Wong Yoke Bing receives the Academic Excellence Prize of the President of the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)

PAYA BESAR, 6 November 2022 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) graduand Wong Yoke Bing received the Presidential Award of Academic Excellence from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) at the UMP 17th Convocation Ceremony held at the UMP Sports Complex Hall.

Wong Yoke Bing is a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honors) graduate from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP) with a CGPA of 3.97.

The son of a former truck driver from Negeri Sembilan aspired to pursue engineering and become a proficient engineer.

According to him, getting the opportunity to enrol in the Chemical Engineering programme at UMP was a good first step for him.

“The main contributor to success is determination to achieve what is desired, not just do things halfheartedly.

“I present this award to my mother, Choong Soon Cheng, 62 and father Wong Kam Keng, 62, who have sacrificed their time and energy all this while to ensure that we receive the best education for a bright future,” he said.

During his time at UMP, in addition to learning technical knowledge in engineering, he joined basketball club to develop soft skills.

He also made many friends from various races.

He said when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, home-based learning stressed him, which made him lose focus.

“Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was more difficult than face-to-face learning,” he said.

However, he was still grateful that he managed to brave those moments in a calm and collected manner.

This success is also thanks to the guidance of UMP lecturers who are tireless in their teachings even though they are limited by distance and online classes.

He said that UMP provides a satisfying environment for students to focus on learning and engage in various student organisations in terms of technical and soft skills.

“At UMP, I served as the President of the UMP Basketball Club (2019/2020 and 2020/2021), the Director of My Dream Team Design Competition 2021 and a basketball athlete at the Higher Education Sports Fest (HESF) 2019.

“In addition, I won the gold medal in the 2022 Creation, Innovation, Technology and Research Exposition (CITREx) and participated in the 12th Malaysian Technical Universities Conference on Engineering & Technology (MUCET2021).

“I was willing to expend my time for all those because of my deep passion.

“Good time management is crucial for every student who wants to succeed.

“We must be resilient and not give up easily on our interests.

“Face every obstacle because surely it can be overcome,” he said.

This youngest of four siblings wishes to become a leader who can influence others and contribute to society.

“Now, UMP has realised my dream of becoming an engineer; thank you UMP,” he said.

By: Norhidayah Mohamad, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology