Shining Night at Alumni Annual Dinner

Prof Chuah on stage during the opening

Themed ‘Shining Night’, the UTAR Alumni Annual Dinner was held at the Genting International Convention Centre on 26 November 2016 at 6.30pm. Organised by the Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP) and the UTAR Alumni Association, the annual dinner was a memorable night of entertaining performances, lucky draws andgood food among all 430 attendees.

Present at the dinner were UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Registrar Yim Lin Heng, DARP Head Lim Swea Jen, Alumni Association President Koh Fook Huat, LKC FES Dean Prof Goi Bok Min, FBF Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Division of Corporate Communication and Public Relations Director Ong Soo Weon, deans, deputies, alumni, their family, sponsors, UTAR staff, students and invited guests.

Prof Chuah welcomed everyone during his opening speech and thanked the organising committee and sponsors for making the event a success. In the course of his speech, he stated his hopes that the alumni will continue to keep UTAR close to their hearts and contribute towards UTAR’s cause for the benefit of their juniors at the university. He mentioned that UTAR has continued to keep its tuition fees affordable all these years with assistance from generous philanthropists, corporations, the alumni and the public who have donated towards UTAR’s progress. There was proud applause from the floor when Prof Chuah mentioned that the university was built without borrowing from banks. To continue the next phase of its growth and expansion, UTAR is building a hospital in Kampar Campus and Prof Chuah sought the support of the alumni to contribute towards its realisation.

Since the dinner was a night especially for the alumni, it was befitting that alumni talent was fully showcased. There were singing performances and fashion shows featuring designs by UniQueens Fashion Founder Esther Soon, with Kampar Campus students modelling the garments. Esther set up her first boutique six years ago while she was still a student at UTAR. Now she is the proud owner of the UniQueens line for the young and hip.

Biotechnology graduate Joanne Lai, winner of one of Astro’s singing competitions, sang two songs and she got the audience tapping along to the song Marmalade. The acapella band Black Muffin did a rendition of two songs including one involving sport stacking. Marketing graduate Evelyn Foo Ching Lin and Microbiology graduate Eric Yang Shun Kai sang soulful duets that kept the audience enthralled with their magical voices. Psychology graduate Rebecca Pang Sing Vun and Chemistry graduate Alson Tan Boon Han pairedup to sing for the first time together and the harmony of their voices combined with their stage chemistry made their performance truly outstanding. Finance graduate Grace Anne Mak Zhi Hui brought all the singers together in a musical finale with the upbeat song Dancing in the Moonlight that kept the audience clapping to the beat.

Keeping up with the lively spirit of the night were two dance performances by the Sungai Long Campus Dance Club which has made a name for themselves on campus with their fast-paced, well-choreographed and synchronised dance moves. There were also performances by Loong Bee, a sand artist, and the Rhythmix Dancers, who did the colourful peacock dance.

UTAR students Kennie Tan Hui Lee and Tan Heng Fatt were the emcees for the night, enlivening the night with their humour and light-hearted remarks. There was a surprise proposal by an alumni to his girlfriend on stage which brought the house down with cheers and applause.

Overall, it was a night to remember with the lucky draws attracting hearty participation from the audience who joined in the suspense and thrill of winning.

The main sponsor for the dinner was the Genting Rewards Official Loyalty Card. The gold sponsors were Advancecon Infra Sdn Bhd and Silverlake SPRINTS Sdn Bhd. The silver sponsors were Brunsfield Engineering Sdn Bhd, Juris Technologies Sdn Bhd, Top Glove Sdn Bhd, and Face to Face Noodle House. Fotorex Holdings, See Kok Meng, Torrecid SA Representative Office and Inventech Solution were the bronze sponsors. Other sponsors include Micro Modular System Sdn Bhd, KPMG, Sin Heap Lee Development Sdn Bhd, Ede & Ravenscroft (M) Sdn Bhd, Joey Yap Consulting Sdn Bhd, OOTB Personal Development Sdn Bhd, PCCO PLT, Sim Florist, EMO Book Services, Pustaka Prinsip, Danish House, Mighty Bakery, Ads Pacific Print, MBO Cinema, and Sagami.

The university thanks the organising committee, all sponsors, and especially the alumni for making the Alumni Annual Dinner a successful night of good fun for all.