New Village Community Project Exhibition a blast

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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