By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali (Source: BERNAMA)
KUALA LUMPUR — Oscar winner Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh has likened Kuala Lumpur to a grand stage with the world as its audience, as Malaysia prepares to raise the curtain for international visitors in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
Michelle, who has served as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2016 and is also a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Road Safety, said the VM2026 campaign goes beyond tourism promotion, serving instead as an open invitation for the global community to discover Malaysia more deeply.
She said VM2026 carries a broader message that encompasses cultural diversity, the warmth of its people, rich heritage, culinary uniqueness, and the vibrancy of the arts that define the nation’s identity.
“VM2026 is not just about tourism. It is an invitation to experience our diversity, our warmth, our culinary symphony, and the vibrancy of our arts,” she said at the launch of the I LITE U Festival in Bukit Bintang here recently.
The event, which forms part of the capital’s major light festival, saw the iconic Bukit Bintang district illuminated, showcasing the spirit of innovation and festivity that Malaysia hopes to present to the world.
Michelle said the lighting was not merely decorative, but symbolic of a “bridge” connecting culture, creativity, and community.
The Ipoh-born actress also described light as a symbol of guidance and hope for the future, as well as a beacon signalling Malaysia’s presence on the international stage.
“First, it guides and lights the way forward. Second, it serves as a beacon that signals to others — ‘here we are’,” she said.
Reflecting on her relationship with the capital, Michelle said standing in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, a city that shaped her dreams in her youth, filled her with pride as the country prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.
She added that the city’s brilliance that night marked the beginning of a new narrative about extraordinary beauty, rich heritage, and continuous innovation that Malaysia will share with the world in 2026.
Urging Malaysians to uphold their spirit of hospitality, she encouraged all to demonstrate the true meaning of Malaysian warmth to visitors from near and far.
“Let this light shine as a symbol of the bright future we are building together,” she said.
The I LITE U Festival is the curtain-raiser to a series of cultural and tourism initiatives for VM2026, further strengthening Malaysia’s position as a global destination for heritage, arts, and innovation.
