Launch of Mary KUOK Library

From left: Prof Ewe, Datuk Lee, Tan Sri Chor, Datuk Hong, Prof Chuah, Tan Sri Dr Ting, Kuok Seok Kin, Kay Kuok, Teo, Ng, Datuk Lim, Ong, Prof Lee and Hew

To commemorate the contribution from the Kuok Foundation, the Mary Kuok Library was launched in Sungai Long Campus on 14 August 2017.

Present at the launch were sister of Mary Kuok, Kuok Seok Kin, Kuok Foundation Deputy Chairman and niece of Mary Kuok, Kay Kuok Onn Kwong, niece of Mary Kuok, Teo La Mei, Kuok Foundation General Manager Ng Teck Seng, Kuok Foundation Admin Manager Choo Hwei Miin, UTAR Council Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh, UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, Council Members Hew Fen Yee, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Chor Chee Heung, Ir Academician Datuk Hong Lee Pee, Datuk Lim Si Cheng, Datuk Lee Leck Cheng and Board of Trustees Company Secretary Ong Whee Tiong, Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, UTAR staff and students.

In 2003, the Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) library, which was also the first branch library, was set up in the PC Block in Petaling Jaya Campus. This was later relocated to the Sungai Long Campus to serve the needs of two faculties, namely the FAM and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). From 2013 until 2007, other branch libraries were established gradually to meet the needs of various faculties. By June 2015, four branch libraries in Klang Valley, namely the PD Library and PH Library (Petaling Jaya Campus) and LKC FES Library (Kuala Lumpur Campus) were relocated to the Sungai Long Campus, which was the new city campus, and merged to form the Mary KUOK Pick Hoo Library. The Mary KUOK Library aims to provide quality resources and services in support of the advancement of teaching, learning and research of the university which is necessary for students to continuously progress towards a better tomorrow.

“When we first set up the university 15 years ago, we had only 411 students with eight degree programmes and today we have over 50,000 graduates and we offer 110 degree programmes ranging from degree to PhD and all these were possible because we had the support from the contributors. This library is very dear to my heart because of the hard work and efforts given by the staff and students in setting up the library during the relocation. We were able to make it with the UTAR team spirit and the support from the Kuok family,” said Prof Chuah at the launch.

Prof Chuah added, “This is a simple yet meaningful event, where we celebrate the opening of the library to witness the milestone achievement from the day of UTAR’s establishment. As of now, we have more than 34,000 e-journals and 143,000 e-books. We are truly grateful for the support given by the KUOK Foundation that enabled us to accommodate the students’ needs, learning and also embrace the changes for a brighter future. We will continue to try our very best to produce more employable graduates to contribute to the nation building.”

The launch was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and a library tour before the event adjourned.

From left: Prof Chuah, Tan Sri Dr Ting, Kay Kuok, Kuok Seok Kin, Teo and Ng during the ribbon cutting ceremony

The library tour

Kay Kuok, Kuok Seok Kin and Teo