Kuala lumpur: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, has expressed hope that the Ilham Seni Diraja programme will serve as a platform to nurture character and foster positive friendships among students from the B40 group. Her Majesty said the programme also aims to provide a space for healthy growth in the fields of arts and culture for the group, helping to shield them from negative social influences.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Her Majesty granted an audience to the programme's teaching team at Istana Negara yesterday. During the meeting, Her Majesty was briefed by Puan Sri Tiara Jaquelina, founder of Enfiniti Academy, the implementing body of the programme, on the journey and progress of the pilot initiative since its launch on January 29.

The programme, under the auspices of the Istana Negara, the Ministry of Education, and the Raja Zarith Sofiah of Johor Foundation, involves 200 students and 14 teachers from seven schools in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Through the programme, students are given exposure and training in various performing arts disciplines such as acting, music, and fashion, as well as different aspects of backstage production management.