As a Sabah based event company , we were honoured to be part of the 2025 Merdeka Award Talk Series finale, held at Hilton Kota Kinabalu. This was the last stop of the Merdeka Award Borneo Talk Series, and being entrusted to support such a meaningful, national-level programme was a proud moment for our team.

For us, this wasn’t just another job. It was a chance to combine professional event management in Kota Kinabalu with a powerful message about heritage, creativity, and the future of Malaysia.

The Merdeka Award team chose Sabah as the closing chapter of their 2025 Talk Series, returning to Borneo for a finale that truly belonged to the people here. Hosted at Hilton Kota Kinabalu, the event gathered creatives, youth, professionals, and cultural advocates under one roof.

The session carried a powerful theme:
“Inspired by Ancestors, Driven by Dreams: You Are the Next Story.”

The talk explored how heritage acts as a compass for opportunity and creativity, especially in the context of Sabahan and Bornean identities. It was a reminder that our stories are still being written, and that each person in the room is part of that next chapter.

We had the privilege of supporting an excellent panel of speakers whose work is widely recognised across Malaysia and beyond, the session was moderated by Freda Liu, Broadcast Journalist and Host of The Shift Asia.

• Ekin Kee Charles – Film Director & Writer
  Ekin shared how stories from Sabah and Borneo inspired her filmmaking journey, turning local experiences into narratives that resonate globally.
• Nancy Jullok – Fashion Designer & Founder, P’LO Borneo Fashion Design
  Nancy spoke about transforming traditional Bornean elements into contemporary fashion, showing that culture can be worn proudly and stylishly.
• Yee I-Lann – Contemporary Artist; Board Member, FINAS & Forever Sabah
  Yee I-Lann highlighted the role of collaborative art, community voices and shared spaces in shaping how we see ourselves as Malaysians.
• Kenji Chai – Graffiti Artist & Illustrator
  Kenji brought the energy of street art into the room, explaining how murals and public artwork can turn cities into living, breathing galleries.

Behind the scenes, our team handled the full event coordination at Hilton Kota Kinabalu, including:

• Pre-event planning – liaising with the organiser, venue, and technical partners
• Stage and AV management – ensuring speakers, moderator and visuals were always in sync
• On-ground crew – managing guest arrival, ushering, and programme timing
• Brand and experience alignment – making sure the look and feel of the event reflected the Merdeka Award’s prestige and values

As the session came to a close, one message stayed with us: Our past, present and future stories all play a part in the Malaysia we are building together.