KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 18): The Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) has been appointed the official sponsor of the revered Hans Christian Andersen Award, considered the highest global honour for authors and illustrators of children’s books. As sponsor for the 2027-2036 term, the statutory body’s duties primarily entail facilitating the judging process and covering costs incurred during the award’s administration. In this week’s Options cover story, PPAS director Datin Paduka Mastura Muhamad breaks down what this opportunity brings to the local literary community and the importance of nurturing creativity in young minds.

In other happenings within the region, Bangkok Watch Week had its second edition at Siam Paragon, gathering more than 45 leading brands in the horology world including returnees such as A Lange & Söhne, Vacheron Constantin and Cartier as well as newcomers MB&F and Parmigiani Fleurier. The fair marked more than 40,000 attendees, including some 400 international collectors, who engaged in informative symposiums, hands-on workshops and witnessed global premieres from maisons like Roger Dubuis and Oris.

Meanwhile, the collaborative production Genggaman brings together three of Malaysia’s leading dance schools: DiDance which revisits older Malay music, Dua Space Dance Theatre with its Chinese contemporary style and Sutra Foundation’s Bharatanatyam and Odissi troupe. Through the partnership of distinct yet complementary dances, the show paints a picture of a utopian Malaysia united by rhythm, music and movement. Genggaman will be showing from Oct 23 to 25 at Sutra House, KL, and on Oct 31 at Auditorium D’Sury, JKKN Seremban.

Read more in the Oct 19 issue of Options in The Edge Malaysia weekly.

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