KPN aims to get 10,000 students to join IPIM within a year
Its Deputy Minister, K. Saraswathy said the IPIM programme, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Museums Malaysia and the Ministry of Education (MOE), aims to produce a generation that is historically and culturally literate, towards building racial unity.
She said that this year, a total of 41 museums in Malaysia are involved in the implementation of the IPIM programme, including federal, state and institutional museums.
'There are five sessions in the IPIM programme, namely briefing sessions by museum officials, teaching and learning (PdP) sessions, visits to galleries, reinforcement activities and reflections to test the level of student understanding towards the sessions conducted.
'The IPIM pilot project was implemented in 2015. In 2020, there were plans for the programme to be physically implemented, but it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and it resumed in 2021,' she said at the launch of the 2025 national-level IPIM Programme at the Terengganu State Museum here today.
Also present was state Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris.
Saraswathy said that 1,680 students joined the IPIM programme that was held simultaneously at 41 museums nationwide today.
'KPN always supports efforts by any institution in Malaysia to create togetherness and unity in the country.
'KPN hopes that the IPIM programme can foster a spirit of unity and harmony, as well as diversity of the community, thus fueling a sense of love for the country,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Kitchen lessons
MY love for food began with the dishes my grandmother made for our family. I used to peek into the kitchen, watching her work her magic as she prepared delicious meals for us whenever we visited. Her red wine chicken mee sua was one of my favourites – hearty and packed with rich flavours that warmed my soul. However, as time passed, she began to cook less frequently due to old age. Sometimes, the taste wasn't quite the same, and it felt disheartening that none of us could recreate her mee sua, even though we had eaten it for many years. Home chef: Working the stove has become second nature to Ryan. So, I decided to learn her recipe – one that holds many cherished memories for my family. To me, the culinary traditions passed down from my grandmother and family are priceless treasures. They preserve our heritage and allow us to continue enjoying meals that could otherwise be lost to time. What really started me on my cooking journey, however, was the Covid-19 pandemic, when we were all stuck at home during the movement control order. I read an interesting cookbook that inspired me to take cooking seriously. Subsequently, watching tutorials and following recipes online helped me learn to cook a variety of meals, progressing from simple to more complex dishes. To help me keep track of my favourite meals so I don't always have to search for them online, I have made it a habit to write down recipes in a notebook. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. When I first started out, I used to mess up recipes, accidentally cut my fingers or scald my hands with boiling water. The important thing is to keep learning and improving. I have improved in terms of reaction speed and timing, such as knowing when to cut the vegetables and when to add the ingredients to the pot. I also learnt that patience is key in cooking, because you need to know when to wait and when to act. These days, I can whip up both Asian and Western dishes. One of the cooking tips I have picked up is to always choose the freshest ingredients to improve the quality of the dish. I also learnt not to judge an ingredient by how it looks – sometimes, an ugly-looking potato is still perfectly good! Another important lesson was learning how to handle fire. Before I started cooking, I didn't know how to control the kitchen stove. Now, it's second nature. I usually cook for my family of four during my free time, or about three times a week – the same frequency I would recommend for those starting out. Sometimes, I experiment with new recipes to test my cooking skills. Teaching myself how to cook was the easy part – making the food taste good was the real challenge. It took me countless tries and many lessons from my relatives to bring my cooking to an above-average level. Learning from my parents and grandparents is something I really enjoy, as it gives me the chance to spend quality time with them while preserving family recipes. I have noticed that many young adults and teenagers prefer dining out rather than cooking at home. Cooking is often overlooked because many are too busy or find it inconvenient to buy ingredients and clean up after cooking. But as teenagers, we should learn how to cook, especially since going to university or living alone will eventually require it. Cooking helps us prepare affordable meals at home or in dorms. Eating out can be expensive, especially for students with limited savings. Restaurant portions are often small and costly, while at home, you can cook larger portions for a much lower price. Culinary showcase: (From left) Ryan's red wine chicken mee sua, spinach fettuccine aglio e olio with prawns, and Thai pad kra pao are favourites among his family. You will notice the difference between eating out and cooking at home – not just in price and portion size, but also in taste and nutrition. Eating out often tastes better because restaurants may use flavour enhancers like monosodium glutamate or add extra sugar and seasoning. But it is important to think about what we are putting into our bodies. Cooking at home is usually healthier since you control how much salt or sugar goes into your food. For me, stepping into the kitchen is a way to continue my family's cooking traditions and create dishes that bring joy to friends and loved ones. Cooking may not be easy at first – it requires self- discipline, and ingredients and cookware can be costly. But with a bit of effort, time, and resource planning, anyone can do it. Ryan, 17, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities. 1 In pairs, tell each other about a family dish or comfort food you love. Describe what the dish is, why it is special to you, and how it is cooked (basic steps). 2 Plan a healthy dish and present it to your friend. After listening, your friend will rate how healthy they think the dish is and explain why. Have fun! The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Sharing the wealth is her motto
SEREMBAN: During the Covid-19 lockdown about five years ago, some Malaysians found it difficult to put food on the table after they lost their jobs almost overnight. Swimming coach Irene Hisham knew she could not just sit idly by when the most vulnerable worried about feeding their families. She sprang into action with a simple idea and a determination to ensure those down on their luck would never go hungry. As movement was restricted during the MCO, the mother of three repurposed plastic storage cabinets into 'food drawers' stocked with pantry essentials. With help from friends and family, she filled them with groceries such as rice, sardines, sugar, flour, cooking oil, eggs, instant noodles and tea leaves, and placed them along the five-foot way of a commercial area in Seremban 2 with a sign inviting those in need to help themselves. Word spread fast and by the end of 2020, two drawers had become 27. Her initiative had garnered the attention of local Facebook groups and people from all walks of life came forward to make contributions. This small project later evolved into Pertubuhan Rumah Helang, an NGO dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities. Irene's NGO has helped numerous families. Irene, 63, is no stranger to giving. Even before the pandemic, she had been setting aside RM10 from each student's monthly swimming fees for charity. In 2019, she rallied her network of friends to build a wooden house for a jobless man whose home had been swept away by flash floods. It was the name of her swimming school, the Flying Eagles Swimming Club, that inspired Pertubuhan Rumah Helang, a symbol of hope to inspire people to soar through adversity. From the very beginning, Irene's motto was to 'share the wealth.' 'If I had a 5kg bag of rice, I would repack 3kg for the food drawer. My friends and family also chipped in,' she said. As movement restrictions eased, the food bank project went mobile. Her team placed stickers on their cars with contact numbers, so anyone who needed assistance could reach them. 'At any given time, each of us had five bags of groceries, which included rice, potatoes, onions, garlic, salt, sugar, tea leaves and cooking oil. 'Sometimes, people would stop us at traffic lights and we were glad to help them,' she said. The initiative soon shifted to delivering food packages, which proved a lifeline for those who were homebound. Although focused in Negri Sembilan, these care packages filled with groceries and essential items crossed state lines too like Selangor. Nowadays, regular food deliveries number fewer than 10 households per month. Irene said she aims to help lower-income families become self-sustaining. 'Our goal has never been to create dependence. We're here to help people stand on their feet. 'We help them find jobs, including as gardeners and cleaners, to help them earn a living,' she said, adding that some beneficiaries have opened small businesses. Festive seasons remain the busiest time for Irene and her team of 13 committee members and 60 regular volunteers. On the eve of major celebrations, the NGO delivers packages with fresh produce including chicken and vegetables, dry ingredients like dried chillies and lentils, and biscuits to almost 200 needy households. Fortunately, there are always people who are willing to help donate food, pack and deliver groceries. Volunteers come from across the state and are of different backgrounds. Yet, everyone is united in one mission – to lend a hand to their fellow human beings. Irene and her team also respond to urgent requests for baby formula from struggling parents to diapers for the terminally ill. Every appeal is vetted, and then shared through the NGO's Facebook page and volunteer network. 'Recently, I posted a request for funds to buy corrective spectacles for a young girl with vision issues and within 10 minutes, we raised more than what was needed.' The true power of community was also on full display during two medical camps for Orang Asli communities in Kampung Tekir and Bukit Galena. Her daughter Dr Edwina Hisham and several doctors were among those who provided free health checks. With support from Yayasan ECM Libra and Epsom College, the NGO also built two toilets for an Orang Asli community of 11 families near Bukit Galena. The Ipoh native said helping people was truly humbling. 'I always tell people to just give what they can. Every RM5 or RM10 adds up. Everyone can contribute whether it's a bag of rice, their time or their energy,' she said. Irene also hopes to secure enough funds to run a food kitchen and a halfway home for the needy. Meanwhile, the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Heart And Soul: More than just a cat
To the writer, her cat was more than just a pet, he was family. — Photo: Freepik Do you have any real-life, heart-warming stories to share with readers? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story within 900 words. Photos are optional and should be in JPEG format (file size about 1MB, with caption and photo credit). There is no payment for stories, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email your story to: heartandsoul@ with the subject "Heart and Soul". I Knew he was mine the moment I looked into his eyes. Five years ago, in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis, I found a tiny, scrawny creature in a hospital drain. I brought him home, fearing the next downpour would sweep him away. He was only meant to stay one night. One night became a week. Though I told myself it was temporary, I named him. I even sent black cat name ideas to my best friends – but I'd already made my choice. He was Bagheera. My little black panther. No bigger than my palm, he nestled in my hands as I sang his name in a lullaby made up on the spot. At first, I told myself he'd stay until he could fend for himself. Then, I told myself I'd leave him behind once I was transferred back to my home state in southern Malaysia. But when the time came, I realised I'd been lying all along. I couldn't leave him – no more than I could carve out my own heart and leave it behind. Bagheera never left my side. As I moved around the country for work, training to be a psychiatrist, from one hospital to another – he followed. My shadow. My little spitfire in black fur. He slept on my legs – unless he was sulking in the laundry basket after being told off. He knew I'd always come to apologise. He arrived at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when I was 800 kilometres from home, working relentless shifts. The isolation was crushing. He saved my sanity. Later, he saved my life – during a time when bullying at work pushed me to the brink. I stayed alive for him. He was my warmth, my anchor – my reason. When I was offered a job in London, it wasn't easy to leave him behind – him and his sibling, Aarav. I couldn't find a rental that allowed pets. It took time to find a vet I trusted enough to leave my children with. Eventually, I did – kind, careful, thorough. Bagheera spent the final year of his life living at the vet's practice while I made plans for our reunion. That year, he was diagnosed with feline bronchial asthma. The vet assured me it was manageable. Still, as a doctor and a mother, I worried – reading journals, calculating risks. But mortality rates were low. I took comfort in that. Until Friday, June 27. At 3.40am British time, a text came through: 'Are you awake?' My phone had been on Do Not Disturb. I shouldn't have woken. But I did. I replied: yes. An hour later, the phone rang. The vet didn't say hello. He said, 'Bad news.' By the time my mind restarted, he had already finished – in Tamil: 'Bagheera is dead.' I hung up. By 9am, I was buying plane tickets – obscenely expensive – planning my journey home. I flew 22,000 kilometres in 24 hours, just to say goodbye. To cradle him one last time. Some asked, 'For a cat?' I said, 'A family member died.' And that was the truth. This isn't just a story about a cat. It's about the kind of love that saves us – and the kind of grief we're asked to hide.
