I Love KL BFM Media

We might be tempted to believe that to set off some of the city's best pyrotechnic nighttime spectaculars, you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine.

But what happens before the fuses are lit?

This week on I Love KL, we're joined by fireworks programmer Jeffry Bahary, the man behind the 2017 SEA Games fireworks and countless more firework spectacles around the world. From inspiration to ignition, Jeffry enlightens us on what it takes to put together a firework show, getting into the industry, the not-too-worrying growing popularity of drone shows filling our night skies of late, and some tricks of the trade.

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Part of the tradition of commemorating Hari Raya Aidilfitri is to get fresh attire in the form of Baju Raya. Traditionally, Baju Melayu is the go-to outfit for men, but these days, people look for other options too as alternatives. Then, there are also those that modernise the Baju Melayu in various different ways. Sometimes, to mass approval, and other times, to deafening criticism. In this episode of I Love KL, we go back to basics and break down the traditional Baju Melayu attire, from top to toe, as well as explore the evolution of this long-worn attire and ponder whether it’s always necessary to modernise them?
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Our conversations on heritage buildings have always had a mix of everything and is pretty even in its distribution, but for some people out there, their notion of heritage might tend to skew towards focusing on British colonial buildings, rather than vernacular or rural architecture. So, in this episode, to play a bit of a devil’s advocate, we decided to explore that question - do we focus too much on British colonial architecture?

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Somewhere In The Kuala is an illustrated children's book that follows two kids, Han and Mina, on their whimsical, curious, sometimes even treacherous, adventure as they run around KL. The book, written and illustrated by Lisa Goh and William Chew, features no words or dialogue, but paints a wondrous picture of our city, its iconic buildings and areas, and the people that make up the city's unique vibrancy - all seen through the eyes of kids. Lisa and William join us in the studio to talk about how exploring cities themselves inspired the book, why they chose not to shy away from portraying the harsher realities of the city, their hopes for the book to advocate for a KL that is better connected and easier to navigate, and the endless eye-opening interpretations the book can inspire across ages and language barriers.
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Pertubuhan Cahaya Hawwa, or Percaya, is an NGO dedicated to uplifting and empowering women in need. Despite still being in its infancy, the three women behind the organisation are no strangers to community work, having organised the Sebalang Kasih initiative annually since 2016, which aims to ensure the poor and the less fortunate have kuih raya during the festive Raya period.As we look to "Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress" this International Women's Day, we listen to the stories of Percaya's co-founders on their mission to make a difference. We explore the importance of helping communities in need, no matter how small, working with and supporting single mothers in KL, and their upcoming Cherita Kasih Kita fundraising event that will look to purchase 1000 balang of kuih raya from single mothers to distribute to underprivileged kids around Klang Valley.

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If you’re looking to learn more about the many architectural gems in KL, consider dropping by Singgah KL 2024! This third edition of guided tours organised by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) will explore 20 built environments in Kuala Lumpur, from high rise condominiums to contemporary office buildings, event spaces and even a mall! We speak to its convener, Almaz Rahim, to learn more about the curation process, as well as why it’s important to connect architects to the public, in order to make architecture more accessible and engaging for all.
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