The fusion of an assortment of martial arts, live drama performances, and song and dance performances brought about an exciting and thrilling show to the residents of Kampar. The martial art-themed live drama event, titled “Eden: The New World” was successfully organised at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, UTAR Kampar Campus on the night of 11 November 2023. The event attracted about 450 participants in attendance.

“EDEN: The New World” was an event born out of the unwavering passion and commitment of the martial arts aficionados at UTAR. It was jointly organised by the UTAR Taekwondo Club of Kampar Campus and UTAR Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of Kampar Campus, in conjunction with the UTAR Wushu Club, UTAR 24 Festive Drums Club, UTAR Chinese Diabolo, UTAR Chinese Dance, UTAR Chinese Orchestra Unit, and UTAR students with diverse talents in the fields of music and dance. The event aimed to provide a platform for the members of martial arts clubs at UTAR to display their martial arts techniques to the public. Besides, the event not only raised exposure of the participating clubs among the UTAR community, but it also raised the rapport and camaraderie between the participating clubs from UTAR.

In his remarks, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong said, “This event not only promotes Chinese culture but also brings attention to the revolution of digital approaches in human life. Our culture and traditions are important to our family and us. Hence, I am very proud to see the young generation making an effort to preserve the cultures and traditions of martial arts in a unique way. Not to mention, tonight’s event proves that UTAR students are not only good in their academic performance, but they are also individuals who value cultural heritage, which can be passed down to future generations.”

Thrilled to have weathered the storm brimmed with memorable moments with her friends, the Organising Committee Chairperson, Kan Vivian, enthused, “In this event, we explore the frontiers of science, art, and technology. We connect with brilliant minds, embrace new perspectives, and ignite our sense of wonder. This is where possibilities become realities, and where innovations shape the future. Nevertheless, ‘EDEN: The New World’ is not just about what we can learn or discover, it is also about the connections we will make, the friendships we will forge, and the memories we will create. It is a celebration of the human spirit, our shared aspirations, and the collective pursuit of excellence.”

By combining the martial arts disciplines presented by the students with a story suffused with a thriller theme and a fine touch of youthfulness, the live drama show meticulously highlighted the uniqueness and beauty of each and every discipline. It evoked appreciation of martial arts among the audience while offering them an intriguing storytelling experience.

The story, on the other hand, was brimmed with light-hearted and exhilarating performances from the student performers. It followed the lacklustre life of a down-to-earth girl, Feya, who subsequently discovered the life-changing truth of her residing place, Oak Town, and the antithetical utopia, EDEN. The colourful performances by the wide cast of student performers, accompanied by the supporting performances by the UTAR Wushu Club, UTAR 24 Festive Drum Club, UTAR Chinese Dance, UTAR Chinese Diabolo and UTAR Chinese Orchestra put together a series of dynamic atmospheres in Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Besides the main drama show, the event also featured lucky draw sessions and other song and dance performances.

As such, the awe-inspiring event was closed with the mellifluous tones and creative dances from the student performers. What was left in the audience’s minds was the refreshed memories of inspiration and motivation imbued in the story of “EDEN: The New World”.

Also present at the event were DSA Kampar Campus Head Mr Chiang Jeng Fong, DSA Kampar Campus staff Mr Ngan Mun Fong, sponsor representatives, organising committee members, UTAR staff and students.