Rise As One

Malaysia's story has never belonged to one voice. It belongs to every culture that shaped us, every connection that carries us forward. As we approach Malaysia Day, we are asking ourselves one question: what does it actually mean to rise as one, not as a nation in the abstract, but as a community built on the choice to show up for each other?

This year, we want to hear your answer. Sit with us at the Kopitiam of Stories, or share your story with us online, and add your voice to Malaysia's 2026 story.

SHARE YOUR STORY

THE STORY BEHIND RISE AS ONE

There is a particular kind of conversation that happens in Malaysia that you don't find easily anywhere else in the world. It happens over a shared table, in a language that blends a handful of cultures, between two people who grew up celebrating completely different things, and yet somehow understand each other completely.

Most Malaysians know this feeling. Not everyone knows how rare it is.

Yet in a world that increasingly rewards certainty over curiosity, it is easy to retreat into spaces that only reflect who we already are.

At Taylor’s, we believe there is another way. As a community shaped by different experiences, and ambitions, every day we see how learning to listen and collaborate prepares us for the world beyond college and university.

Perhaps rising as one begins with something simpler than we imagine: making room for one another, one conversation at a time.

KOPITIAM OF STORIES

This August, we're bringing a slice of classic Malaysia to the heart of campus. Kopitiam of Stories is a 10-day pop-up experience at Bungkus Kaw Kaw, where the Taylor's community is invited to slow down, and connect over the memories that shape us.

Pull up a chair. Enjoy your kopi. Browse the Menu of Stories at your table and share a quick memory from your time here. Some of the most meaningful conversations in this country have always started over food, and maybe the next one begins with you.

Event Date

10 to 21 August, 2026 (Weekdays only)

Event Time

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Event Venue

Bungkus Kaw Kaw, Syopz Mall,

Taylor's Lakeside Campus

SHARE YOUR STORY

Take a Seat: Settle in and scan the QR code at your table to explore the Menu of Stories.
Share Your Story: Choose the story starter that resonates with you. Submit your response in 3 to 5 sentences (max 150 words) via the form.
Enjoy a Treat: Once you're done, redeem a classic Malaysian kopitiam food and drink set at the counter.

Not sure which story to tell? Here are the five story starters waiting for you:

A Taste of Belonging

Tell us about a moment at Taylor's when you felt like you were exactly where you belonged. It could have been quiet, unexpected, or unforgettable. Who or what made you feel that way?

Melting Pot

Tell us about a classmate, lecturer, or friend from a completely different background who changed the way you saw things. What did you learn from them?

Served with Support

Tell us about a peer, mentor, or staff member who stepped in when things got difficult. What was the small gesture that helped you keep going?

Beyond the Expected

Tell us about a project, internship, or experience at Taylor’s that made you think, 'Wow, what I’m learning here connects to the world outside Malaysia.’ When did you realise your world had grown bigger?

Hope for Tomorrow

What's one quality, value, or way of treating others you hope future generations of Malaysians will hold on to? Why does it matter to you?

Who can participate?

Kopitiam of Stories is open to all current Taylor's University students, staff, and academics. Come as you are.

Do I need to register in advance or can I just walk in?

No registration is needed. Simply walk in anytime between 11am and 2pm on any day of the experience, from 10 to 21 August 2026 (weekdays only).

Can I participate more than once?

Each person may submit one story across the duration of the Kopitiam of Stories. Make it count.

What languages can I submit my story?

Whether your story flows best in English, Malay, Chinese, or Tamil, we want to read it exactly as you would tell it to a friend. Write in the language that feels closest to home.

Will my story be published publicly?

Selected stories may be featured across Taylor's website and social channels as part of our Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations. Full details are outlined in the submission terms and conditions.

How will my story be used after the event?

The strongest stories will be curated and featured on our Merdeka and Malaysia Day page and across our social channels. Some may also be adapted into video or editorial content. All usage is covered under the submission terms and conditions.

Is the classic Malaysian kopitiam set free for everyone or only for those who submit a story?

The set is our way of saying thank you for sharing your story. Simply type it out using the QR code at the table, show the submission screen to the team at the counter, and your food and drink set is on us.

What if the F&B sets run out for my time slot?

We prep a fresh batch of sets for every time slot. If a slot fills up faster than expected, we’ll happily offer you the next available set instead. Drop by early to secure your treat!

Is there a time limit for how long I can stay?

To make sure that more members of the Taylor’s community get a chance to share their stories, we gently suggest keeping your visit to around an hour.

AROUND THE TABLE

Kopitiam of Stories came together because good things rarely happen alone. It took a streetwear brand willing to create with students, familiar faces willing to pull up a chair, and a kopitiam that is already a part of life on campus.

THE KOPITIAM PARTNER

Shop sign showing Bungkus Kau Kau shop at Taylor's Lakeside Campus

The name says a lot. ‘Bungkus’ is what you say when you want your food packed to go. ‘Kaw kaw’ is what you say when you want it strong and generous. Put together, it's basically their philosophy: give people something real, no half measures.

That's exactly the energy we wanted at Kopitiam of Stories.

Bungkus Kaw Kaw wasn't picked for convenience (though it helps that they're right here on campus). Long before Kopitiam of Stories, they’ve been bringing our community together. Day after day, students gather here between classes, over lunch, after presentations, and before deadlines. Conversations begin over kopi. Friendships grow over shared meals. It was already the right table.

FACES YOU'LL MEET AT THE TABLE

Arwind Kumar (12 August)

Arwind Kumar has a gift for making Malaysians feel seen. His content feels instantly familiar because it comes from the small, unscripted moments of everyday life in this country. His stories remind us that the things we have in common are often hiding in plain sight, which is exactly why he feels right at home here.

_{(And yes, he’s bringing a friend.)}

Graeme Tan (13 August)

Originally from Sabah, Graeme has spent years finding humour in the little moments people across Malaysia easily recognise. The sudden downpour. The aunty at the pasar malam. A mosquito that just won’t leave. At Kopitiam of Stories, he'll be doing what he does best: striking up a conversation and reminding us that the best stories are usually the ones we already know.

Ming Yue (13 August)

Before audiences knew him for his distinctly Malaysian storytelling and Sip & Spill series (first filmed right here on campus), Ming Yue was a Taylorian. Returning this August feels a little like coming home, to sit once again at the kind of table where many of his own stories began.

FROM SKETCHBOOK TO STREET

For nearly a decade, Pestle Mortar has turned everyday Malaysian identity into something worth wearing. Their pieces are rooted in culture and a quiet confidence that only comes from knowing who we are.

For Merdeka and Malaysia Day 2026, we asked them to bring that instinct into the classroom and create together with a group of students from the Design School at Taylor’s. The brief was simple on paper: translate the idea of Rise As One into something you’d genuinely want to wear. Something thoughtful and unmistakably Malaysian without saying it out loud.

Over several weeks, the students worked directly with Pestle Mortar's team, refining sketches, testing concepts, and learning what it takes to move from a moodboard to finished pieces. Come August, you can see and wear the result: a limited-run capsule collection, featuring the winning student’s design alongside a special piece by Pestle Mortar. Created for the community that inspired it.

SHOW ALL

Available this August. Stay tuned for purchase details and be among the first to wear the collection inspired by our community.

WHAT'S COMING NEXT

The Kopitiam of Stories is where it starts. But the stories collected across those ten days will travel further than the walls of a kopitiam. From the screen to the page, from one Taylorian's voice to thousands of hearts, what begins in August will continue to unfold long after the last seat is taken.