KUALA LUMPUR — An evening of glamour and grandeur await guests at the annual Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Gala 2015, in aid of Bidara Kedah tonight.
Attendees will include royalty, Formula One team principals and drivers, local and international celebrities and captains of industries.
In its 11th year, the gala evening at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre kicks off at 7pm with a red carpet reception hosted by former co-host of E! Entertainment’s Fashion Police, George Kotsiopoulos, with Malaysian actress Nur Fazura Sharifuddin.
During a media conference yesterday, event organiser Live@Work’s chief executive officer Norhayati Ismail said it was always more meaningful when the event was for a charitable cause.
“This year it’s Bidara Kedah. It was founded in 1986 and funded by public donations,” she added.
In addition to funds raised from the evening, four items will be auctioned.
They include an 18-carat white gold ring set with 2.68 carats of white diamonds from jeweller Mouawad’s Rosette Collection (valued at RM50,000) and a limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph LMP1 watch (retailed at RM70,000).
There is also an acrylic and oil on canvas art piece titled Strokes of Generosity, by Terengganu born Suzlee Ibrahim and donated by Art Expo Malaysia (valued at RM40,000) plus two autographed racing suits belonging to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, donated by the Mercedes AMG Petronas team (valued at RM55,000).
The evening will also premiere a vintage haute couture collection by United States fashion historian and author Cameron Silver.
Entertainment for the night comes courtesy of The Jacksons.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir said they tried to up the stakes every time the gala was hosted.
“This year it is a fusion of high fashion and music by The Jacksons,” he added.
Previous international celebrities to grace this event include Diana Kraal, Lional Ritchie and Natalie Cole.
Mokhzani also said the reason for his continuous involvement was because he loved motorsports and it gave him the opportunity to meet people from various industries aside from the automotive world.
The Jackson brothers — Jackie, 63, Tito, 61, Jermaine, 60 and Marlon, 58, who mark their 50th year since Jackson 5 was established in 1965 — are still able to draw crowds in spite of losing their front man and brother Michael, who died in 2009.
Tito said they planned to play many of their top hits including a tribute to Michael.
“So, be sure to bring your dancing shoes, and party the night away,” he said.
The quartet was last in town in December 2012.
On the impact of the grand prix on Malaysian tourism, SIC chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali said the number of foreigners coming for the race were increasing by five to seven per cent annually.
