SINGAPORE: Singapore’s big celebration of Malay entertainment, Pesta Perdana, just had its 18th run on May 24th at the Mediacorp Theatre! It’s all about showing off the amazing creative talent in the local Malay entertainment scene.
This year was extra special because Suria, Mediacorp’s Malay channel, was turning 25, and they even had a theme for it: ‘A Moment for a Lifetime’!
Azura Goh and Fadli Kamsani of Mediacorp RIA 897, along with on-screen favourites Fikah Zainal and Zhin Sadali, hosted the red carpet prelude, Pesta Perdana Glam 2025, which kicked off the festivities in a spectacular way.
Suria’s legacy and iconic content
Dressed to the nines, celebrities arrived while engaging in lively conversations and reminiscing about past moments that celebrated Suria’s legacy and iconic content over the past 25 years.
So, the main awards show was in the hands of some well-known and loved hosts: Era Farida, Farhana M Noor, Fauzie Laily, and Najip Ali. They made the whole thing lively and fun for everyone watching as they handed out 25 awards, recognising great performances, shows, and personalities. One of the biggest winners of the evening was Operandi Gerhana, a super intense crime series set in the past, which Infinite Studios made
The show Operandi Gerhana is about two police officers trying to solve the kidnapping of their boss. It’s all happening back in the 1950s in Singapore, with a lot of gang violence going on, and get this – it’s based on real stuff that happened! It was a huge deal for the show to win the “Best Drama Series” award, and it has this amazing cast with actors from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even Australia!
What’s interesting is that Operandi Gerhana started as an idea pitched at the first Creatives Assembly in 2021. Plus, it was a first for Infinite Studios—their very first Malay drama that Mediacorp decided to make
Award winners
The show also gave some of its stars their first-ever wins! It was a super special night for Carmen Soo and Jamie Aditya! Carmen won the Best Actress award in a Drama Series, and Jamie snagged Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. What made it even more awesome is that it was the very first time either of them had even been nominated and the first time they’d ever acted in a Malay-language show for Mediacorp!
Norman Ishak shone that night, picking up two awards! He won Best Actor—Drama Series for Cerita Dia Macam Ni and Best Supporting Actor—Telemovie / Anthology for Bingit Season 5. These wins show just how talented and versatile he is as an actor, and they are a great recognition of the skill and artistry involved in acting.
Adding to his awesome night, Norman also won the Most Popular Male Personality award, which was all thanks to the votes from the viewers! Wahyu Rahman was named the Most Popular Female Personality on the female side. Both performers were honoured for their enduring influence on the local entertainment scene and their close bond with viewers.
Artistic traditions
In honour of exceptional digital storytelling that appeals to today’s changing audiences, Mediacorp Eaglevision’s Unboxing Seni won the Best Digital Short-Form Content award, the company’s first victory in this category. The show, which Zaki Hussain hosts, highlights the depth and heritage of the Malay people by taking viewers on a trip through their artistic traditions.
Regarding the music, the song Setitis Harapan from the telemovie Mencari Hajar took home the prize for Best Theme Song. It’s a touching song, written by Mayuni Omar, with Hazrul Nizam singing it and lyrics by Lea Samudera. This win is Mayuni’s fourth time getting this award, which just goes to show how much his music resonates with people.
Meanwhile, Best Audio Programme award was received by Real Talk Bersama Nity Baizura, who created and anchored Mediacorp RIA 897, her second victory in this category.
Mariam Mas’od snagged her first Best Radio DJ award for her show Espresso WARNA on Mediacorp WARNA 942. What makes it even cooler is that it was her first time being nominated.
Outstanding contributions
The event also celebrated Mr. Husin Saaban’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognised his outstanding contributions to the industry. Husin, a pioneer in Malay humour who started his career in the 1960s, has significantly influenced children’s entertainment, theatre, and television.
With Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Guest-of-Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the award in a moving moment of gratitude.
In addition to showcasing talent, the awards presentation enthralled viewers with upbeat dance and musical numbers. Projek Lagu winner Yanto Sani bravely reinterpreted Malam Gemilang that evening, accompanied by well-known Anugerah, SG Mania, and Juara Mic Junior members.
Before joining together for a stirring conclusion, Singapore Idol alumni Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza, and Sezairi all gave outstanding renditions of their hallmark songs. To top off the night, they even had some amazing performances by well-known Malaysian artists, Anuar Zain and Nadeera Zaini. Their performances were touching and highlighted the close cultural ties people share in the region.
Suria’s 25th anniversary
Angeline Poh, the Chief Customer & Corporate Development Officer at Mediacorp, gave a shout-out saying, “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this edition of Pesta Perdana!”
“Celebrating Suria’s 25th anniversary alongside these remarkable talents is not only a tribute to individual achievements but also to the vibrant growth of Singapore’s Malay entertainment scene. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with these creative minds, as they continue to inspire and captivate audiences here and beyond!”
Check out the awards ceremony of Pesta Perdana Glam on YouTube with Mediacorp Entertainment and mewatch.
Find out more details by visiting mediacorp.sg/pestaperdana.