So TEDxKL 2015 is over, and as expected, it showcased a lineup of speakers who shared their ideas with a passion. The event ran almost 2 hours over time, but we’re pretty sure whatever pissed-offedness the audience may have felt about that was more than offset with enrichment they received throughout the day.

Here are the highlights from the speakers and performers who inspired the audience throughout the afternoon at TEDxKL 2015.
 

James Lee, Film Director & Writer

The award-winning film maker spoke about how the best films engage the consumer, and how films can touch lives and not just be mindless entertainment.

He also revealed that throughout the world, information was being manipulated by the powers-that-be in order to dictate the agenda for society. (Whoa!) James’ parting advice was that people should filter any media through our own knowledge and experience and not consume blindly.
 

Tommy Tan, Media Strategist & Catalyst for change

Tommy talked about his first awkward experience with a breastfeeding colleague and how it began to change his perceptions about this 100% natural function. Perhaps the starkest point his made was how we have been conditioned to be OK with the sexualization of breasts and not OK with breastfeeding. 
 

Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, Award-winning Dancer & Choreographer

Datuk Ramli delivered a treatise about the philosophy behind the myth behind the metaphors behind the art of Indian classical dance. Although his talk was only less than 20 minutes, it was full of philosophical ideas about dance and its effect on the human soul and psyche, and how the art form is intended to uplift one towards the divine. Really deep stuff.
 

Dr Afroz Ahmad Shah, Scientist and Earthquake Geology Researcher

Dr Afroz explained how and why earthquakes happen and also why the recent earthquakes in Sabah occurred. Bottom line, Malaysia may not be as safe as we were taught in our school geography books!

He also explained that collapsing buildings were the ones who killed people and not the earthquake itself. He touched a nerve in the crowd when he explained that corruption was one of the leading causes of poor quality buildings collapsing during quakes (and got a standing ovation for it).
 

Irshad Mobarak, Naturalist, Conservationist, Educator

Irshad corrected the common misconception that the Theory of Evolution was based on the idea of “survival of the fittest”. He explained that Darwin actually said that it is not the strongest or most intelligent who survives, but the most adaptable to change.

He then led the audience through a short history lesson of humanity’s worst atrocities committed in the name of “survival of the fittest” and ended with a call for the audience to adapt to the times in order to survive and thrive.

Again, this touched a chord in the audience, and he got some thunderous applause. Irshad’s rugged good looks and hair was a crowd-winner too.
 

Afdlin Shauki, Actor, director, comedian, singer

Afdlin shared about his journey as an artist and all-round human being, and how a self-awareness course he took helped him challenge his own perceptions of what was possible.

He then led us through a quick journey of his personal growth, of confronting fears and personal breakthroughs. Parting advice: If you want an extraordinary life, never accept the status quo, always rethink your perception and challenge them.
 

H.E. Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner to Malaysia

This Ipoh-born high commissioner shared her thoughts about making the right choices in life. Her advice was that we really need to know who we are and what we stand for because just as we make choices, our choices make us as well.

The choices we make reflect who we are, and those choices have consequences that define the future for ourselves and others. And when she said, “make the right choices for yourself, your family, your nation because those choices will define who you are as an individual, as a country,” the crowd broke out in spontaneous applause. Hmm, I wonder why…
 

Dr Kenneth Fong, Ophthalmologist and Eye Surgeon

Dr Fong delivered a funny yet informative speech on how short-sightedness correlated with exposure to sunlight. The more natural light you get in a day, the better for your eyes.

On the other hand, reading in artificial lights or low-light condition indoors leads to myopia. With data and research to back it up, Dr Fong proved once and for all that everything our parents told us about keeping our eyes healthy was true!
 

Datuk Sri Idris Jala, CEO of PEMANDU and global consultant

Datuk Sri Idris spoke on what it took to deliver big results fast. The secret? Simple – find out who is number one, find out everything he does that makes him successful, do the same thing religiously and rigorously. He also advocated hard work, as no one who expects to make it big in the world can afford to be lazy about it.
 

Professor Adrian Cheok, inventor & professor of pervasive computing

“We’re moving from information communication to experience communication. That’s the future of the Internet.”

Prof. Adrian showed us how to kiss and hug through the Internet – how cool is that! 
 

Dr Amani Salim, scientist, researcher, teacher

Dr Amani touched on her time in NASA, Purdue University, and how returning to Malaysia meant having to be creative with less resources. She stressed that innovation is not about having the money to do it, and even having no money helps. What it’s really about is people and how they are empowered. 
 

AkashA, world fusion music band

 

Besides blowing the audience away with their music, the band members also took some time to deliver some inspiring thoughts on arts, society and chasing one’s dreams.
 

Sam Triggy, guitarist extraordinaire

What do you do when an ordinary instrument is not enough to express your talent? You invent your own of course! Sam displayed his guitar virtuosity by playing the Vesitra, an instrument invented by him, using his unique guitar technique called tap picking, also invented by him.
 

Juwita Suwito, award-winning singer, songwriter

Juwita Suwito melted the crowd’s hearts by singing Just Like That and Belle of the Ball. Most of all, she urged the crowd to do something positive every day, as it could add up to a big change eventually.

So there you have it, TEDxKL 2015 in a nutshell. If you missed it this year, do check out TEDxKL 2016!