By Zaki Salleh
TAIPING: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has expressed its support for the Malaysia Peranakan Festival 2026 by welcoming the arrival of a delegation from the Malaysia Baba Nyonya Peranakan Association.
The delegation travelled to Taiping aboard the Electric Train Service (ETS) to attend the festival, which is being held from Friday to Sunday.
The initiative reflects KTMB’s commitment to strengthening its “Road to Rail” agenda by encouraging greater use of rail transport as the preferred mode of travel.
At the same time, it supports efforts to promote domestic tourism while preserving Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity and heritage.
The Malaysia Peranakan Festival 2026 brings together Peranakan communities from across the country through a wide range of activities highlighting the history, culture, arts, heritage, gastronomy and traditions of the Baba and Nyonya community.
As the country’s rail service provider, KTMB ensured the smooth operation of the ETS journey from Pulau Sebang to Taiping.
This included a welcoming ceremony for participants upon their arrival at Taiping Station as a gesture of appreciation for choosing rail as their mode of transportation.
KTMB Chief Operating Officer, Afzar Zakariya, said rail transport not only connects destinations but also plays a vital role in connecting people, cultures and the nation’s heritage.
“KTMB believes that the rail network does more than connect destinations—it also connects communities, cultures and the nation’s heritage.
“The participation of the Malaysia Peranakan Festival 2026 delegation via the ETS demonstrates that rail transport is a comfortable, safe and sustainable travel option in supporting cultural tourism and the ‘Road to Rail’ agenda.
“The uniqueness of the Baba and Nyonya community is one of Malaysia’s cultural identities that deserves to be introduced to the world.
“We hope more tourists will choose rail services to explore the beauty of Malaysia and experience first-hand the country’s rich cultural diversity in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026,” he said.
He also called on organisations, associations, community groups and event organisers to make rail transport their primary mode of travel, thereby supporting efforts to expand the use of public transportation.
He added that greater use of rail transport would help reduce road congestion, lower carbon emissions and strengthen the “Road to Rail” agenda towards a more sustainable and inclusive national transportation system.
