THE 28th national-level International Museum Day Festival 2024 (HMA 2024) currently taking place in Penang offers a unique learning experience for visitors.
This marks the first time Penang is hosting the festival since its inception in 1997 (in Malaysia), making it particularly memorable for locals.
The theme for this year’s International Museum Day is “Museum for Education and Research”.
To learn more about HMA 2024 and gather public feedback, Buletin Mutiara visited the festival at Dewan Sri Pinang and interviewed Penang State Museum Board PR officer Nor Fatin Amanina Nordin.
Nor Fatin explained that the festival, which started on May 13 and will conclude on May 22, runs from 10am to 10pm daily with free admission. It features 38 exhibitors from across Malaysia and neighbouring countries.
“Two museums – each from Singapore and Kalimantan, Indonesia – are participating alongside institutions like the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Telekom Malaysia (TM), Malaysian Prison Department, Royal Malaysian Navy, and many others,” she said.
A smart app has been developed for visitors to receive updates on the festival.
Nor Fatin noted that the festival has united museums from all over Malaysia, offering the public an opportunity to explore their diverse histories and cultures under one roof.
When asked about the possibility of organising a similar event at state level by the Penang State Museum Board (featuring museums in Penang), Nor Fatin indicated that it could be considered.
“We could hold a museum day like HMA 2024 because Penang has many museums such as the food museum, glass museum, and many more.
“These museums are not just for tourists; they provide valuable knowledge for residents as well,” she said.
One of the activities observed at the festival was ‘Speed Dating’, where school students collected information from exhibition booths and learned about their roles. Participants were rewarded with roses.
Other activities include theatre performances, workshops, seminars, and cultural displays, along with services like tailoring, hair salons, and ironing.
Muhaimin Ikhwan Mahadhir, a student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi, praised HMA 2024 as a beneficial programme for students.
“We get to explore the histories and cultures of other states in one place, which is exciting.
“I hope more ‘Speed Dating’ booths will be included in future events,” he said.
Mohd Hasnor Tajul Amar, a representative from the Natural History Museum under the Department of Museums Malaysia, highlighted the importance of educating young people about Malaysian biodiversity.
“When students visit my booth, I share information about extinct and existing animals.
“It is crucial they understand the importance of conserving our environment,” he said.
Vendor Fatin Fazlina Yaakob expressed that such programmes are beneficial as they provide youths with exposure to history that they might not encounter through social media.
“Physical events like this offer them valuable historical knowledge,” she added.
Below is the collection of pictures of the festival :-
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Siew Chia En