UTAR Alumni Annual Dinner 2018

The UTAR Alumni Annual Dinner 2018 was held at Hotel Grand Lexis, Port Dickson on 17 November 2018. Organised by the Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP) and the UTAR Alumni Association, the annual dinner was a memorable night of entertaining performance, lucky draws and many more.

Front row, third from left: Foo, Prof Ewe, Toh Puan Ena Ling, Tun Ling, Koh, Prof Chuah, Prof Lee, Prof Choong, Prof Faidz and Lim during the opening ceremony

The event aimed to keep the alumni connected with the university and to update them on the current events at the university. It was also a great chance for the alumni to expand their networks of professional contacts, catch up with their university friends and enhance their connection with each other through the sharing of their experiences and knowledge.

From left, front: Lim, Koh, Prof Choong, Prof Lee, Prof Chuah, Tun Ling, Toh Puan Ena Ling, Prof Ewe, Prof Faidz and Foo

Present at the dinner were UTAR Chancellor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and his spouse Toh Puan Ena Ling, President  Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, TAR UC President Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, UTAR Vice Presidents Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Prof Ts Dr Faidz bin Abdul Rahman and Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, TARCian Alumni Association President Dato’ Yap Kuak Fong, Deputy President Dato’ Chan Wah Kiang, Secretary General Jackie Tan Choon Ling, Treasurer Lim Teck Seng, Vice Presidents Lim Kok Eng, Bobby Tan Soy Mok, Allen Cheong Soon Hock and Teo Kah Chin, UTAR Alumni Association President Koh Fook Huat, and the committee members of UTAR Alumni Association.

Also present at the gathering were UTAR Registrar Yim Lin Heng, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Dean Prof Ir Dr Goi Bok Min, Faculty of Business and Finance Dean Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Chancellery Head Lim Swea Jen, DARP Head Foo Wai Wai, sponsors, alumni, staff and students. 

Tun Ling sharing his thoughts with the audience

Tun Ling shared his thoughts with the floor saying, “When words reach your lips, stop it there for a moment and reconsider what needs to be said. You should know that some things are best not said. Once you utter those words, you cannot take them back. Hence, to avoid quarrelling and to be at peace, one should be very careful with his words.” 

Prof Chuah expressing his gratitude to the alumni

Prof Chuah said, “We are indeed thankful to our alumni for their hard work, achievements and support to the university. We are proud of all our alumni and we send our regards to all the alumni with the hope and greetings that you all will continue to enjoy success and progress in your career and personal life. We also look forward to your continuous contributions and support as UTAR progresses and expands in its current venture of setting up a new hospital in Kampar Campus. This expansion will move UTAR ahead in its effort to provide a wider spectrum of affordable quality education for its medical and health science programmes while enriching the community’s medical and health services.” 

Koh thanking the organising team for their support

Koh said, “First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate UTAR for obtaining tremendous achievements in this short period of time. I am truly honoured to be a part of the UTAR alumni community. My journey of being the president of UTAR Alumni Association for two terms made me realise the importance of teamwork. I appreciate the support I received from my team. They have worked hard to prepare all these interesting activities for all of you today. And I’m glad that you all have chosen to be here and spend time with all of us here today.”

UTAR alumnus Phooi Loo Peng (middle) performing a song for the audience

Singing performance by Esther Koh Khai Qi

Performance by UTAR Philharmonic Orchestra 

Singing performance by Nurul Izwazi binti Mohd Noor (left) and Jonathan Lim Yee Suan

Jonathan Lim performing a dance routine with the UTAR Dance Club

Many entertaining events were lined-up for the night, which included a programme of musical, song and dance performances by alumni and students. One of the performance highlights was a sociable and energetic dance that was brought by the UTAR Dance Club. In a cornucopia of dazzling light and music, the professional dancers showed off their impressive dancing skills onstage which was followed by a thunderous round of applause from the participants. There were also two rounds of lucky draw sessions organised that added to the excitements. The event also witnessed prize-giving ceremony for the winners of Charming Kampar Video Contest 2018.

Grand prize winners, from left: Yeoh Kai Wen and Wong Hock Nian

We are truly honoured to receive this award. At this moment, we couldn’t quite contain our excitement for winning this. This is a very special award and it is very dear to us. We spent sleepless nights to get this video done especially editing it. All the effort we put into making this video has certainly paid off. We were able to build strong friendship and most importantly, we learnt the value of teamwork. I thank UTAR for providing us with this opportunity,” enthused the grand prize winners of Charming Kampar Video Contest 2018, Yeoh Kai Wen and Wong Hock Nian. 

Proud alumni, from left: Muhammad Ali Bin Abd Karim, Jordan Tien Zhang Chun, Pauline Dass, Kok Yen Yee, Amanda Lim Yoke Yin, Teen Linkern, Nanthanat Uttraphan Pim

Amanda Lim Yoke Tim, an alumna from batch 2011 said, “I find this event very good for awareness especially for companies in relation to UTAR, to be able to reach out to the alumni of UTAR. It was also a good getaway for all of us as it gave us a reason to leave the city and come out here to have fun and build networks. I will certainly come back next year.”

“I am really happy to be here. I really enjoyed myself and I got to spend time with my friends. I also met some other students from my batch that I’ve not seen for some time. This event gave me the chance to catch up with them. I will definitely come back next year,” said Pauline Dass, an alumna from batch 2011.

Alumni of batch 2015, from left: Tey Fei Chen, Lai Shet Ling, Lee Kah Yen, Tan Xin Hui, Cheng Mui Ling, Liang Lai Yee and Yan Mae Jane 

UTAR Alumni friendly badminton match

UTAR Alumni team in action

Prior to the dinner, an alumni badminton friendly match was held to cultivate the relationship between the alumni and the students. Alumni business networking, which was a time for socialising and mixing, was also organised for alumni to network and interact with one another from various industries. 

UTAR staff in action

The platinum sponsor of the dinner was Vistana Jati Sdn Bhd. The gold sponsors were Silverlake SPRINTS Sdn Bhd, Top Glove Sdn Bhd and HPMT Industries Sdn Bhd; the silver sponsors were Brunsfield Engineering Sdn Bhd, and OCK Group Berhad;  while the bronze sponsors were Fotorex Holdings Sdn Bhd, Sin Heap Lee Development Sdn Bhd, Ede & Ravenscroft (M) Sdn Bhd, Danish House Sdn Bhd, Steven Lim & Associates, TMF Administrative Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, SCS Global Consulting (M) Sdn Bhd, SIM Florist and OpenSys (M) Berhad. Other sponsors included Ads Print Sdn Bhd, Bandar Utama City Centre Sdn Bhd and Ruby Glamour Sdn Bhd.

Clockwise, from top left: Proof Choong, Koh, Prof Faidz, Prof Ewe and Dr Au Yong presenting prizes to the lucky draw winners

The delightful night saw the presence of more than 300 dinner guests

The emcees for the night, from left: Jonathan Lim and Nurul Izwazi 

The hall was embellished with beautiful neon lighting

The audience enjoying the performances

The attendees savoured delectable cuisines

Committee members of Alumni Association
Front row, from left: Eddie Lim, Fook Oi Yee, Aw Chan Yann, Nurul Izwazi, Foo, Koh, Tee Chee Hoong, Chia Kho Yee and Lim
Back row: Wong Jun Chong and Chin Ken Thin