Semarak Keluarga UMP celebrates festive merdeka

PAYA BESAR, 30 August 2022 – More than 600 students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) were excited to celebrate the 65th National Day of Malaysia after two years of no celebrations held following the Movement Control Order (MCO).

The sacred chant of ‘Merdeka’ with patriotic spirit among the campus residents broke the silence at the UMP campus at exactly 12 midnight.

The students also showed their patriotic spirit by participating in the 3 km Independence Night Run Programme starting at 9:00 pm in a programme organised by the Residential Student Representative 4 (PEKA 4) in collaboration with the UMP Centre for Sports and Culture and Residential Student Representative (PEKA 3) to celebrate the 65th National Day of Malaysia this year.

According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, this programme is hoped to be the starting point in the effort to improve the lives of UMP associates to face various challenges together as a family, namely ‘Keluarga UMP’.

“The organisation of this programme can also allow the students to enjoy campus life after two years of MCO; and most activities could not be carried out physically and were only done online.

“At the same time, this programme can nurture the spirit of love for a sovereign and independent Malaysia,” he said.

He also expressed his deepest appreciation to all committee members who have worked hard to ensure the programme runs smoothly.

In addition, he expressed his gratitude for the commitment from UMP Holdings and all the sponsors who worked together to make this programme a success.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Council of Principals of the UMP Fellowship Institution cum the Principal of Student Residence 4, Nasrul Salim Pakheri, said he was very excited and grateful for the commitment of the students who were eager to participate in the programme.

Meanwhile, the student of Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) cum the Programme Director, Wan Syazwan Wan Mohd Shukri, was grateful that this programme had been successfully executed thanks to the efforts and mobilisation of about 70 committee members over the past month, the majority of whom are new UMP students.

According to Wan Aemer Hafiz Wan Swaid, a student of the Diploma in Computer Science programme from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, he was ecstatic and excited to participate in such a programme as it could enhance his patriotism.

“It can indirectly inculcate healthy lifestyle practices,” he said.

The programme was also enlivened with singing performances from special guests, Chik Asan, singer of Pahang accent songs and other interesting performances such as poetry declamation, Chinese drum performances and aerobics by UMP students and students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Gambang and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Gambang.

By: Mohd. Mukhris Awang, UMP Health Centre

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