Anugerah Industri Muzik 25 in Sarawak

The 25th Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM25) was held on September 26 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching in Sarawak, marking the first time the Silver Jubilee edition of the Malaysian music awards was hosted in the region.

Following the event, TV Sarawak (TVS) noted that managing the production, which involved over 100 artists, provided essential experience for future large-scale broadcasts. The ceremony also saw the introduction of the inaugural Anugerah Borneo to recognize musicians from Sabah and Sarawak.

Mimifly emerged as the most decorated artist, securing five trophies including Best Music Video for ‘Temberang’, Best Musical Arrangement for ‘Nara’, and Best Festive Song for ‘Serumpun’. Her success after 18 years in the industry has prompted discussions regarding whether industry recognition is based on artistic merit or commercial metrics such as social media trends and streaming numbers.

National icon Siti Nurhaliza won four awards, including Best Song for ‘Pesanan Buat Diri’, Best Traditional Song, Best Female Vocal Performance, and Best Collaboration. Earlier, Siti Nurhaliza had discussed her 14 nominations for the album ‘Gema Bumantara’, stating her focus was on “championing traditional rhythms for the benefit of the music industry and future generations”.

Other notable winners included Aisha Retno, who won Best Album for her debut ‘[RE. HAB]’, Best Album Recording, and Best Local English Song. Retno described her victory as a personal recovery process following professional and personal challenges, including a 2024 concert cancellation and a panic attack during a 2025 performance. Mawat made history as the first recipient of the newly introduced Best Borneo Song Award for ‘Dayang Bintang’, while rock legend Ella received the Sri Wirama Award for her lifelong contributions to the music industry.