KUCHING: What began as a first-time visit to the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) turned into a life-changing celebration for Nur Farah Ain Kamshul, whose 29th birthday today was crowned with the grand prize of a brand-new Proton X70.
Farah emerged as the #RWMFxProtonX70 Challenge winner of the RWMF 2025 Skills Contest, a digital competition run in partnership with Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Proton.
The contest rewards creativity and originality in promoting Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) values.
“My feelings are mixed. I feel happy but it’s still hard to believe because this is my first time joining the Rainforest Festival,” Farah told reporters during the RWMF 2025 Skills Contest Prize Giving Ceremony held at the Aurora Plaza, today.
The idea to participate came after Farah and her husband attended the RWMF for the first time this year.
“My husband had just moved from Sabah, and he is originally from Peninsular Malaysia.
“So I told him, why don’t we join this festival so he can experience our culture.”
Additionally, her most unforgettable highlight was watching the Siberian band, Otyken, live.
At the festival, watching Siberian band Otyken perform live was a cultural experience she called “unlike anything I had ever seen.”
Farah recalled her contest entry shot at Kuching International Airport, dressed in full Bidayuh traditional attire, performing a dance that blended local tradition with trending TikTok moves inspired by Bella Astillah.
“At first, I felt shy, but the excitement to join became stronger.”
Farah plans to use her first car to drive to farther destinations such as Sibu.
