Group Photo with Team Malaysia
YB Datuk Snowdan Anak Donald Lawan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak, flew in from Sarawak to witness the selection of “Team Malaysia” at the Malaysia Championship Of Performing Arts (MCOPA), who will compete on the international stage – the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA), which will be held at Disneyland, California.
YB Datuk Snowdan Anak Donald Lawan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak
YB Datuk Snowdan Anak Donald Lawan, said, “I wish all the contestants the best as they advance forward. It is a great pleasure to be here today to watch all these talented performers give it their all, in order to land them a place to compete internationally at the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA).”
The world is watching! Once again countries from around the world are sending outstanding competitors to Hollywood, USA. This year, it’s going to be a fierce contest of skills to see who is truly the most accomplished in the world. The winners will receive a coveted Gold medal which brings with it the respect and admiration of people around the globe.
Yes, we are talking about the Olympics, but a different kind of Olympics. Instead of gymnasts, swimmers, and track runners, we have Vocalists, Dancers, Instrumentalists, Models, Actors, and Variety Acts. Welcome to the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF PERFORMING ARTS (WCOPA), a one-of-a-kind talent event that blends the strongest appeal of athletic competitions with entertainment value from performers around the world!
YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), commented on the event saying, “Congratulations to the organizers of MCOPA and all the best to our Malaysian team who are competing at the World Championship of Performing Arts. I am confident that our participants will hold our Malaysian flag up high with thei mesmerizing cultural performance in the US. Thank you to them as they are also our ‘ambassadors’ to promote Malaysia as the preferred tourism destination. I wish them great success.”
This year, Malaysia will again send a team of our performers to compete in the World Championship of Performing Arts. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the World Championship will be even bigger and more prestigious with its opening scheduled to be in Disneyland California. This will be an opportune time for Malaysia to not only showcase their incredible talents but an opportunity to promote Malaysian arts, culture, and tourism post the pandemic!
The President and Founder of the World Championship, Griff O’Neil, once said, “Malaysia and its talent have been somewhat of a “secret” in Hollywood and America! However, this year the talented team from Malaysia has done much to put your country on the map!” It is no doubt that Team Malaysia has done well to promote and generate interest in our arts and culture in Hollywood.
Prizes to Models – Nottingheels Shoes: Zara Rania Putri, Meema Teh, Nur Airis Marissa
Adding to the excitement, the organizer, MATME MANAGEMENT, offered scholarships worth USD4,000 (RM16,800) to winners, enabling them to make it to Hollywood. On top of that, Nottingheels has also offered free shoes to the models, while Bloomskin has offered their facial care services. Although every contestant managed to put up an outstanding show, the ethnic dance group – Dansa Fusion KL, left the audiences in awe with their performance, earning them the ultimate prize money of USD 1,000 in scholarships from MATME MANAGEMENT.
Dansa Fusion KL Performers receiving scholarships worth USD 1,000
Below is the list of winners that were selected to represent Team Malaysia at Disneyland California:
| Category | Name | Prize Money |
| Instrumental Senior | Father & Son | USD 100 |
| Vocal Junior | Amberly Maidon | USD 100 |
| Vocal Senior | Ketty Natalia | USD 100 |
| Acting Senior | Ahmad Fadhli | USD 100 |
| Model Senior | Meema Teh | USD 100 |
| Vocal Senior | Sharifah Nur Ashira | USD 100 |
| Vocal Senior | Khairul Najmuddin | USD 100 |
| Modelling Senior | Hairul Mohd Salleh | USD 100 |
| Dance Senior | Nurfaraesha Anum | USD 100 |
| Vocal Senior | Kashmeran Rajoo | USD 100 |
| Vocal Senior | Muhammad Adam | USD 100 |
| Modelling Junior | Zara Rania Putri | USD 500 |
| Vocal Senior | Nor Afizah Yasin | USD 500 |
| Vocal Senior | Mohd Rizwan Yasin | USD 500 |
| Dance Junior | Nelie Zahra | USD 500 |
| Vocal Senior | Mouhammad Yadzir Muadz | USD 500 |
| Dance Senior | Dansa Fusion KL | USD 1,000 |
Romli Bidin, Chief Executive Officer of MATME MANAGEMENT
Chief Executive Officer of MATME MANAGEMENT, Romli Bidin, said, “We gather at this event with the objective of upskilling the entertainment industry in Malaysia by taking our local artists abroad to compete with talents from all over the world; this journey is one that will leave a mark on you for your entire lives. I’ve watched all of you perform, and I would like to take this opportunity to tell each and every one of you that I am proud of how far you’ve come. I believe in every single one of you, and I am certain you are going to drop jaws.”
The Malaysia Championship of Performing Arts is supported and endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia. We are thankful also to Malaysia Tourism Centre for sponsoring the venue for the Final Showcase. Individual sponsors include the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia Malaysia and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak. We are still on the lookout for potential sponsors and contributions from the private sector to make the dreams of the performers, a reality. We hope more sponsors will join in and support.
8-year old Model of Team Malaysia – Zara Rania Putri
