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. This Malaysia Day, we asked 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. Share your story with us and add your voice to Malaysia’s 2026 story.

SHARE YOUR STORY

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THE STORY BEHIND RISE AS ONE

Every day, we study and work alongside people whose worlds are nothing like our own. It's so easy to overlook how simple acts can spark valuable ideas, or miss what happens when we choose to step in for each other.

This is a short reflection about those small moments and where they might lead. A warm shout-out to our Taylorian community, whose presence peeks out everywhere in our film - from student fashion creations to a pair of very enthusiastic lions.

KOPITIAM OF STORIES

This August, we brought a slice of classic Malaysia to the heart of campus. For ten days at Bungkus Kaw Kaw, Kopitiam of Stories gave the Taylor’s community a place to slow down, share a drink, and reconnect through the memories, moments and stories that shape who we are.

Salvinaa Thurga

Joining Taylor’s, I thought uni was just about passing exams. But interning at KPMG, I saw why lectures mattered. Financial statements weren't just numbers in a textbook. Taylor’s gave me the foundation. KPMG showed me where it could take me and I could see myself in the future I was studying for.

Adrian Lee Yuen Beng

Sembang Kopitiam began as an attempt to collect the funny, curious, and familiar stories Malaysians pass around the table. Winning a national award made me realise these 'friend of a friend' stories mean so much, and made me want to preserve the voices and memories that might otherwise disappear.

Angel

As the founder of UniStay for my project at Taylor's, I worked with a team to address accommodation challenges faced by international students. Through market research and financial planning, I learned that entrepreneurship is also about understanding real human needs across different cultures.

Sharon Pransis

Su, Sha and Sharon. SUSAH ROSAK 😂 Three women, three different races, three different personalities… but somehow, we just stick together. Gebu together, gaduh together, gelak together, and survive together. That’s what Malaysia means to me. We don’t have to be the same to belong together. 🇲🇾❤️

Jhenheney

In a hospital common area, a little girl tapped my shoulder and handed me a torn page. It was a drawing of me. Specs, hair, and even the visitor tag. She didn’t know me, yet chose to see me and share kindness. That small, unexpected act stayed with me, making me want to do the same for others.

Maher

Moving to Malaysia felt like stepping into a melting pot of cultures. I remember sitting with friends from different countries, sharing stories, laughing about the same little things. That moment made me realise that belonging doesn't require being the same. It comes from embracing our differences.

Norliyana binti Noor Ariff

Early in my career. money was tight so i used to only buy plain nasi lemak. The mak cik was so kind, she always put chicken rendang in my order. Countless times. When asked why, she told me i reminded her of her daughter. It was a small gesture to her, but I remember her kind support up to this day.

Athirah

After returning from my long leave following a loss, my team surprised me with packages of health supplement. Although we come from different races, in that moment, it was simply one person showing care to another. I'm grateful to work with people who show that unity is something we practise. 🇲🇾❤️

Wan Nur Afiqah

Being hospitalised while living away from my family was incredibly daunting and lonely. However, my wonderful colleagues' unexpected visits and genuine care brought immense joy. They stepped in as my second family, turning a difficult stay into a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection.

Ameera

Volunteering at Rumah Titian Kaseh, I felt a sense of belonging. We shared meals, laughed, and created meaningful moments with the children. Seeing their smiles and appreciation taught me that belonging isn't about where you come from, but being accepted and connected through small acts of kindness.

Aaron Koh

I represented my high school in the National Day dance parade on national TV. Students across Malaysia from all backgrounds spent almost a year perfecting every step. As we danced before the nation, I felt overwhelming pride, a core memory reminding me there’s a place for all of us in Malaysia.

Cassandra Lavinia a/p Anthonysamy

In primary school, coming from a low-income family, I had only the simplest items while others had colourful bags and bottles. Yet on day 1, there was no arrogance. Kids shared freely, teachers of different races made me feel comfortable, and parents smiled. That’s where inclusivity began for me.

Pan Yitian

I hope Malaysians cherish their inclusive multicultural harmony. As an overseas student, the gentle acceptance from people of diverse races in local kopitiams eased my anxiety of restarting my academic path. This warm mutual respect inspired me to keep an open mind, making Malaysia my second home.

Nur Syamimi Izzati binti Ruslan

I hope we double down on hormat and tolerance. Switching languages mid-sentence and everyone just gets it 😂 Respecting each other’s beliefs and celebrations. 3 major cultures living this closely for so long makes our food, language, and creativity so rich. If we lose that, we become... generic.

Sia Chin Chin

When I was 18, it was my first time in life to live away from my family. With the support and encouragement from my roommates in My Place Apartment in SS15, I have learnt that kindness and empathy are true enablers. I hope all future generations will embrace kindness and empathy in every way they could

SHOW ALL

READ ALL STORIES

The tables have been cleared, but the conversation is still going. If you didn’t get a chance to sit down with us, you can still browse the Menu of Stories and share a memory close to your heart. Some of the most meaningful conversations in this country have always started over food, and maybe the next one begins with you.

SHARE YOUR STORY

MADE POSSIBLE BY

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 was already part of life on campus.

THE KOPITIAM PARTNER

Shop sign showing Bungkus Kaw Kaw 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.

THE VOICES WHO JOINED US

Arwind Kumar

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 felt right at home here.

_{(And yes, he brought a friend.)}

Graeme Tan

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 did what he does best: struck up conversations and reminded us that the best stories are usually the ones we already know.

Ming Yue

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 in August felt a little like coming home, to sit once again at the kind of table where many of his own stories began.

SHOP THE MERDEKA COLLECTION

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. The result was 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.

Still Jalan tee from the Rise As One capsule collection

White tee from the Rise As One capsule collection

Still Jalan cap from the Rise As One capsule collection