The Bhangra Revolution - Gajjdi Jawani's Rise to Prominence

The Bhangra Revolution
Gajjdi Jawani's Rise to Prominence

By Afthab Afrathim, ME

The Bhangra – a colorful, high intensity Punjabi folk dance that is captivating enough to charm even the most ardent wallflowers into busting some moves; and who does it better than our very own UTP Bhangra team – Gajjdi Jawani. The group’s name literally translates to ‘roaring youth’, which is what they are all about. With their limitless energy and lively performances, they have managed to grab two 1^st place finishes, at Dhiirathi Nakshatra (2011) and HELP: Artistry in Rhythm (2012). They have also managed to secure 3^rd place in UTP’s FESCO (2012) as well as perform at numerous events including Tapestry of Colours. Gajjdi Jawani is currently led by the remarkable Harnamdav Singh and lovely assistant manager Harvin Kaur, both of whom are pursuing their respective Master's degrees at UTP.

In the early days, prior to gaining recognition from UTP.

The road to success is never an easy one (engineering students can probably relate), and like all blooming performance groups, the team had their fair share of hardships and disappointments. At their inception in 2006, they faced limited funds and publicity. Due to the fact that they were self-sponsored, the group members had to contribute money from their own pockets to sustain themselves. Unfortunately for them, they could not accumulate sufficient funds to cover the costs of the expensive costumes and props needed for their performances. Publicity for the group was gained solely through their well-rehearsed performances. Despite all the setbacks and struggles in retaining their already limited members, they still managed to practice between 2-3 hours a day and pull off their trademark lively performances whenever required. In 2010, the hard work and dedication of the group’s passionate members was finally recognized by UTP (about time) and they were officially listed as a performing arts group.

The official status they procured in 2010 certainly opened new doors for Gajjdi Jawani. Ever since receiving UTP’s recognition and support, Gajjdi Jawani has slowly been climbing its way up to becoming one of the best young Bhangra groups in Malaysia. With the recent addition of 15 members in 2012, including 2 Mozambicans and 2 Malays, the group has become more racially diverse and versatile. I’ve always been curious as to the reasons why people choose certain dance styles over others, so I questioned the Mozambican, Francisco, (sure, pick on the kid that stands out) as to why he joined the Bhangra team. He simply smiled and said “I really like the catchy music and I love dancing to the fast rhythm”. Although the members of the team had various reasons for wanting to dance the Bhangra, they all concluded that it was the upbeat music that caught their attention, or as one of them specifically put it, “It has a beat that could get the world dancing”. One of the more interesting reasons that was pointed out to me is that the Bhangra, due to its energetic dance moves, makes you sweat profusely, making it an ideal cardio workout. Couple that with Malaysia’s beautiful weather (note sarcasm), and it could probably make your sweat, sweat.

For those that are interested in being a part of Gajjdi Jawani, you may do so by attending their audition that is held once every semester. As for the criteria to make it through the auditions, Harnamdav reassures us that “As long as you are committed and passionate to learn, then you are more than welcome to be a part of our group”. So if you are like me (pray not) – that is to say the Rebecca Black of the dancing world, then there is still a chance for you to learn and be part of something much bigger than yourself. Such is the case of Dharamraj Bhambri, who was initially a beginner to Bhangra dancing, but managed to pull off his first major performance spectacularly during the ICN (International Culture Night). Dharamraj, now fondly known as ‘Bhambri’ to his fellow dancers, believes that the supportive environment within the group makes it so easy for new members to improve and retain their self-confidence. Gajjdi Jawani functions as a single body and does not put emphasis on individuals during their performances. This extends to off the stage as well, as they are widely known to go out as a group to numerous events and outings, including playing squash and trips to Cameron Highlands.

Gajjdi Jawani, already a household name here on campus, still has quite a way to go in achieving their goals of being internationally recognized as well as competing in international competitions. To the group however, it is the joy gained from the ride that counts. Bhangra for them is not solely a competitive art form but rather an expression of their inner self through body movements. With that being said, we wish the UTP Bhangra team, Gajjdi Jawani, all the best in their future endeavors. They've done us proud on many occasions, and we'll be rooting for them all the way. May their infectious beats be heard all over the country, and hopefully one day, to the world.

New recruits during their sensational first performance at ICN recently.

Bhangra ladies.

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The Elections, SRC, & Rakan Masjid : Perspective at Last?

Elections, SRC, & Rakan Masjid: Perspective At Last?

HOT Speaks to the People Who Matter

By Liyana Rosely, PG & Marc Raphael, PE

Early last February, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) witnessed one of the bleakest Nomination Days in the history of its campus elections. With six High Committee (HiCom) positions for local students on the Students Representative Council (SRC) up for contest, a mere eight nominations were made, and only six qualified to stand as candidates (a minimum CGPA of 2.80 is required). All six candidates attained their places on the HiCom uncontested. Here at UTP elections are held only to select the group of people to be part of the HiCom, with the university’s administration advising on who does what. The method of selection may seem odd or even questionable to some, but it is in no way unique to UTP, as other universities (both local and foreign) employ similar methods.

The history of campus elections at our university has never been that eventful anyway. In its 15 years of establishment, perhaps the only memorable one is the now infamous October Revolution of ‘09, where there was great furore online preceding and proceeding the elections over the stranglehold a certain society seemed to have over the SRC. When we first heard of it, we immediately rummaged through the blog archives of senior students who were around at the time, looking for material we could use in this article. What we found was a riveting tale of drama and controversy surrounding the elections, a far cry from the dull show this time around. 

Frankly speaking, the fact that there will be no elections this year, though slightly unexpected, is far from shocking to us. When we asked the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of Student Affairs and Alumni, Tuan Haji Mohamed Noor Rosli Baharom about it, he seemed to share the sentiment, “Universities which have students who actively engage in campus politics are those with social science faculties, law faculties and so on. We are an engineering university- it is not surprising that we see students here being far less involved.”

For this issue, Heart of Tronoh (HOT) has decided to investigate, among other things, the reasons why campus politics and the SRC itself are seemingly the least of UTP students’ priorities and concerns. 

Datuk Ir. (Dr) Abdul Rahim Hj. Hashim, Vice Chancellor of UTP, feels that the term ‘campus politics’ is itself a little inappropriate in the first place. “Unfortunately, whenever we say ‘politics’, it conjures a lot of negative things- dirty, dishonest and a fight for personal interests rather than those of a society. Whatever you call it, campus politics should not be equated to the mainstream national politics. Campus politics is straightforward and should be about your (students’) own bread-and-butter issues, not about the political parties that you support.” Later on, Datuk Rahim further elaborated on what he meant by straightforward, “The purpose of campus ‘politics’ should be to champion things that can improve the situation of the student community here at UTP. Then it will be devoid of these ideological issues, and people will not get emotional about it. If they get emotional about campus politics, they forget about the real issues- the cafe problems, lack of parking spots, etc.”

We are in complete agreement with Datuk Rahim, and it’s important that we the students begin to see things from that perspective. So why do such few of us seem to care about ‘campus politics’? Hang out on the SRC Facebook Group long enough, and you’ll start to notice that only a handful of students actually pay attention to matters pertaining to the student council or elections.   

On the lack of student involvement (and interest) in campus elections and the SRC, the DVC suggested that it could be because “students here are already satisfied with the current situation on campus”. He added, “Perhaps they are also more interested in joining societies and clubs, where the rewards are more immediate and they only commit to it for one semester, whereas one would have to dedicate themselves to the SRC for a full year.” 

Wan Ibrahim Wan Mamat (Baem), SRC President during the 2012 session, feels that management should learn from other local higher learning institutions, especially well-established public universities, by stressing the importance of student councils throughout the year, rather than just a short-lived frenzy during the electoral period.

There are a range of sensible explanations on offer, yet, maybe the real reason behind the general disinterest lies within the accusation of hegemony over the SRC by Rakan Masjid (RM), as so often cited in social media? If you are a UTP student, you would have to have been living under a rock to not have heard of all the accusations made against RM in recent times. Many believe the SRC (prior to the newly-elected HiCom) had evolved into a sort of an exclusive club, consisting almost completely of RM-endorsed representatives. Some say that RM are always allowed to take charge of Minggu Aluan Siswa (MAS), allowing them to start their campaigning a lot earlier, by reaching out to unsuspecting freshmen through mediums including Smart Groups and such. For many others, the situation is easily explained: They’re simply the only ones who take it seriously. Rakan Masjid is widely regarded as the most cohesive and closely bonded society on campus. When their candidates stand, they do their level best to get these guys elected. Nearly all of their members come out to vote, and nearly all their candidates are successful.

Adonis Singh (graduated in 2010), who once stood for election against several RM-associated candidates, told HOT of how difficult it was to campaign against them, “Certain bodies like RM have very good support and they are quite structured in terms of gaining votes, which I honestly respect. This makes them very strong. The problem is that their strength easily overpowers the 'opposition', if you will, because in general, the rest of the students don't really realize the importance of voting. And so this imbalance in strength and experience is what makes SRC elections in UTP most of the time, not even a competition.”The VC had this to say of RM’s teamwork: “The thing about Rakan Masjid that you have to respect is their determination and cohesion.”

The DVC however, was quick to brush aside the claims, including the one about RM’s domination in the selection of facilitators for MAS, “RM is a student body to aid the Mosque’s administration. We have never given them the status of a club or society. It has developed good leaders and propagated good values- we must recognize that. And don’t ever say that all facilitators are from RM. MAS facilitators are being selected by the Students Counselling Unit under Tuan Haji Jalil, and I always tell them to make sure there are colours among our facilitators. We have also never allowed MPP to manage MAS either.”

Responding to all this, Baem asks students to see things in a different light, and focus on what is actually important in becoming a good member of the SRC, “According to my experiences and observations, those who committed themselves as part of SRCUTP have almost always had a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences in other organizations or societies before SRC. One’s background shouldn't even matter, rather, how he/she foresees the future of SRCUTP.”

RM has been under heavy public scrutiny recently, initiated primarily by a Facebook page ‘Free the Student Representative Council -MPP from Rakan Masjid’ which went viral early this year. It brought longstanding concerns regarding RM, hitherto discussed in hushed tones on private blogs, to the masses through Facebook. It openly charged RM with puppeteering the SRC by taking control of decision-making through its chosen candidates, effectively running the SRC by proxy. No official affiliation, but one that was apparent nonetheless. The page also claimed that RM itself is a puppet organization of a bigger, international islamist movement, one that is far too controversial for us to name in this article. Commenting on these accusations of exploiting the SRC platform to propagate external politics, Datuk Rahim asked the members of SRC to re-evaluate themselves, “You should ask yourself; are you standing on behalf of your constituents or your own personal agenda?”

It should be noted here that despite the best efforts of the page’s anonymous administrator prove his claims, HOT could not find any concrete evidence to back up the accusations made by the page. As many have remarked on the page’s wall, the allegations, tantalizing as they are, are ostensibly baseless. 

So then why the hate?

Maybe it’s the way they do things. We will not elaborate on the kind of things they’ve been said to do during election season (again, no credible sources unfortunately, only personal accounts), but what about things like demonstrating in front of events they don’t agree with? Roaming the campus at night to catch wandering couples on Valentine’s Day? Knocking on students’ doors every night in an attempt to get them to participate in reciting al-Mulk in the common room downstairs, and questioning those who decline? Bugging students to attend their events through incessant text messages?

“RM has a certain set of ideas on how the campus should be and how people should behave. Their intentions are good, da’wah is not a problem -after all, I have always believed that at the end of the day, your spiritual development is just as essential- but the question is always how you go about doing it,” commented Datuk Rahim on students’ displeasure at RM’s approach.

Datuk Rahim also advised RM on their approach in advocating people ‘to do good, and to avoid evil (amal makruf, nahi mungkar)’, “Remember that this is an integrated multi-faith, multi-racial community- treat students like adults. You can always encourage people, but you cannot force them.”

Baem himself recommended a wiser approach by RM, “Many provocative and sensitive issues could be resolved by nurturing mutual understanding between us. To achieve this, a bilateral discussion is a good avenue that can serve that purpose. Rakan Masjid must be wise in most of the approaches they might have and we as students, should play our role to provide a better environment for this university.”

But enough about RM. Let’s get back to the SRC.

Holding a position on the SRC may seem glamorous or enviable from afar, but suddenly finding oneself in the public eye isn't something everyone can handle. Think about it. Your CGPA is never a secret. Your dressing is always commented on. Your grammar mistakes are unfailingly called out. The friends you keep, the language you use, the tweets you tweet, everything is subjected to public observation and commentary. To put it simply, you're famous. Just not in the celebrity sort of way. Rather unfortunately, it’s the politician kind of famous. We’re sure you understand the difference between the two. And for all that trouble, few among the people you represent express their gratitude at your contributions. Unless you accomplish something extraordinary in your time at the top, it’s often only your mistakes that stay in the memories of those you serve. Sadly, nobody remembers the good stuff. Just ask Baem.

*When asked if there is anything he would change during his tenure if he could go back and do it again, Baem responded, “Nothing much really, since we’ve achieved most of what we set out to achieve.”

And when we sought his thoughts on a non-Muslim president for SRC, we must say that he was slightly vague in his reply, “People have asked me if SRC president can be a lady? I would say women are good enough to lead this organisation. Ladies are part of our leading society and we must at least try to trust them, but with guidance. As for non-Muslim president for SRCUTP, I will refer to what is outlined in our current country’s administration, that non-Muslims are allowed to hold certain designated positions. But honestly, in our context as student council, we must respect any notable non-Muslim candidates who could win the position with revision and advice by the university. I notice that more non-Muslim or non-Malay students are now looking forward to make serious contribution towards the betterment of this student council, so we can adjust the direction of SRC to not be too exclusive for certain races only.”

Even Datuk Rahim admits that being a member of the SRC is a thankless job, filled with high expectations - you can never please everyone and people will always find fault in everything that you do. “You do one thing, and a blog comes out. You do another, and another blog comes out. Nothing is ever right. That is why it has to come from your heart,” he added. “SRC contributions are difficult to measure- they are non-substantive, unlike clubs and societies, where it is about winning competitions or the amount of successful events organized.”

Tuan Haji on the other hand, was extremely critical of the unceasing rants against the SRC and management on social media, “Students complain a lot online, but when given an opportunity to come on board, nobody steps up. Management has done its part. We give ample opportunity to participate. When I came on board, I lowered the CGPA requirement from 3.0 to 2.8, as I personally feel that a 2.8 is good enough if you can demonstrate well-rounded attributes. You guys make a lot of noise elsewhere but nobody wants to come forward. So, who is to be blamed? You guys don’t participate, then how do you intend to change anything? You can complain about it on your blogs and such, but you can’t change anything from there. Change must come from within.”

In all honesty, it would have actually been a pretty open contest this year if more than 6 people challenged for the seats available. RM, in what many see as responding to criticism, did not send an entire field of candidates to compete this time. The build-up to the elections was engrossing enough as well, with controversy and criticism all about, flooding our news feeds and timelines. Central to all this of course was a certain Facebook page that we’re sure needs no introduction at this point. 

When UTPCnR burst onto the scene somewhere mid-December 2012, it started to provide -intended or otherwise- an “alternative” medium of expression for our students, albeit one that’s both irresponsible and slightly undependable. Scathing attacks against RM, the SRC, the management, and the situation of our university in general began to surface anonymously, and there was nobody who could put a lid on it (except perhaps the page’s administrator, who remains at large to this day). The page emboldened those who had once never dared to speak out, and even the comment threads (where one must surrender all anonymity) were alive with arguments and accusations. It was shaping up to be an election season so exciting that even those on break (May intake) were willing to come back to vote and be part of it. An election season so congested with drama that even the great October Revolution of ‘09 would look pale in comparison.

Alas, it was not to be. 

If we were to sum it up in a single phrase, we’d have to go with, “All talk, no action.” UTPCnR, Jiwa Berimplementasi, and the rest of them, all reduced to being online heroes, and nothing more. In a disappointing anti-climax, we were left without the thrilling campaigning and election spectacle we were all looking forward to. Only 6 brave young men and women stepped up to take on the responsibility of leading the student body - kudos to them for taking the initiative. From all of us at HOT, well done. And good luck.

*Efforts to interview Rakan Masjid president, Arif Aizuddin Mohd Sa’ad online were in vain as he did not respond to our interview questions after previously agreeing to do so.

After our interview with the Vice-Chancellor.

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Café Review: Village 5

Café Review: V5

By Farzana Jeffri, ICT

Hungry? Don’t know where to go? Perfect! This is part of a series of reviews we’ll be doing pertaining to the cafés available on campus. We’ll be looking into them so as to assist you with choosing exactly where to go to satisfy your dietary desires.

We’re starting with V5 café, which is well known for its wide-ranging cuisine and is often said to be the best in UTP. It boasts 5 separate vendors and the largest seating capacity among the eateries on campus. 

Perhaps only V6 could hope to compete with such scenery.

Kafe Sayang.

This vendor serves a mixture of Malay and Chinese-Malay foods; ranging from Kampong Fried Rice to Mee Hun Hailam. Kafe Sayang is divided into two stalls, with the one next to the sink offering warm, cook-to-order meals (all (or most) of the fried foodstuffs is available here), and the other your average daily breakfast, lunch, after-lunch, and dinner fare. Their menu changes over the course of the day, e.g. nasi goreng and fried noodles in the morning, other types of noodles during the afternoon, fried chicken and other dishes at night. Service gets pretty slow, especially when the crowds get big.

In particular, the fried chicken served here is absolutely fantastic. Its meat is soft and succulent, its skin crunchy and flavoursome. In short, it’s finger licking good. Their Chicken Rice (Nasi Ayam) is highly commendable; its ‘Nasi Ayam’ sports enticingly warm rice, complemented with freshly chopped chicken topped off with zestful chilli sauce and tantalizing chicken soup.

RZ Aishah Food and Catering.

This is the stall you should (probably only) go to when your tummy is craving some Naan. They specialize in Indian/Pakistani cuisine, and their huge Naans go with everything on the menu. This vendor is hugely popular among our friends from the Middle-East and India.
We tried the Tandoori Naan, one the most highly-demanded dishes at V5 cafe. We’d attest that the Naan does indeed fulfill every specification required to qualify as legit Naan; it was soft, the texture was doughy, and it smelt tangy. Wonderful, wonderful Naan.
The dishes are so colourful and so delightfully aromatic; you’d expect it to taste as exotic as it looks, and you won’t be disappointed. The various ingredients used to prepare the dishes are utilized so much so that they’re practically oozing with herbaceous goodness.

Happy patrons enjoying a meal at V5.

V5 Water World.

Geared with at least a dozen drink machines and approximately half a dozen fridges, this little booth supplies a broad assortment of beverages; from milk cartons to F&N’s Iced Lemon Tea to ‘Sirap’(Syrup) to ‘Teh Tarik’(pulled tea); this shack has all the drinks that are priced within your average daily budget.
Despite the impressive range of beverages available, many of the students we interviewed believe that most (if not all) were far too sweet. Even so, the drinks are tasty and have never failed to sooth the parched throat.

Western Corner.

Their menu’s largely dominated by deep-fried chicken, albeit with different names; ‘Chicken Chop’, ‘Alamak Chicken Chop’, ‘Alabama Chicken Chop’…all sorts of chops. If you’re tired of chicken chops, you can always substitute with chicken grill. Yes, it makes that much of a difference. If you’re tired of chicken, you can try the fish and chips or fish grill. Other than deep-fried chicken and fish, Western Corner also serves at least two types of pasta with four variations of sauce; Bolognese, Creamy chicken, Beef Carbonara and Concasse.

Western Corner provides a delectable variation of western classics. Students are always flocking around for their fried fitters; ‘Alamak Chicken Chop’ and ‘Alabama Chicken Chop’ are the common favourites. These are normally savoured with their highly-sought-after Black Pepper sauce.

Al-Quds.

This humble stall serves the classic Malayan cuisine: Kampung style food. The food here is affordable and relatively cheap; it’s worth the shillings you spend, it’s delicious and is very popular among Malay students. According to a final year student we talked to, students simply love Al-Quds. The dishes prepared on the counter changes daily and it runs out real quickly.

For international students, it gives them the chance to enjoy classic Malayan dishes such as ‘Ayam Rendang’ and stuff. If they’re daring enough, they can also try out the renowned ‘Sambal Belacan’. As for Malaysian students, Al--Quds kampung style dishes are reminiscent to that of their mother’s or grandmother’s cooking; transporting them back to their much missed hometowns.

So yeah...

The level of V5 café’s cleanliness proves just how much effort the workers are putting in to keep the place conducive for us. The tables are almost always clean and the plates are usually taken away as soon as they are left behind.

V5 Café is equipped with plenty of lamps, ensuring that the place is well-lit. There are quite a number of sinks too. Customers won’t sweat excessively in the daily heat, as the walls and ceilings are furnished with functioning fans. Furthermore, there are no less than 3 flat-screen TVs in V5, each featuring a different channel. Students get to enjoy some TV time while munching down on their grub.
V5 Café’s popularity is not limited to its residents; it is well-received throughout the entire campus. Students from other villages are willing to travel to V5 to enjoy its dining, even by foot.

V5 Café’s dynamic combination of stalls, along with its aesthetically-pleasing environment and TVs, makes it a popular place for students to gather during chow (and football) time.

The V in V5 must stand for 'variety'.

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International Culture Night 2013 - "We Love Malaysia"

Chancellor Hall, 15th March - International Culture Night “ICN” is a gala of culture organized by the International Student Council to promote the international student’s traditions through dance. This year the event took place on 15th March 2013 in Chancellor Hall Complex of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP). 

The main objective of the event was to familiarize students with different cultural backgrounds present on campus and to avoid interracial conflicts, as well as to encourage integration to facilitate better understanding of different cultures. For the first time in the history of ICN, the event was open to members of the public, giving a chance for non-students and local citizens to witness the beauty of international cultures. Performers from more than 11 countries and various dance groups were present at the gala, including Indonesia, Phillipines, Iran, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Mozambique, Interbeatz, Bhangra and UTP International Culture Group. In addition to this, the audience also got the opportunity to witness several special performances from students within and outside of UTP; among them were students from Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College, Nigerian students and Sophia Najafian of Iran who have performed magically, leaving the crowds thrilled and overly-excited. 

More than 2100 people attended the event, including VIPs like Tn.Hj.Noor Rosli (Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs & Alumni), Shehab Al-Hemyari (President of International Student council) and Mir Muhammad Sohaib (Project Manager of ICN). Even community leader from the neighbouring areas came to witness the spectacular event. 

According to Francisco Guambe, a Mozambican performer, “ICN is not only an event to see different cultures or watch people performing different dances, however it is also a place to learn other people’s culture, understand them and be one family because there is no culture better than the other. ” Similar words were left also by Sohaib (Project Manager), who considered ICN 2013 a big success, despite the many difficulties encountered while organizing the event. The most important thing was that every country had a chance to exhibit their culture and that everyone learnt something from the various dances performed. 

The most popular performance of the night, the belly dance by Sophia Najafia.

Sohaib believes that those who have attended the event had the chance to learn and understand other people’s cultures. He also stresses the need for integration among international students and the community spirit among both the local and international students.

By Armenio Bento, PE

Editor's note: Check out our video coverage of the event here.

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International Culture Night 2013 [VIDEO]

Our newly formed Video department introduces an exciting new audio-visual element to Heart of Tronoh with their coverage of International Culture Night (ICN) 2013! Check it out!



Fill up our online application form if you're interested in joining our creative young team here at HOT!

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“SHELL Campus Ambassadors Seek Creative Students” – Career Seed Program Technology, Education & Career XIII

UTP, 16^th March 2013 – “During our interview sessions for scholarships, internships and even employments, we look for students who are not only talented, but also creative in thinking,” said Mr Syafiq Fadhly Bin Mahmud, Production Technologist Sarawak Shell Berhad.

Mr Syafiq Fadhly, a UTP alumni, was invited to be the speaker of the Career Seed Program. He is a member of Shell Campus Ambassador, a team who are trying their best in finding talented students in universities. “Communication skills are very important in order to have a good performance in any career,” said Mr Syafiq Fadhly.

Some students have the misconception that oil and gas industries such as Shell only seek for engineering students. In truth, Shell is also looking for students from other fields, not only from the engineering stream. “We need people from Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, Business, Law and so on.”

The Committee of the program, Yong Hong Yaw (ME, 2^nd year) informed us that the main purpose of the event was to give some exposure to students in UTP about future careers in the oil and gas industry; particularly foundation, 1^st and 2^nd year students. They hope that the students may gain useful information regarding their future career through this program. Hence it was named ‘Career Seed Program’.

A participant, Kuan Shao Kang (CE, Foundation 3^rd), told us that the event was beneficial to him as he managed to get some basic ideas about future careers in the oil and gas industry. “I will try my best to attend such an event again in the future.”

The next career seed program will be carried out in the next semester.

Token of appreciation given by the committee to Mr. Syafiq Fadhly.

By Pnwee Jun Wee, BIS

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Medical Camp 2013

Bercham, 16th March - If you happened to find yourself at Tesco Extra on 16 March 2013, you could be excused for thinking Valentine’s Day came a little late this year, with the Medical Camp 2013 crew clad in their pink and red T’s. This was the dress code for this year’s Medical Camp, which is an annual event hosted by the Rotaract Club of UTP (RACUTP) with assistance from the Rotary Club of Kinta.

The purpose of the event, according to RACUTP’s Assistant Director for Community Services, Liew Chin Seng (CE, 2nd/1st), is to create health awareness and reach out to the public in order to help improve their lives. This will in turn encourage them to know more about their health status and help them lead a healthy lifestyle. The event was open to all, both the young and old, with the first participants trickling in not too long after the set-up was completed.

Participants checking their blood pressure.

This year’s event, which involved several parties including the Ipoh General Hospital, featured two main services; a health check-up and the other involved collecting blood donations. The health check-up consisted of five tests, namely, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body percentage fat, blood glucose, and hemoglobin tests which were all conducted free of charge. There was also a “quit smoking” booth where those hoping to kick the habit were assisted and introduced to new medication that could help make the process easier.

Liew hailed this year’s camp as a great success with the turnout for this year exceeding that of last year’s edition. The sponsor involved in the event was also pleased with the outcome. Though these were positive, Liew suggested that more promotions would be held in future to increase the turnout. This could include using venues with many people.

Those who participated in the camp were very pleased and a lady who identified herself as Ritha, who was the first to sign up said the event was okay and even suggested that these camps be held more often. The same sentiments were shared by Zarul Izwan (left), who had a medical check-up and was also the first participant to win prizes on the day. He praised the camp, suggesting it be conducted more often at various locations. It wasn’t only the public that participated, with crew member Yong Kai Bin (CE, Foundation 2nd Sem) taking part by donating some blood and this is what he had to say to those who feared the needle: “Forget the pain and just think of the number of lives you can save.” 

The team setting up before the event.

By Khotso Letsie, ME

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Euphonious 2013 Preliminary Round [PHOTOS]

Euphonious is back! Here are some shots from the prelims!

Photographs by Megat Ahmad Faiz, EE

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Event Management Seminar 2013 - Enhancing Professionalism

Main Hall, 11th March- With the aim of producing students who are well equipped in the arts of management and communications, the Event Management Seminar (EMS) 2013 was held at the Main Hall for three days. Organised by Medtech, the event has been a major feature in the UTP calendar for years,  with this year’s being its 8th edition. The seminar was open to all and attended by students from As- Soffa College, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (Unikl-Miat), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Transkrian (MRSM Transkrian) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP).

According to Project Manager, Miss Hani Tiara, the number of participants who came were satisfactory although she was hoping for a bigger number. There were approximately 150 participants this year, which was not as impressive as the 300-strong crowd they had managed to attract in previous years. She hoped that this year’s EMS would be a huge success and participants would get more effective exposure. "This EMS is going to different from the previous ones since this time we will be having more modules in order to make EMS more engaging" she added.

The event began with first module entitled ‘Human and Resource Management and Logistics'. The topic discussed by Mr Khairul Badrisham focused on employees as important assets to an organisation. The next was about ‘Marketing and Sponsorship'. In this session, Mr Radzi Zainol spoke to participants on the correct way to enhance the reputation of the organisation with deals with the customers and stakeholders.

EMS’ aim is to expose students to knowledge pertaining to management and communications, which are extremely useful tools to have. Participants were given case studies during the modules. They were required to complete each task given as a group. Evaluations were made based on the presentations and their commitment in their groups. There were then awards for Best Participant and Best Facilitator.

On the final day, there were two more modules which were ‘Ceremony & Protocol and ‘Public Relations’. In this module, each island (five groups per island) developed their war cries and participants were given the opportunity to bond more closely with their team members. Throughout the event, it was stressed that professionalism is very important when socialising with others. The event ended successfully with the closing ceremony by the President of Medtech, Muhd Amierul Azhar. They also handed out certificates of recognition to the representatives.

The Best Participant award was given to Mohd Nadzmi and Best Facilitator was Mohd Shahril Majid.

The event was an overall success, and most participants were happy with the modules. “It was money well spent. I learned a lot. I’d recommend it to everyone if they come back next year.” said Munir Juman, a foundation student who attended the event.

Committee members assured us that despite the lower numbers this time around, EMS will certainly be returning next year for the 9th time.

By Nur Syakirah Jaafar, ICT

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Tun Mahathir Public Lecture 2013

Tronoh, 7^th March –It was a memorable day indeed for the Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) community, as none other than our former Prime Minister and the Chancellor of UTP, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad arrived to give us his thoughts on modern-day graduates. Endless quotes, tips and brilliant ideas were in constant supply from the smart-looking gentleman of 87 years.  The size of audience was stunning. “The crowd this morning was way bigger than Convo’s crowd!” exclaimed Izyan Farhana A. Kaher (CE, 2^nd/3^rd). People started flooding the Chancellor Hall as early as 10 a.m. on the busy day. Despite his late arrival at 11 a.m. Y.A. Bhg. Tun Mahathir, the great man still received a warm welcome from the audience who were eager to listen to his speech titled ‘Graduates in the 21^st Century’. 

Dr M holding everyone's attention with his public speaking prowess.

After the customary introductions by lovely emcee for the afternoon, HOT's very own advisor Pn  Azelin Bt Mohamed Noor, Dr Mahathir began his speech with something very simple yet very meaningful: “We need to sustain ourselves and cope with all the complexity in society. How? Knowledge.” It is true; the two important things needed to survive in this world are knowledge and experience. The latter you gain it naturally as you grow up, but what about the former?  His ideas and tips on knowledge were great. One of the first things Tun highlighted was that learning doesn’t stop, it is a lifetime process. Education is not just about reading books, doing exercises and passing exams but it is about acquiring knowledge from other people. Since in the 21^st century the language of knowledge is English, he feels it is vital that everyone learn and practice English. “Speaking in English doesn’t make you an English man”, he joked reassuringly
.

Tun continued with justifying his introduction of Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik dalam Inggeris (Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English), or PPSMI, when he was Prime Minister. According to him, subjects like Geography and History do not undergo changes. For example, the location and shape of a country is going to remain as it is and the dates of wars will not change. But, Science and Mathematics are still open to changes as every day, somewhere on this Earth, someone is conducting research and forming new theories and inventions. “What is rejected today may not be rejected tomorrow and what is limited today may not be limited tomorrow”, was Tun’s opinion of science and technology. According to Tun, it was a perfectly logical move to introduce PPSMI in order to ensure a good future for Malaysia, considering the position of the English language as the medium of communication in the scientific world.

Talking about success, Tun had a good story to share with all the people in the hall. His story was about the Koreans, but not the ones who put on funny clothes and show off strange dance moves. This story was about hardworking and successful people. It was about a number of people selected and funded by the government of Korea to carry the industries of Korea to the pinnacle of modern technological development. Samsung and Hyundai are among the companies which were supported by the government of Korea. The reason was that those selected Koreans could adjust to their surroundings easily, work hard, maintain their discipline and most importantly, keen to be successful. Tun concluded that the best way to deal with hardships in the 21^st century is to look at the Koreans. He says that now even the giants of the Western world are looking up to the Koreans. Tun ended his speech by stressing on the significance of character in one’s career life. “Knowledge helps you to get a job, character helps you to work”, he finished.

Tun posing with the HOT team present at the event.

All in all, Tun Mahathir’s presence in itself was enough to inspire those in attendance. This was evident by the happy faces among the attendees, some of whom were trying hard to shake hands with Tun Mahathir or get his autograph.

A full recording of the event can be found here, courtesy of UTP.

By Munir Juman, PE

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