JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 8 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) strengthened its community engagement through “Marilah Membaca Anakku Sayang“, a two-series literacy initiative held on 17 July and 8 August 2026. Led by Dr. Ermi Ruziyana Md Nordin from UTM’s Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), the initiative brought together UTM; Association of Parents of Special Children (GIAT), under the leadership of its chairman, Dr. Aida A. Rahman, and the Rotary Club of Puteri Lagoon, Johor Bahru, to empower parents and caregivers with practical knowledge and strategies to support children experiencing reading difficulties.

Muna Mohamed, a research officer and a GIAT member, played a key role in connecting UTM with the community, facilitating parent participation, and strengthening community engagement.

Siri I: Building the Foundation

Held on 17 July 2026, “Marilah Membaca Anakku Sayang: Siri I” established the foundation by introducing participants to reading difficulties in Bahasa Melayu and the importance of early and appropriate literacy support.

The session created a space for participants to develop their understanding of how children learn to read, recognise challenges faced by struggling readers and appreciate the important role of parents and caregivers in supporting literacy development.

More importantly, Siri I marked the beginning of a learning journey rather than the completion of a single programme. Participants were subsequently given approximately three weeks before returning for Siri II, allowing the programme to progress from awareness and understanding towards practical application.

Siri II: From Understanding to Practical Action

On 8 August 2026, participants returned for “Marilah Membaca Anakku Sayang: Siri II” at the CME Room, Hospital Permai, Johor Bahru.

The second series shifted the emphasis towards hands-on reading intervention. Participants worked with structured Bahasa Melayu literacy activities covering digraphs and diphthongs, closed syllables, homographs, three-syllable words and more complex syllable structures.

Through sensory materials, reading cards, spelling activities, sound mapping and literacy games, participants experienced the techniques themselves before considering how the activities could be adapted when working with children.

Building Community Capacity, Not Just Delivering a Programme

At the heart of “Marilah Membaca Anakku Sayang” is the belief that parents and caregivers can become important partners in children’s literacy development when they are equipped with appropriate knowledge and practical strategies.

The initiative, therefore, moves beyond conventional knowledge transfer. Instead of positioning community members solely as recipients of university expertise, the programme seeks to develop their capacity to apply, adapt and share what they have learned within their families and communities.

In this way, UTM’s academic expertise becomes a resource that continues to create value beyond the university and beyond the duration of the programme.

Strategic Networking for Community Impact

The initiative also demonstrates the value of networking between UTM, GIAT and the Rotary Club of Puteri Lagoon.

Each partner contributes different strengths to a shared community objective. The university contributes academic knowledge and expertise, while community networks facilitate engagement with families, and external partners help strengthen the resources and reach of the initiative.

This collaborative approach reflects Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals, while the focus on literacy development and access to appropriate learning support contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education.

Together, these partnerships demonstrate how universities can function not only as centres of knowledge creation but also as connectors between knowledge, resources and communities.

From Knowledge Transfer to Sustainable Community Empowerment

The progression from Siri I to Siri II provides a foundation for developing a more sustainable approach to community literacy support.

Through “Marilah Membaca Anakku Sayang Siri 1″ and “Siri 2“, UTM demonstrates that meaningful community engagement is not simply about bringing knowledge to the community. It is about developing relationships, strengthening community capacity and enabling knowledge to continue creating impact after a programme has ended.

By connecting university expertise with community participation and strategic partnerships, the initiative represents a step towards building a more sustainable network of support for children experiencing reading difficulties in which parents and communities are empowered to become part of the literacy solution.

By Dr. Ermi Ruziyana Md Nordin and Dr. Aida A Rahman