Through Bimbing 09, to be held on June 20 and 21, it hopes to draw families to the event so that parents can share and teach their children about the Malay culture.

'We hope that the children will be interested to explore the rest of the museum while taking part in the activities lined up for them,' said Mr Najip Ali, who came up with the concept of the event.

Mr Najip is a present icon for the Malay community, who is actively engaged in Malay language television programmes. He is also the head of Mini Monsters, an educational outreach arm of Dua M Pte Ltd, a production house.

With the event, the centre hopes to remove the notion that the museum is unfriendly towards children, said its General Manager Eddy Noor Hassan.

Official celebrations will start with Malay performances on Saturday, with Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew in attendance.

The centre was formed in 2005 to raise appreciation and awareness of the Malay culture among Malay youths.

It has also partnered the National Heritage Board to further strengthen the Malay community with the additional support.

Apart from the event, an exhibition of Malay heirlooms such as accessories, swords and belt buckles dating as far back as 500 years and from around the archipelago will also be put up at the museum.