'Menelusuri Zaman’ Exhibition Brings Malaysia’s History To Life

By Muhammad Fawwaz Thafiq Nor Afandi

BUTTERWORTH, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Marking Malaysia Day 2025, visitors step back in time today at the ‘Menelusuri Zaman’ (Tracing the Times) exhibition, which brings the nation’s proud history to life at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena concourse.

Organised by the Penang government, the exhibition takes visitors through the nation’s heritage, featuring artefacts, original documents, replicas and traditional tools that evoke memories of the past.

According to Malaysia Day 2025 Exhibition Committee spokesperson Azizah Zainon, the main objective of the event is to bring the public closer to the nation’s heritage.

“We have a wide range of exhibits on the history of Malaysia Day as well as aspects of Penang’s own past, including video screenings, interactive audio features, artefacts, replicas, old maps and original documents.

“We are also displaying old furniture and tools, together with demonstrations of traditional dishes such as cassava, glutinous rice, salted fish and kuih,” she told Bernama when met at the convention centre.

She said visitors could also view traditional attire and equipment such as charcoal irons, vintage lamps, typewriters and the ‘sahara’ container, better known as the ‘tong haji’, which was once used by Malaysian pilgrims travelling by sea to the holy land.

Among the highlights this year is a collection displayed by the Penang Public Library Corporation, featuring old artefacts including a vintage map of George Town and a copy of The Straits Echo newspaper dated Sept 16, 1963 — the historic date of Malaysia’s formation.

The exhibition also features family colouring contests from 10 am, which draws an enthusiastic response particularly from children, and an interactive Kahoot quiz offering a variety of souvenirs for winners.

The event also sees the participation of the Information Department (Japen) and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), which showcase a collection of historic Malaysia Day photographs.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is taking part with its Internet Safety Campaign booth, while Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is showcasing antique audio equipment, including vinyl records and classic record players.

“These antique items are very valuable because they were once essential in daily life. When the younger generation sees them, they will gain a better appreciation of the hardships endured by earlier generations compared to the conveniences we enjoy today,” she said.

The exhibition runs from 9 am until the peak of the Malaysia Day 2025 celebration tonight.

Visitors can explore the Thematic Exhibition Zone, which is divided into three sections: Zone A (pre-independence era featuring artefacts, replicas and videos of daily life), Zone B (the independence era showcasing key figures, the historic Merdeka proclamation and newspaper cuttings), and Zone C (the post-independence period to the present, featuring photographs of national development and newspaper cuttings on the formation of Malaysia in 1963).

-- BERNAMA