14 October 2009
In conjunction with Independence Day of Malaysia, UTP Information Resource Centre (IRC) in collaboration with Friends of IRC (FiRC) recently hosted an event, Symposium Anak-anak Merdeka 2009 on 14th October 2009. The event was officiated by our honourable Rector, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Hj Kasim, witnessed by Tuan Hi Mohd Noor Rosli Baharom, Director of Student Services, En Sabri Abu Bakar, Senior Manager IRC, Mohammad Khazaidi Kamaruddin, President FiRC and Muhamad Siddiq Mahyildin as Project Manager.
Symposium Anak-anak Merdeka is an event consist of a discussion and forum whereby panels deliberate and at the same time, participants are allowed to debate on any arising matters. The three invited panels consist of UTP Management, Academicians and Students were assisted by Dr Raja Ahmad Iskandar Raja Yaacob, Lecturer from Management & Humanities Department as moderator. This forum discussed the 1 Malaysia campaign adopted by our Prime Minister and its’ relevancy to UTP community. Before the forum started, Mr Junnyaruin Anak Barat, a member of UTP Malay Debater Team gave the overview of 1 Malaysia concept which stressed on the notion of sustaining the rights of every race without rupturing the Federal Constitution.
During the forum, Tn Haji Mohd Nor Rosli concluded that the management of UTP is always concerned about the unity among UTP students by introducing a quota to ensure the involvement of multiracial students in any event held in UTP. However, the awareness to realize the objective lies on students self responsiveness. On the other hand, Dr Balbir Singh, Head of Management & Humanities Department had a different ideas on the issue of oneness. He believed that there are no issues of disarray, but it is only political games to attract people’s attentions. Morover, Mrs Nurul Najmin, UTP Postgraduate and ex-MPPUTP board members shared her ideas to realize “1 Malaysia, 1 UTP” in the capacity as a student by explaining the role of a student in creating the environment of oneness. After the forum ended, the audience was entertained by a fluent Malay poetry recitation by our local and international students from Vietnam.
The number of participants invited to this symposium were from major clubs and UTP student bodies as they will be the major hub for information transfer to implement ‘1 Malaysia, 1 UTP’ to the campus. Eventually, the high committee members of these clubs and student bodies that attended the event are able to send our message to other UTP students for the betterment of our UTP community and society.
