MELAKA: The Karnival Jom Heboh (KJH) 2024 kicked off at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) today, drawing a lively and enthusiastic crowd despite its weekday opening.
A bustling atmosphere was observed, with visitors thronging not only food and drink stalls but also various booths.
These include booths set up by Studio Tonton Drama Sangat (TV3, TV9, Tonton), Studio Jom Heboh, New Straits Times Press (NSTP), Vocket, Hot FM, Kool 101 and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
NSTP circulation general manager Prakash Munusamy said the public's response was very positive, and hoped to see even more visitors in the next three days.
Prakash said NSTP was showcasing the Dinoland@NSTP concept for the seventh time at KJH 2024, with improvements made at each location.
"This time, we have a 'glow in the dark' concept, from darkness to light, and another forest concept with moving and static dinosaur robots.
"This concept is very interesting, enhanced with background sounds and ambience that can bring visitors 'back' to prehistoric times.
"Our goal is to provide visitors with joyful experience with their families," he said when met at the NSTP booth.
He said tickets to enter Dinoland@NSTP were as low as RM20 per family, and visitors were also given souvenirs, including the three newspapers in the NSTP stable: the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro, along with snacks, chocolate and drinks.
Another attraction was e-sports competition Tonton eSports War Of Clans, which started at 9am this morning.
Thirty-two teams are vying for cash prizes of nearly RM5,000.
A visitor from Terengganu, Che Wan Zakiah Che Wan Ismail, 56, said her family wanted to visit the KJH as soon as they knew it was being held in Melaka.
"KJH, for me, is not just entertainment but also provides valuable information to the public, such as at the EPF booth where people can open or update their accounts.
"At the Dinoland@NSTP booth, for example, my children, grandchildren, and I were able to see prehistoric dinosaurs statues and take pictures," she said.
In conjunction with TV3's 40th anniversary, various activities, fantastic offers and attractive prizes are prepared for the public, including the Bulletin Challenge programme at 5.30pm today at the Studio Tonton Drama Sangat, featuring TV3 personalities such as Asrulnizam Kadir, Shafiq Adnan, and Fatin Hamimah, as well as Saree Abdullah and Fahiz Ariff of TV9.
Later tonight, the final of the Tonton esports War Of Clan will be held at 8pm and the Jom Lokal Jam at 9pm on the main stage.
The Jom Lokal Jam is a talent show for Melaka residents to showcase their singing abilities and seek opportunities to get involved in the entertainment industry.