15/07/2026

WEDNESDAY | JULY 15, 2026

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Visually impaired pianist plays from memory

KUALA LUMPUR: Seated before a piano, Natalia Lee does not need sheet music to produce captivating melodies. Instead, the visually impaired teenager draws entirely on memory, years of practice and the finely tuned sense of touch she has developed since childhood. Having started piano lessons at the age of five, every note she mastered became another step towards proving that physical limitations need not stand in the way of pursuing one’s dreams. For the 14-year-old, the piano is not just a musical instrument but also a medium for building her self-confidence. After nearly a decade of learning music, Lee admitted that the journey has not been without challenges as she must rely entirely on memory o Music proves instrumental to building self-confidence for dedicated teenager

enabling them to reflect on their eating habits and daily activities. “The app also enables teachers to monitor pupils’ participation through data such as rankings and badge achievements, while recognition is given every one or two months to the most active pupils. “The response has been very encouraging, although its use is not compulsory and some pupils face constraints such as limited access to smartphones or the internet. “Even pupils who do not use the app continue to practise the healthy routines introduced at school, demonstrating that the programme’s objective has been achieved.” – Bernama It can become a source of income for me through performances or part-time work to support my studies and daily living. “To everyone, especially my fellow visually impaired friends and persons with disabilities who want to learn music, never stop learning because anyone can succeed in this field.” Meanwhile, Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) deputy president Datin Fauziah Mohd Ramly said providing opportunities for visually impaired individuals to showcase their talents is essential in helping them gain wider public recognition. She added that many individuals within the visually impaired community possess remarkable talent but have yet to be given the opportunity to shine. “There are many more with extraordinary talent who remain unknown to the public. What they need is an opportunity.” The “Suaramu, Syairku” concert, jointly organised with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), was among the programmes held to commemorate MAB’s 75th anniversary.

“Feedback from parents has also been very positive. They have informed us that their children are now drinking more plain water, consuming fewer sugary drinks and making healthier food choices.” She added that the school planned to develop the app further so that it would be available on the Google Play Store in future to broaden its usage. Najjah Salaamah said during the initial implementation of the programme, pupils recorded their food intake and physical activities manually before the data was transferred into the app. She said pupils were encouraged to update their records at home using their parents’ mobile phones, without the support of my parents and teachers, who have always encouraged me. Never give up on your dreams. Always stay positive and keep working towards what you want to achieve.” The concert also featured the Setapak Ukulele Crew from Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Setapak, comprising five visually impaired performers aged between 13 and 20, who entertained the audience with a medley of three songs. For 20-year-old Mohammad Azeem Ikhwan Mahadi, a member of the group, his musical journey began after teachers and classmates encouraged him to join music lessons and learn to play the ukulele. “At first, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it because I had never played an instrument before. But as I learned step by step, I gradually began to enjoy it and eventually developed a passion for it.” Mohamad Azeem expressed belief that despite the limited availability of learning materials tailored for individuals with visual impairments, the challenge would not stop him from pursuing a career in music. “Music is more than just a hobby.

Lee performing her piece at the concert. – BERNAMAPIC

when performing a piece. “The biggest challenge for me is memorising complex musical works, especially when I have to jump from one part of the keyboard to another. I need to judge precisely where my fingers should land,” she told Bernama after the “Suaramu, Syairku” concert at the Seri Angkasa

Auditorium at Angkasapuri recently. Her dedication and perseverance eventually earned her a place at the event, where she represented her school with a medley arranged together with her teacher Christine Chin, after just two weeks of intensive rehearsals. “I would not have achieved this

Teachers develop app to encourage healthy living KUALA TERENGGANU: Two teachers at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Manir have developed an app; the Sihat, Aktif Manirian (SAM) programme, to encourage healthy living among pupils. Salaamah Jusoh, 37. Zuraidah said the school had introduced aerobics sessions, installed water dispensers to encourage pupils to drink plain water, promoted the consumption of prebiotic drinks and worked with health clinics to educate pupils on healthy eating.

internally by the school. She said through SAM, pupils record their daily intake of plain water and healthy food, as well as the duration of their physical activities. She also said the app currently involves about 300 Year Four, Year Five and Year Six pupils, while supporting programmes such as aerobics sessions, nutrition talks and the consumption of prebiotic drinks for all pupils and teachers at the school. Zuraidah said most pupils access the app using their parents’ smartphones via a link provided by the school, making parental involvement crucial as they help monitor their children’s records and provide healthier meals at home.

This follows growing concern over the increasing number of overweight children and their consumption of sugary food and drinks. The initiative earned SK Manir the AIA Outstanding Active Lifestyles Award 2026, worth US$15,000, at the Asia Pacific-level AIA Healthiest Schools Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand on July 8. The app was developed in January by Science teacher Zuraidah Hassim, 45, and English teacher Najjah

“However, we did not want the practices to stop at school. We wanted the healthy lifestyle to continue at home as well. So, Najjah Salaamah and I developed SAM as a platform to educate pupils while recording their daily healthy lifestyle habits.” She added that the app was developed using Canva Code, a platform that generates web-based applications, and is currently used