Kinderland Malaysia celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner in Selangor on 5 September 2026, bringing together colleagues, business partners and guests to commemorate four decades of nurturing young learners and growing alongside generations of families in Malaysia.

Kinderland Malaysia celebrated its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner in Selangor on 5 September 2026.

From its first centre in Ipoh in 1986, Kinderland Malaysia has grown into a network of 18 centres nationwide. It is operated by Crestar Education Malaysia (CEM), part of Crestar Education Group (CEG). The network has welcomed more than 60,000 children over the past four decades, reflecting its long-standing contribution to early childhood education in Malaysia.

Reflecting on Kinderland Malaysia’s 40-year journey in a video montage presented during the celebration, Mr Arthur Ng, Founder and Advisor of CEM, highlighted the introduction of its trilingual curriculum as one of its significant milestones. The curriculum brings together language, music, creativity and character development to support children’s holistic development.

Mr Arthur Ng, Founder and Advisor of Crestar Education Malaysia reflected on Kinderland Malaysia’s milestones in a video montage presented at the gala dinner.

Mr Ng also spoke about Kinderland Malaysia’s emphasis on teacher training and the fulfilment of seeing educators progress into principals, trainers and leaders. Equally meaningful to him was seeing former Kinderland pupils grow into confident, capable adults, with some returning as parents to enrol their own children. For Mr Ng, this continued trust across generations is among the most rewarding aspects of Kinderland Malaysia’s 40-year journey.

One such enduring connection is reflected in the story of Mr Max Lee, who became a joint venture partner in 2019 to operate Kinderland centres in Ipoh.

Mr Lee is a former student who graduated from Kinderland Ipoh at Jalan Dr Raja Nazrin Shah in 1996. He was also a valedictorian at his K2 graduation. More than two decades later, he returned to lead Kinderland centres in his hometown, bringing his journey full circle from preschool graduate to education partner.

Mr Max Lee (first from left), a 1996 graduate of Kinderland Ipoh, returned to his hometown as a joint venture partner in 2019.

Mr Max Lee, receiving a Special Award for Kinderland Ipoh from Ms Tay Mian Jee, GM of CEM.

The anniversary celebration also recognised the partnerships that have supported Kinderland Malaysia’s development. Representatives from JACPA Corporation, a long-standing partner, attended the occasion. They included Mr Katsuo Igarashi, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of JACPA Corporation Japan, and Mr Satoshi Shigeta, Senior Managing Director.

From left to right: Mr Satoshi Shigeta, Senior Managing Director, JACPA Corporation Japan, Ms Nagomi Tawada, General Manager, JACPA Malaysia, Ms Tay Mian Jee, General Manager, CEM, Mr Robert Leong, Group Chief Operating Officer, CEG, Mr Katsuo Igarashi, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, JACPA Corporation Japan, Mr Tay Kee Hong, Chief Financial Officer, CEG and Mr Alvin Tham, Chief Marketing Officer, KIE.

Ms Tay Mian Jee, General Manager of CEM and Mr Robert Leong, Group Chief Operating Officer of CEG, delivered opening addresses reflecting on the milestone and Kinderland Malaysia’s journey.

Following the opening addresses, Mr Ng, Mr Leong and Ms Tay participated in a joint cake-cutting ceremony to commemorate the anniversary.

From left to right: Mr Robert Leong, Group Chief Operating Officer of CEG and Chief Executive Officer of KIE, Ms Tay Mian Jee, General Manager of CEM, and Mr Arthur Ng, Founder and Advisor of CEM, at the 40th anniversary cake-cutting ceremony.

The evening also paid tribute to the people whose dedication has contributed to Kinderland Malaysia’s growth. Ten long-serving employees received awards recognising between 10 and 24 years of service, reflecting the commitment of educators and staff who have helped shape the learning experiences of generations of children.

10 colleagues were recognised for their long service to Kinderland Malaysia, ranging from 10 to 24 years, with the longest-serving recipient, Ms Sow San San, (fourth from left) Head of Finance, CEM, marking 24 years of service.

Adding to the festivities, colleagues from six Kinderland Malaysia centres presented performances celebrating Malaysia’s cultural diversity. Each performance represented a different cultural tradition, reflecting the country’s rich multicultural heritage and the shared spirit of the Kinderland community.

The team from Kinderland @ Maisson Ara Damansara with their performance celebrating Malaysia’s multicultural heritage through performances showcasing different cultural traditions.

As Kinderland Malaysia marks four decades of growth, its legacy extends beyond the expansion of its preschool network. Since 1986, it has welcomed more than 60,000 children and nurtured over 15,000 graduates, reflecting the impact of its educational journey on generations of families.

Building on this 40-year heritage, Kinderland Malaysia remains committed to providing quality early childhood education, developing its educators and nurturing future generations of confident and capable learners.