UMP honours and celebrates 9 retirees

Pekan, 6 August 2020 - Retirement is definite for every civil servant, and many remarkable experiences, memories, and challenges, as well as a lot of knowledge, can be shared with the community.

Training, experience, socialisation and good relations not only with colleagues but also with other agencies and external parties make the civil servant a valuable asset for an organisation.

Without realising it, all the knowledge, skills, and experience become important and treasured assets when it comes to retirement. In fact, it teaches everything about life, sacrifice, and success.

Professor Ts. Dr. Ruzaini Abdullah Arshah, 56, who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Computing and opting for optional retirement this year, said, “Always put in your mind to work as an act of worship, without expecting anything in return and not just fulfilling the necessities of life.

“Surely the sustenance received is blessed by Allah SWT. That is the principle I had held for the past 18 years when I started serving.

“As an employee, we need to have positive thinking. Indeed, many obstacles faced during service.

“However, we must think positively without having to point fingers at each other. Being UMP associates, we need to benefit the people and the local community,” he said.

During his tenure at UMP, he had been appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Systems and Software Engineering (2002-2007) and Director of IBM Centre of Excellent (2012-2014).

Although only briefly assumed the position of Senior Dean, the experience while assisting the Academic & International Affairs Department (JHEAA) was significant, especially in dealing with various academic issues during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Apart from that, he had the opportunity to witness the development of the university since the establishment of the Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUKTEM) and UMP, and he is proud of the various achievements and recognitions that put the name of UMP at the international level.

He said that while still alive, a retiree should continue to contribute to the university or society.

Also present to honour the retirees and families in Majlis Jasamu Dikenang 2020 was the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, along with the university management.

In his speech, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar highly appreciated the contributions and services of the nine retirees.

“All UMP associates are grateful for all the services and contributions offered during their services to the university.

“Their services and contributions will always be cherished,” he said.

He also presented the UMP Alumni Corporate card to the retirees and families.

It is an initiative to extend the benefits and facilities to the university retirees who have the opportunity to use services at the University Health Centre, Library, Centre for Sports and Culture, and others.

He said that this initiative reflects the continued concern of the UMP management on the welfare and well-being of its associates.

Also present were eight other retirees, Mohd Sani Sidek, Zamzam Ahmad@Zainuddin, Ramle Abid, Dr. Ramdan Razali, Samini Mat Hassan, Haji Mohd Noor Nawi, Roslina Abd Hamid, and Nazar Abd Razak. 

At the same time, the ceremony also commemorated the contribution of UMP employees who have passed away while in service, the late Yahaya Saleh, Professor Dato’ Dr. Mashitah Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Zairie Zahari, and Mohamad Rozi Hassan

May their souls be showered with blessings and placed among the believers. Al-Fatihah.

By: Nor Salwana Mohd Idris, Public Relations and Media Unit, Office Of the Vice-Chancellor
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of  Chemical and Process Engineering Technology