UPSI ESTABLISHES RAZAK SENSEI GALLERY TO HONOUR LEGACY OF EXEMPLARY EDUCATOR

IPOH, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) has established the Razak Sensei Gallery under the management of the National Education Museum (MPN), Institute of Malay Civilisation (IPM), as an initiative to translate universal values, history and humanity in developing educators’ character across generations.

UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the MPN’s initiative to establish the Razak Sensei Gallery reflects UPSI’s commitment to quality education, peace and humanity, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the Razak Sensei Gallery, scheduled to open to the public in March, will feature memorial and educational exhibitions that highlight the stature of the late Razak Sensei as an exemplary educator, as well as a symbol of resilience of spirit, sustainability of knowledge and universal humanity.

According to Md Amin, the establishment of the gallery has received full support from Razak Sensei’s family, particularly Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, who also contributed original artefacts and exhibition materials, including personal documents, historical photographs, written manuscripts and Razak Sensei’s book collection.

“Razak Sensei was among the early students of Sultan Idris Training College, the predecessor of UPSI, and was also known as a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing,” he said in a statement today.

Md Amin said the Hiroshima atomic bombing tragedy was a humanitarian event that shaped Razak Sensei’s resilience of spirit and deep commitment to world peace and education as a medium for post-conflict recovery.

“The trauma of war did not break Razak Sensei’s spirit; instead, it gave rise to an educator who viewed education as a path to healing, human development and global peace, while also playing a role as one of the early drivers of Malaysia-Japan relations after the war through education and cultural exchange,” he said.

IPM director Prof Dr Tajul Shuhaizam Said said the direct involvement of Razak Sensei’s family ensures that the gallery is developed based on authentic and authoritative primary sources.

He said the Razak Sensei Gallery is not merely an exhibition space, but a living archive that transmits the values of quality education, peace, resilience of spirit and humanity through the legacy of an educator.

Razak Sensei, whose real name was Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Hamid, was a 19-year-old student attending Hiroshima Bunn University when the Hiroshima atomic bombing happened in 1945.

-- BERNAMA