Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club (JBHJC), and winner of the Iskandar Malaysia Hero Awards (IMSHA), spread laughter for the annual JB–World Laughter Day this year at three different venues.
The 18th celebration under the theme “Laughter On The Move” on 3rd May, began its full-day celebration at Johor Cheshire Home from 10.00am to 12.30pm.
44 club members travelled together on a chartered bus, shared laughter, activities and a buffet lunch sponsored by the club with approximately 45 residents and staff, creating moments of warmth, care and inclusion.
The organisers also expressed their appreciation to Dr Ng Ben Chuan, President of Johor Cheshire Home, for his support in making this segment of the event meaningful and welcoming.
The celebration then continued at AEON Mall Bukit Indah, followed by the final stop at Plaza Pelangi, concluding at around 6.00pm. Both shopping mall venues were open to the public, attracting families, shoppers and community members who joined in the joyful activities.
Guest of Honour, Andrew Chen Kah Eng, Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Stulang, was represented by his personal assistant, Zetty Phaharoradzi, attending the AEON Mall Bukit Indah segment.
Participants in all three venues enjoyed a lively programme that included laughter yoga exercises, line dancing, joyful clowning, quizzes and the reading of World Laughter Day peace messages in four languages.
Laughter Ambassador Bachan Singh, a dedicated member of the club, led the laughter exercises across all venues, and his energy and enthusiasm kept participants upbeat all day.
The event was further enlivened by the energetic and vibrant emcees, Patricia Jalleh and Liza Alip, who kept the programme engaging and interactive from start to finish.
A highlight of the celebration was the Joyous Community Drum Circle, led by experienced facilitators Aden Firdaus Jaman from Singapore and Bill Lewis from Kuala Lumpur, creating a dynamic and inclusive experience through rhythm and music.
The event also featured lively dance segments, with the Clown Line Dancers at AEON Mall Bukit Indah, led by Teacher Lynn Tan, and the Line Dancers at Plaza Pelangi, led by Teacher Angie Teo, adding colour and excitement to the celebration.
Another key highlight was the Laughter King and Queen contests, celebrating joyful expression across generations:
Johor Cheshire Home’s Laughter King was handed to Arvind A/L Avadiar, 32, and Laughter Queen went to Chong Chin Lan, 61.
AEON Mall Bukit Indah’s Laughter King is Virvar, 12, and Laughter Queen goes to Apple Lim May Fay, 52.
Plaza Pelangi crowned Laughter King Yap Keat Keong, 68 and Laughter Queen Norlaila Binti Ariffin, 49.
This unique multi-location concept enabled the organisers to bring laughter directly into the community, reaching diverse groups, from elderly residents to youth and families, demonstrating that laughter truly transcends age and background.
World Laughter Day, celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year, was founded in 1998 by Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of the global Laughter Yoga movement. It aims to promote health, happiness, and world peace through laughter.
Founded in 2008, the Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club has been actively promoting a joyful and healthy lifestyle through laughter yoga, clowning, drum circle and community outreach programmes. The annual World Laughter Day celebration in Johor Bahru has been held since 2009 and continues to grow in impact and reach.
The event was led by organising chairperson Goh Siew Mei, who is also the president of the Johor Bahru Happy and Joyous Club.
The organisers expressed their heartfelt appreciation to all partners, sponsors, volunteers, and participants who contributed to the success of the event.
“Laughter is a universal language that connects people beyond all boundaries. Through this celebration, we hope to inspire more people to embrace laughter as a simple yet powerful way to enhance well-being and build a more harmonious community,” said JBHJC in a statement.
