159 Students Mark Malaysia Day With A Night At The Museum

SHAH ALAM, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- A total of 159 students from 17 schools in Selangor marked Malaysia Day in an unusual setting, spending a night at the Sultan Alam Shah Museum here under the ‘Sleepover at the Museum’ programme.

Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (PADAT) chief executive officer Aslynda Mohd Dahlan said the two-day programme, which began yesterday, involved students aged 13 to 17 and was organised in collaboration with the Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM).

She said the annual programme was held in conjunction with this year’s Malaysia Day celebrations to foster greater appreciation of the nation’s history and heritage among the younger generation through interactive activities.

“This kind of experiential learning approach is crucial in helping the younger generation see museums as more than just places for storing and displaying collections.

“Museums preserve the stories and heritage that define who we are, particularly for the younger generation, by helping them understand the lives of past communities, their customs, art and the events that shaped the state and the country,” she said after officiating the closing ceremony of the Selangor State-level ‘Sleepover at the Museum’ programme at the museum today.

The 17 participating schools included Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seksyen 9, Sekolah Agama Menengah Tinggi Tengku Ampuan Jemaah (SAMTTAJ), SMK Seksyen 24 (2), SMK Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and SMK Seksyen 18.

The other schools were SMK Meru, SMK Bukit Kapar, SMK Jalan Kebun, SMK Pulau Indah, SMK Setia Alam, SMK Banting, SMK Seksyen 7, SMK Seksyen 19, SMK Seksyen 11 and SMK Rantau Panjang.

Aslynda said the programme featured a mix of educational, interactive and physical activities, including knowledge-sharing sessions with curators and Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia, fitness sessions, the Young Curator Programme and museum exploration.

“Through the Young Curator Programme, participants are not only exposed to museum collections but also given the opportunity to recreate dioramas or replicas of artefacts using recycled materials.

“This approach is part of efforts to make the study of history and heritage more engaging by taking learning beyond textbooks,” she said.

Aslynda expressed hope that the hands-on learning experience would encourage participants to be more curious, confident and disciplined, while nurturing teamwork and the courage to try new things.

“It is hoped that this kind of programme will strengthen the museum’s role as a place for informal learning and encourage the younger generation to take a greater interest in understanding, appreciating and preserving history and heritage,” she said.

Aslynda also hoped the Sultan Alam Shah Museum would remain a place where the younger generation could learn about history and heritage in a relevant, engaging and easy-to-understand way.

“Seeing artefacts up close, standing before actual collections and learning the stories behind them can create a stronger connection to history than simply viewing them on a phone,” she said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Hafidz Ikram Mohd Nor Azman, 16, who was named the programme’s best male participant, said the activities gave students an opportunity to learn history in a more interactive way rather than relying only on textbooks.

“This is my second time here. History is an important subject, and I’ve really enjoyed learning new things and meeting students from other schools through this programme,” said the Form Four student from SAMTTAJ.

--BERNAMA