On Saturday, 23 August 2025, the ASEAN Committee in Astana comprising the Embassies of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam successfully hosted the inaugural ASEAN Summer Festival at the Indonesia Cultural Centre in Astana.
The turnout was beyond expectations, with over 1000 visitors joining us to experience the richness of ASEAN culture, cuisine and hospitality. Many guests were so delighted that they asked for the festival to be made an annual tradition.
At the Malaysian booth, we proudly served our well-loved culinary treasures from chicken satay with nasi himpit and peanut sauce, teh tarik, nasi lemak ayam, curry puffs, noodles to delightful traditional sweets. A real highlight was the “pengat pisang with sago and palm sugar”, sampled during our live cooking demo, a dish that truly won the hearts of many locals.
Our Malaysian crafts including batik kaftans, shawls, and women’s accessories drew an overwhelming response, while our traditional Malay attires fascinated many visitors. There was strong interest in the Baju Melayu, baju kurung, and even the keris showcased by our ambassador.
Adding to the festivities, with the support of Tourism Malaysia Almaty, we presented a special performance by Mamlakat, a cultural troupe from Uzbekistan, who enchanted the crowd with traditional Malaysian dances.
One of the most memorable highlights was the appearance of “Wira” and “Manja”, our adorable Malayan Sun Bear mascots for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). Their irresistible charm brought smiles to everyone especially children, who were thrilled to take photos with these friendly ambassadors of Malaysia’s natural heritage.
Visitors also had the chance to explore exciting holiday packages to Malaysia, promoted by Tourism Malaysia Almaty, a wonderful step toward welcoming more Kazakh tourists to discover the beauty of Malaysia.
All in all, the festival was a resounding success, celebrating the best of ASEAN unity, friendship, and culture. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and shared in this joyful occasion. We look forward to seeing even more of you next year!
