Meet and Greet with International Students in Malaysia
(MAGNET) 2026

Heritage Trail is an interactive storytelling activity that introduces participants to cultural heritage, traditions, folklore, historical landmarks and community values through engaging narratives and collaborative gameplay. The activity encourages participants to explore and appreciate the richness of their own cultural identity while learning about the heritage and traditions of others.

Promote awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage by preserving and sharing traditional stories, legends and customs, while fostering teamwork, communication and cultural understanding.

• Each team receives a heritage-themed prompt, character, artefact or story card.
• Teams collaborate to create or continue a story based on the assigned heritage element.
• Additional challenge cards or questions may be introduced to develop the storyline.
• Teams present their stories to the judges or audience.
• Entries are evaluated on creativity, cultural accuracy, teamwork and presentation skills.
• The team with the highest overall score is declared the winner.

A traditional Malaysian recreational game where participants use a coconut as a bowling ball to knock down pins. Combining skill, accuracy and friendly competition, the game has long been a favourite at cultural festivals and community events.

Knock down as many pins as possible using a coconut while achieving the highest score.

• Teams stand behind the designated throwing line.
• A coconut is rolled towards a set of pins arranged at the end of the lane.
• Each team is given a predetermined number of attempts.
• Points are awarded based on the number of pins knocked down.
• The team with the highest score at the end of the game is declared the winner.

A traditional Malaysian game that challenges participants to keep a feathered shuttlecock airborne using their feet. The game requires agility, balance and precise footwork, showcasing coordination and control while preserving Malaysia's traditional sporting heritage.

Keep the feather shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible by achieving the highest number of consecutive successful touches without letting it touch the ground.

• Teams take turns juggling the feather shuttlecock using only their feet.
• The shuttlecock must remain airborne and must not touch the ground.
• Participants are not allowed to use their hands or arms during play.
• Teams are scored based on the number of consecutive successful touches.
• The team with the highest score is declared the winner.

A traditional Malay board game played using a wooden board with rows of holes and small counters, such as marbles, seeds or shells. Renowned for its emphasis on strategy, calculation and planning, Congkak challenges players to think ahead while preserving one of Malaysia's most cherished cultural traditions.

Collect the highest number of counters in your home hole by the end of the game.

• Players sit facing each other, with each player controlling one row of holes on the board.
• Players take turns picking up all the counters from one hole and distributing them one by one into the subsequent holes in a clockwise direction.
• The game continues according to the movement rules of Congkak.
• The player with the highest number of counters in their home hole at the end of the game is declared the winner.

A traditional Malaysian game that tests agility, hand-eye coordination, concentration and precision. Played using five small fabric pouches filled with beans, rice or sand, the game has been enjoyed for generations and remains a popular cultural pastime.

Complete all stages of the game by successfully picking up and catching the stones according to the game rules without making any mistakes.

• The game is played using five stones (or small triangle bean bags).
• All five stones are scattered on the ground before the game begins.
• The player tosses one stone into the air and quickly picks up another stone before catching the tossed stone.
• The game progresses through several stages: one stone at a time, then two, then three followed by one, then all remaining stones together.
• Players must catch the tossed stone before it falls to the ground.
• If a player fails to catch the stone or picks up the wrong number, the turn passes to the next player.
• The player who completes all stages with the highest score is declared the winner.

A traditional Malaysian strategy game that symbolises the contest between strength and teamwork. Played between two participants, one player controls the tigers while the other controls the goats. Success depends on careful planning and anticipating your opponent's next move.

Tiger player: capture as many goats as possible by jumping over them. Goat player: surround and trap all the tigers, preventing them from making any further moves.

• The game is played on a specially designed board with intersecting lines.
• One player controls four tigers, while the other controls 20 goats.
• The tigers are placed on the board at the beginning of the game.
• The goats are introduced onto the board one at a time during the initial stage.
• Tigers move along the board's lines and capture goats by jumping over them.
• Once all the goats have been placed, they may also move one position at a time along the lines.
• The game ends when tigers capture enough goats to no longer be trapped, or the goats successfully surround all the tigers.

Provides international students with an opportunity to showcase their vocal talent while celebrating the beauty of the Malay language and culture, in a friendly and inclusive environment.

• Open to full-time international students enrolled at Malaysian public and private HEIs under MOHE.
• You can still register for the Malay Song Singing even if you've already signed up for a solo or group event.

• Participants must perform one (1) full Malay-language song.
• The selected song must not contain content offensive or sensitive to religion, culture or society.
• Participants are encouraged to deliver a creative performance appropriate to the competition's concept.
• Any props used are the participant's own responsibility; attire must be appropriate.
• Participants must provide their own minus one (instrumental backing track).
• The judges' decision is final.

Celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the international student community by providing a platform for participants to showcase their country's traditions through dance, singing, drama (sketch) or poetry recitation.

• Open to full-time international students enrolled at Malaysian public and private HEIs under MOHE.
• Participants may compete individually or in groups of up to six (6) members.
• You can still register for the International Cultural Competitions, even if you've already signed up for a solo or group event.

• Present a cultural performance in the form of dance, singing, drama (sketch) or poetry recitation.
• Performances should reflect the culture, traditions or heritage of the participant's community or country.
• The performance duration must be between three (3) and seven (7) minutes.
• Content offensive or sensitive to religion, culture or society is strictly prohibited.
• Props are allowed if appropriate and safe for participants and the audience.
• Costumes, makeup and accompanying music should be appropriate to the performance.
• The judges' decision is final.