A large-scale New Village Community Project (NVCP) Exhibition was held from
7 to 9 March 2014 at the Heritage Hall, UTAR Perak Campus. Marking the
opening ceremony of the NVCP Exhibition on 7 March 2014 was the launch
speech by UTAR Council Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik who was also the Guest
of Honour at the event.
Lending significance to the noteworthy event were Perak State Assemblyman
for Chenderiang Dato' Dr Mah Hang Soon, Chairman of UTAR International
Advisory Council Prof Emeritus Dato' Dr Wang Gungwu, UTAR Planning and
Development Committee Advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, UTAR President Ir Prof
Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik, President of Associated Chinese
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM)-cum-Chairman of
Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC) Sdn Bhd Dato' Lim Kok Cheong, UTAR
Council Member Hew Fen Yee, Principal Assistant Director of New Village
Division of the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government
Wee Li Ling and Director of Chua Tian Poh Community Leadership
Programme-cum-Deputy Director of University Scholars Programme National
University of Singapore Assoc Prof Dr Albert Teo Chu Ying, alongside other
invited special guests ranging from new village headmen to sponsors.
Organised by the Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC), the three-day
NVCP Exhibition aimed to create awareness and promote the UTAR New Village
Community Project to students and the public, as well as expanding the
network with leaders of new villages, schools, collaborative partners and
community.
In his welcome address, Prof Chuah elaborated on the various interesting
projects that the University has done at over 400 new villages in Peninsular
Malaysia and also shared on the positive feedback from participating
students. "This (the project) is not just about helping the new villages, it
is also exposing our students to social responsibility. I am also grateful
to all who have contributed, not only in forms of cash but also services to
this new village community project," he mentioned, and also thanked all
parties for coming to support the event including ACCCIM and Silverlake who
have played a key role in creating the New Village website.
Prof Chuah addressing the crowd
Tun Dr Ling concurred, and shared his sentiments that the New Village
Community Project Exhibition is very meaningful as it echoes UTAR's
fundamental founding principle - for the people, by the people. "It is the
indication of what UTAR stands for. UTAR is for the people and by the people
and it will forever be for the people."
Tun Dr Ling sharing his thoughts on the project
Prof Wang, who was invited to speak on "Cultural Adaptations and the
Chinese", told the crowd that he was fascinated by UTAR's New Village
Community Project after hearing about it for the first time. "The scope and
participation of the students in the project are intriguing," he said. Prof
Wang then elucidated through the four Cs - Concept (of adaptations),
Condition, Chinese and Choices - on how Chinese adapt to cultural settings,
and said he finds it astonishing to see how the people adapted to the tragic
changes as a result of new villages during the Malayan Emergency and came
out with their ways of life. "These are examples of the human capacity to
adapt. It makes it more interesting to see the concept of adaptation, to see
what it was like, must have been like and what it will still be for the
people of the new villages today," he concluded.
Prof Wang talking on "Cultural Adaptations and the Chinese"
Tun Dr Ling presenting a token of appreciation to Prof Wang for sharing his
insightful talk
The other highlights of the event included entertaining performances and a
prize presentation. The performances were put up by the UTAR Taekwondo Club
and special dance performances by new villagers, namely primary school
students from SJK(C) Min Sin Ampang Baru and Jeram Women Group.
(Clockwise from top left): Performances by UTAR Taekwondo Club, UTAR
students, Jeram Women Group and SJK(C) Min Sin Ampang Baru students
Tun Dr Ling, accompanied by Prof Chuah also presented prizes to the winners
of a new village-themed photography competition that was held from October
2013 to early this year. The details of the winners' were:
(Clockwise from top left) The winning photographers: Ravindran, Chai, Teo,
Ho, Tee and Tan
The eventful morning ended with a group photo of the VIPs and invited
special guests followed by a guided exhibition tour. The photos with
captions, mounted on boards at the NVCP Exhibition showcased the students'
experiences and activities in the new village community projects.
The group photo comprising the VIPs and the special invited guests
Prof Chuah and Prof Wang admiring the winning entries of the photography
competition
Head of Department of Soft Skills Competency (Perak) Lok Bee Lan (second
from left) explaining the stories behind the photographs
The UTAR New Village Community Project started in 2009 and has since
witnessed the active participation of more than 3,000 students, including
international students from Singapore and Japan, involving in activities
such as New Village Visits, New Village Survey, New Village Community
Service (WE CARE WE ACT) and Collaborative Projects. For further updates and
information, please visit www.utar.edu.my/dssc and www.newvillage.com.my
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