14/09/2025

NATIONAL 6 theSun on Sunday SEPT 14, 2025

All aboard for vibrant cultural experience

Woman killed, 4 hurt in three-vehicle crash KUALA TERENGGANU: A woman was killed and four others were injured in a three vehicle crash at Jalan Sungai Ikan on Friday. Kuala Terengganu police chief Azli Mohd Noor said 62-year-old Rohani Hashim and three other family members were in an SUV driven by her daughter. He said the crash also involved an MPV and a car. “Preliminary investigations found that the incident occurred when an MPV, driven by a 29-year-old woman from Jerteh, veered into the opposite lane and collided with the SUV coming from Penang. “The collision caused the MPV to spin before being hit by the car, driven by a 37-year-old man from Kemaman. The car driver tried to swerve but clipped the side of the MPV,” he said in a statement yesterday. The car driver, his wife and three children escaped unhurt. He said the injured driver and passengers of the SUV were being treated at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital. “The victim’s body was taken to the hospital forensics unit for further examination. The injured MPV driver was also sent to the same hospital for treatment. “The case is being probed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,” he said. – Bernama Man held over video insulting King, rulers KUALA LUMPUR: A man was arrested by police yesterday to assist in investigations into the circulation of a video on TikTok containing seditious elements and insults against the King and other rulers. Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar said the video is believed to have been uploaded by the owner or operator of the TikTok account @muhammad.bin.abdu969 on Friday. “Checks found that the 41-year-old man has criminal records involving three criminal cases and one drug-related case. ‘The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said in a statement yesterday. Kumar said police will not compromise with any individual who misuses social media platforms to spread seditious statements, insults or any form of provocation that could disrupt public order and national security. – Bernama

More than 20,000 clad in iconic housewear hop on Keretapi Sarong as celebration of unity and heritage ahead

of Malaysia Day Ű BY MAHADHIR MONIHULDIN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: More than 20,000 people clad in sarong flooded 11 Klang Valley train stations yesterday morning for the ninth edition of “Keretapi Sarong”, transforming platforms into a vibrant celebration of unity and heritage ahead of Malaysia Day. Organised by cultural group LOCCO, with support from Rapid KL, this year’s edition carried the theme “Serumpun”, symbolising Asean unity. From as early as 8am, the stations came alive with sarong -clad crowds who boarded trains bound for a secret destination – Raintree Plaza at The Exchange TRX. LOCCO co-founder Shamsul Bahrin Zainuzzaman said Keretapi Sarong remains a people’s event without protocols, celebrating all walks of life regardless of background. What began as a quirky NGO initiative to revive the humble sarong has now become one of Malaysia’s most recognisable cultural movements – transforming trains into moving carnivals and positioning the sarong as both a heritage icon and a potential tourism product. Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) tourism and economy professor Dr Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah said Keretapi Sarong has captured the imagination of Malaysians from all walks of life, attracting loyal fans and first-timers alike. He said its success lies in its authenticity, inclusivity and the ability to reframe cultural identity in a modern setting. “The origin of the sarong is multicultural – Indians, Chinese, Baba Nyonya and Malays would wear them at home. The event brings the sarong ,

Mohd Hafiz said Keretapi Sarong has captured the imagination of Malaysians from all walks of life, attracting loyal fans and first-timers alike. – BERNAMAPIC

it with other attire such as the baju Melayu , sari and cheongsam , further showcasing Malaysia’s diversity. The study also found that most participants were highly educated professionals with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, suggesting the event has developed a base of cultural ambassadors who actively promote it within their communities. Beyond nostalgia, Keretapi Sarong creates new cultural memories, allowing Malaysians to feel part of what Mohd Hafiz called “a living heritage in motion”. He added that with support from the National Unity Ministry, the event has expanded to include pocket festivals featuring food stalls, crafts and performances. The event is also increasingly being recognised for its tourism potential, with respondents seeing it not only as a cultural celebration but also as “cultural diplomacy in motion” – a unique way of showcasing Malaysia to the world. Keretapi Sarong is more than a festival; it is a reminder that culture, when brought into the public sphere, can strengthen national identity, generate economic value and project Malaysia’s image internationally, he added.

often relegated to domestic use, back into public life, turning it into a statement of pride and cultural identity on trains and city streets,” he told theSun yesterday. Unlike staged festivals, Keretapi Sarong uses public trains as moving venues, turning daily commutes into a carnival of song, laughter and friendship. Mohd Hafiz described it as an expression of Malaysia’s multicultural spirit “in action, not just in slogans”, particularly during the Merdeka season. He said a recent UiTM study of more than 100 participants shed light on the event’s growing appeal. “Respondents said they valued cultural authenticity over logistical perfection – the emotional connection and atmosphere mattered more than whether the trains ran on time. “This trust in the event’s inclusivity and transparency has translated into loyalty, with many participants returning each year, recommending it to friends and seeing it as a tradition worth protecting.The Gen Z crowd does a good job in reintroducing the sarong in a modern, urban context, reframing it as fashionable and relevant for the next generation,” Mohd Hafiz said. He added that while the sarong remains central, participants often pair

Experts to address mental health crisis at global conference KUALA LUMPUR: With

explore the connection between diet and mood, the role of the gut microbiome, social determinants of mental health, and the “stress-mitochondria connection”. “This conference is not just an academic gathering, it is a call to action. “We invite physicians and allied health professionals to learn about strategies that can help their patients promote mental well-being,” Siva added. Registration details are available via email at info@lifestylemedicinemalaysia.o rg or WhatsApp at 012-393 5016. – Bernama

Lifestyle Medicine immediate past president and Harvard Medical School faculty member Dr Elizabeth Frates, nutritional psychiatry pioneer Dr Uma Naidoo and Blue Zones Health chief medical officer Dr Wayne Dysinger, whose organisation is recognised for its work on the world’s longest-lived communities. They will be joined by Malaysian Mental Health Association president Prof Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj, ensuring an exchange of both global expertise and local insights. The scientific programme will

depression, double the number recorded in 2019. The conference will spotlight Lifestyle Medicine, which focuses on therapeutic approaches such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep optimisation, social connection and stress management. “Our focus is on equipping healthcare professionals with tools and strategies to prevent, manage and treat mental health conditions through evidence based lifestyle interventions,” Siva said. International experts will include American College of

experts to chart new approaches in mental healthcare. MSLM president and founder Dr Siva Poobalasingam, who also chairs the Advisory Board of the Lifestyle Medicine Global Alliance, said the conference aims to shift the way mental health is understood and treated in the country. “Mental health is not just an individual concern but a societal issue that demands holistic and innovative solutions,” he said. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, more than one million Malaysians aged 15 and above suffer from

depression rates in Malaysia doubling in just four years, the country will host a major international conference next month to address the growing mental health crisis through evidence-based solutions. The 5th Malaysian Lifestyle Medicine Conference, themed “Reimagining Mental Health with Lifestyle Medicine”, will be held from Oct 27 to 29 at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel. Organised by the Malaysian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (MSLM), the three-day hybrid event will gather global and local