Rising new acts from the West will join Asian entertainers to set the tone for the MTV Asia Awards 2008 early next month at Genting Highlands. SHARIFAH ARFAH writes.

AMERICAN pop-rock bands OneRepublic and The Click Five, dance outfit Jabbawockeez, British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis, dance band Panic at the Disco, Korean group Super Junior and Irish band The Script are slated to perform at the MTV Asia Awards 2008 at Genting — City of Entertainment on Aug 2.

And joining Jared Leto of rock band 30 Seconds to Mars as co-host is Hong Kong actress-cum-singer Karen Mok.

A sought-after personality, Mok is an accomplished actress and singer who has enjoyed phenomenal success in Asia since making her debut in 1993.

In 2003, Mok created waves in the music scene when she was crowned Best Female Singer in Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Awards (the equivalent of the Grammy Awards in the Mandarin music market). In 2005, she made history by being the first Asian star to take on the lead role in the Broadway hit musical Rent on its 10th anniversary world tour of Asia.
The awards event will also raise funds for disaster relief in the region, including cyclone victims in Myanmar and earthquake victims in China. Leveraging on its popularity, MTV hopes to reach out to audiences across Asia in an effort to garner support and donations for the causes.

The latest updates on the MTV Asia Awards 2008 can be found on the official website, www.mtvasiaawards.com. Fans can visit the official website for more information on the awards in relation to contests and events.

The MTV Asia Awards 2008 will be broadcast to over 291 million homes across the region, and promoted on MTV Asia’s website. The award show promotions will be carried on MTV channels worldwide, reaching more than a billion viewers across 162 countries. MTV Asia Awards 2008 will be aired on Malaysia’s Astro Channel 713 on Aug 2 at 11pm with repeats on the same channel at Aug 3 (11am and 8pm).