USM PENANG, 16 April 2026 – The organisation of MAKUM Nasyid Night 2026 at the Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) showcased an integrated approach to elevating Islamic arts as a platform for character development, in line with the aspiration of nurturing students who are balanced intellectually, spiritually, and socially.

Held on 14 April 2026, the programme brought together participants from public higher education institutions (IPTAs) across the country in a prestigious ‘nasyid’ competition that emphasised aesthetic values, da’wah, and discipline in its performance.

Organised by the USM Muslim Students’ Association (PMIUSM), the programme also received collaborative support from several strategic partners, including Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), Reino Creative Design, the USM Student Representative Council (MPP), Yayasan Perkasa Siswa, and Yayasan Islam Perlis.

The synergy between student bodies and sponsoring institutions reflected a well-structured organisational model oriented towards the development of a more inclusive and culturally enriched campus community.

A total of nine universities participated in this edition, namely the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), while USM served as the main secretariat for the competition.

This broad participation reflects the continued acceptance of ‘nasyid’ as a relevant medium of artistic expression within the contemporary student landscape.

The opening ceremony was officiated by USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Development Affairs and Alumni, Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya, who emphasised in his speech the importance of value-based programmes in shaping holistic student development.

He stated, “A ‘nasyid’ competition such as this is not merely a platform for competition; rather, it serves as an educational medium that conveys messages of good in a subtle, effective, and continuous manner in building students’ character.”

This statement underscores the role of the arts as an instrument of informal education that is capable of influencing value formation, in line with the university’s approach to empowering comprehensive student development.

At the same time, he also expressed his appreciation to all parties involved in ensuring the success of the programme, including the secretariat, sponsors, and participants who have contributed to its smooth implementation.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) emerged as the overall champion, supported by its excellence in vocal performance, presentation quality, and message delivery that succeeded in impressing the panel of judges. UPM also won the Best Performance Award, marking its dominance in artistic interpretation and effective delivery.

Second place was secured by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), followed by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in third place. The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) finished fourth, while Universiti Malaya (UM) completed the top five standings.

The organisation of ‘MAKUM Nasyid Night 2026’ demonstrates the continuity of efforts to strengthen the ecosystem of Islamic arts among university students through a more structured and impactful approach.

The programme not only served as a platform to showcase the students’ talents but also provided a space for inter-university engagement, enriching students’ experiences through social networking and cultural exchange.

More significantly, it highlighted how artistic elements can be integrated into the framework of human capital development, in line with the university’s agenda of producing graduates who are not only academically excellent, but also possess strong values and a firm sense of identity.

More importantly, it elevates the arts as an integral component of human capital development, aligned with the university’s agenda of producing graduates who are not only academically outstanding but also possess strong values, social awareness, and a sustainable sense of identity.

In this context, the successful organisation of the programme further strengthens USM’s position as an institution that consistently mainstreams value-based co-curricular activities through a systematic, progressive, and high-impact approach.

Original Text: PrivinKumar Jayavanan, Media and Public Relations Centre (MPRC)/Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: USM Muslim Students’ Association (PMIUSM) & Afimie Baharit, Intern@MPRC