Jewelry, and Coins, with the remaining three galleries consisting of artworks categorized by their materials–metal, wood, and ceramics.

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3.4km in Circumference: The Immensest Roundabout in the World is in Putrajaya

Putrajaya, Malaysia is home to the largest roundabout in the world, which has a circumference of 3.4 kilometers. The Persiaran Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, which is in the center of Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia, is the name of the road that forms the roundabout.

It was opened in 2003 and was designed by renowned Malaysian architect, Hijjas Kasturi.
The road is joined by 15 entry/exit points, three of which are on the inside of the roundabout itself.
Within the centre of the roundabout is the Istana Melawati, a royal retreat for the Yang Dipertuan Agong, a monument to the birth of Putrajaya, the Putra Perdana Landmark, and a five-star hotel, the Putrajaya Shangri-La.

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Tugu Negara: The Evidence of Malaysia’s Independence

The sculpture, which stands 15 meters tall, is considered to be the tallest freestanding bronze sculpture ever built. The National Monument, known as Tugu Negara, honors Malaysia’s independence fighters as well as those who fought in World Wars I and II.
The Tugu Negara monument consists of seven soldiers representing strength, courage, unity, leadership, vigilance, suffering, and sacrifice.
The sculpture was erected in 1964 to commemorate fallen warriors who served the country during the fight for independence, especially during the World War II Japanese occupation and the ‘Malayan Emergency’–a guerilla war that took place from 1948 to 1960 between the Malayan Communists Party and British colonial troops.

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Penang Free School: The Most Ancient English-Medium School in Southeast Asia

Founded in 1816, which is 206 years ago, the Penang Free School or Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Penang Free is located at Green Lane in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, is the oldest English-medium school in Southeast Asia.
the secondary school has been an all-boy school since its inception, although girls are now admitted for Form 6.
In addition, the school has produced several notable Malaysian and Singaporean personalities, including Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, P.Ramlee, Malaysian actor, filmmaker, musician, and composer, Wu Lien-Teh, Malayan physician and Wee Chong Jin, the first chief justice of Singapore.

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Sepak Takraw: Malaysia’s National Sport

A game that was previously know as Sepak Raga Jaring, used to be a Malay community game and is now being recognized in the world stage and even being included in the Asian Games.

Sepak Takraw is considered Malaysia’s national sport. The word sepak is Malay for kick while the word takraw is of Thai quite literally means ‘to kick a rattan ball’.

It was standardized in the year 1960 at Kuala Lumpur where the officials from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar met to agree on the name and standard rules.

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World’s Longest Canopy Walk: Experience it in Pahang

Taman Negara National Park is home to the world’s longest canopy walk where it stretches for 500 meters and consists of 10 different bridge sections.

Originally built for researchers in 1992, the suspended paths are now open to the public after receiving positive reviews from visitors.

Spanning a distance of 1,738 feet or 530 meters in length is one of the most popular things to do in Taman Negara National Park.

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