Kembara UMP Prihatin serves Kapit community

KAPIT, 24 August 2022 - Kembara Prihatin Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) organised by Yayasan UMP in collaboration with Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM), Bintulu successfully realised the concept of #KeluargaMalaysia when 52 volunteers served the community of Rumah Panjang Diau Anak Lumut Pulau Raya in Kapit from 19 to 25 August 2022.

The participants comprised 30 staff and students of IKM Bintulu and 22 UMP staff, students and alumni.

The programme included community services, education promotion, innovation competitions, technology demonstrations (Arduino), development of modern agricultural projects, fertigation systems and hydroponic systems equipped with solar energy, solar lights, culture, sports and motivation.

Other activities were hair cutting, electrical wiring and planting trees using fertilisers from UMP researchers.

The participants stayed with their respective foster parents to experience life as residents of a long house and get to know Sarawak culture and longhouse.

According to the Chief Executive of Yayasan UMP, Mohd Jamil Mohd Ja’afar, this programme strengthened good relations by giving UMP students and alumni exposure to serve rural communities and apply innovation and design on site.

“It is in line with the interest of the university to bring the university closer to the community and the slogan ‘Technology for Society’ so that the existence of UMP is felt and the expertise benefits the locals,” he said.

UMP also makes volunteer activities an important agenda of the university in bringing out competent students and caring UMP associates.

UMP also contributed solar lamps for SK Nanga Engcheremin to light long houses and dormitories.

“It is an initiative of UMP Community Service Project - Lighting Up The Community, which is part of activities in conjunction with UMP’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.

“This programme is expected to nurture and invigorate the spirit of patriotism in Malaysia that consists of various races since we will celebrate the month of independence soon,” he said.

UMP also had the opportunity to deliver a donation from Yayasan UMP in the form of blankets, toto, mattresses and other facilities in the school dormitory.

A UMP alumnus currently serving at IKM Bintulu, Micheal Anak Jangi, said the programme was a follow-up programme from Explore Kapit 1.0 in 2014 and Explore Kapit 2.0 in 2017 held in Rh. Anthony, Nanga Mujan Ili, Nanga Merit, Batang Rejang and Belaga District.

They were proud to have successfully assembled UMP alumni to participate in the programme.

At the same time, the Lecturer of the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP), Dr. Noormazlinah Ahmad also introduced and promoted Pre-Pecto, inulin fertilisers used as nutrients for over 100 types of crops to be used around longhouses.

Meanwhile, solar lamps were delivered by the Senior Electrical Engineer, Research and Innovation Department, Ts. Mohd Nurulakla Mohd Azlan to the Member of the State Council N61 Pelagus, Yang Berhormat Mr. Wilson Nyabong Ijang.

Also present were Tuai Rumah Diau Anak Lumut and UMP dual degree student, Syamill Irhamie Shamsudin, who led the UMP volunteer team.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

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