KUALA LUMPUR: A night at the museum brought plenty of memories for a group of students, though none appeared more unforgettable than sleeping next to a statue and a curious case of flatulence.
These students were part of the National Museum’s “Bermalam di Muzium” programme held in conjunction with National Unity Week, which included cultural performances, treasure hunts and history lessons.
But somewhere between the lights going out and students drifting to sleep, one loud, unexpected sound echoed across the gallery – instantly breaking the silence and turning the hall into a chorus of muffled laughter.
“The funniest thing happened when one guy broke wind loudly and it vibrated through the whole gallery,” said Universiti Kuala Lumpur British Malaysian Institute (UniKL BMI) Gombak telecommunications engineering technology student Muhammad Naqib Johari, 27.
“I think he tried to suppress it,” he added, laughing.
Despite the comical moment, Muhammad Naqib described the programme as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that brought history to life.
“It was an eye-opener. I slept next to a chair that was given by Britain to us when we achieved independence.
“When I woke up in the morning, I thought, ‘Wow, I’m sleeping next to an important piece of history’.”
Muhammad Naqib said the students spent the entire day at the museum, taking part in activities such as repairing broken cera-mics and watching a wayang kulit performance, among others.
“The most fun part for me was simply spending the night here – sleeping surrounded by history.”
His coursemate, Livendran Murugan, 21, found himself resting beside a statue of Malaysia’s first prime minister.
“I got to sleep next to the statue of Tunku Abdul Rahman. Fortunately, he didn’t come to life,” he joked.
He said the overnight programme transformed the museum into something far more engaging than what students usually imagined.
“We learned that the first museum in our country was in Taiping, Perak, in 1888. That was new knowledge for me.”
Livendran also spoke fondly about the atmosphere throughout the programme.
“We had a brisk walk in the morning and, honestly, I loved the food. We kept getting meals every one or two hours,” he added.
For first-time participant Putri Nur Faiqah Faqihah Sharulnizam, 22, the experience highlighted Malaysia’s cultural diversity in a way textbooks never could.
“I was excited because this was beyond my expectations. There were so many activities – repairing ceramics, explorace at night, even dancing Unduk Ngadau.
“The facilities were complete and the food was good. Now I can really see how many cultures there are in Malaysia,” she said.
