21/06/2026

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NATIONAL 6 theSun on Sunday JUNE 21, 2026

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Business initiative for rural communities

Cultural, art and cuisine showcase KUALA LUMPUR: Citrawarna 2026 will return to enliven Dataran Merdeka for three days beginning July 24, bringing together cultural performances from across the country in a showcase highlighting Malaysia’s diverse traditions, arts and heritage. In a statement, Tourism Malaysia said the country’s iconic cultural celebration is in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign under the theme “Rhythm of Heritage, Pulse of the Nation and People”, positioning Kuala Lumpur as the main stage for celebrating Malaysia’s identity and cultural diversity. It said visitors will be treated to four main segments, namely Citra Perarakan (Colours of Parade), Citra Rasa (Colours of Flavour), Citra Budaya (Colours of Culture) and Citra Seni (Colours of Art), offering a comprehensive experience through cultural performances, traditional cuisine, art exhibitions and various interactive cultural activities. “Since its introduction in 1999, Citrawarna, or Colours of Malaysia, has served as an important platform in promoting Malaysia’s arts, culture, heritage and natural beauty to the world.” Citra Perarakan will feature cultural parades with a combination of music, dance and storytelling by contingents from across the country, while Citra Rasa will celebrate Malaysia’s rich culinary heritage with traditional dishes and authentic gastronomic experiences. Citra Budaya will showcase traditional performances, community-based activities and cultural expressions reflecting the diversity of the people, while Citra Seni will feature local handicrafts and art demonstrations by specialists in the local creative industry. Tourism Malaysia said the highlight of Citrawarna 2026, Citra Perarakan on July 25, will bring be a grand showcase highlighting elements of unity, creativity and national identity. “This performance will transform Dataran Merdeka into a vibrant stage celebrating the richness of Malaysia’s cultural heritage.” Citrawarna 2026 is also expected to generate positive economic impact through increased domestic and international visitor arrivals, creating opportunities for hoteliers, tour operators and local traders. – Bernama

KOTA BHARU: Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), through its Institute for Poverty Research and Management (InsPeK), has developed a social entrepreneurship programme that is helping pondok communities generate sales exceeding RM2,000 a day during promotional and marketing activities. InsPeK director Dr Ahmad Fahme Mohd Ali said the UMK@ Pondok preneur initiative was implemented under the Lembah Barakah Programme: Social Enterprise Hub for Downstream Product Processing and funded through the Higher Education Ministry’s 2023 Translational Grant in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah. He said the programme combines human capital development, technology transfer, social innovation and community income generation within a single entrepreneurial ecosystem. “The role of InsPeK as a social architect in this programme reflects the university’s continued commitment to making knowledge transfer and social innovation central to its contributions to society,” he told Bernama recently. Ahmad Fahme said the initial phase involved 30 participants from pondok communities, comprising 15 men and 15 women, under the guidance of a research team led by associate professor Dr Derweanna Bah Simpong and experts in community development, food technology and entrepreneurship. Programme for pondok teachers focuses on leadership, communication and entrepreneurship

Derweanna said the technology used in the initiative enables products to be processed in a more controlled, efficient and consistent manner. – PIC FROM

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN FACEBOOK PAGE

processes to be carried out in a more controlled, efficient and consistent environment while meeting food safety and hygiene standards,” she said. Through the programme, participants developed three value added products, such as “Perasa Bilis”, “Ikan Bekok” and dried fish, which utilises locally sourced ingredients. Marketed under the Meheliah Ocean brand, the products underwent nutritional analyses and quality assessments to ensure food safety and meet consumer requirements. “The project’s success has been encouraging, with sales exceeding RM2,000 a day during several marketing programmes. “This demonstrates that the products are highly competitive and have the potential to become a sustainable alternative source of income for the community.”

Participants were trained in downstream product processing technologies to produce commercially viable products and create new economic opportunities for pondok communities in the state. Derweanna said the programme prioritises personal development before introducing technical skills, adding that most participants, comprising santri and pondok teachers, had no formal business experience and underwent 15 intensive workshops focusing on confidence-building, communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking. The programme also introduced Commercial Hybrid Insoler Dryer technology, which combines solar energy with smart support systems to improve food processing efficiency. “This technology enables drying

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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