At a time when the world grapples with disconnection, silent suffering, and deep-rooted inequality, TEDxUTAR 2025 boldly convened voices that challenged, inspired, and called for a shared moral response. Held at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Sungai Long Campus on the 21 July 2025, the event brought together ten speakers under the theme “Towards a Better Now,” uniting stories of community, courage, and conviction.
Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, President of UTAR, addressed the question “How do we prepare ourselves for the AI era?” by tracing the evolution of human intelligence from survival instincts to modern social and digital competencies. He emphasised that in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, life wisdom, empathy, and a growth mindset are as crucial as technical skills. Highlighting the cognitive and emotional challenges posed by AI, such as distraction, loneliness, and a loss of purpose, he called for greater adaptability, lifelong learning, and emotional resilience. With preparation of both mind and heart, he affirmed, we can meet the future intelligently and humanely.
Dr Cheah Phaik Kin, a volunteer community policing advocate and educator, revealed the startling logic behind criminal behaviour. By helping the audience see "how criminals think," she encouraged a deeper reflection on justice, rehabilitation, and the structural failings that breed recidivism. Her insights reminded us that a safer society is one that understands before it punishes and reforms before it condemns.
Dr Esther Hooi introduced “Your Writing Through Flip Book,” an online module designed to reinvigorate student engagement in writing. Recognising modern learners’ aversion to reading and composition, she applied a flipped classroom model, combining English proficiency tests, structured writing templates, and reflective tasks. Her call to educators and policymakers was clear: innovative approaches are essential to make writing accessible and relevant.
Jerry Chong, a proud UTAR graduate, demonstrated how digital maps can change lives. Through his global contributions to OpenStreetMap, Jerry helps communities, especially those underserved or struck by disaster, gain visibility and access. His talk exemplified how data, when made open and participatory, can empower the invisible and support crisis response worldwide.
Nara Lee, a UTAR alumna and founder of Casèn, recounted her personal return to her roots in the humble setting of a family kopitiam. What began as feelings of self-doubt transformed into pride as she documented her daily life, connected with audiences online, and eventually built a brand rooted in authenticity. Her story showed how reclaiming one’s identity is not just personal, it can spark community, creativity, and cultural renewal.
Kayne Masters, a communications coach and former social worker, delivered a compelling call to reframe masculinity, not in stoic silence, but through vulnerability. He urged men to take off emotional masks and speak honestly, arguing that this shift could counteract the rising crisis of male isolation and suicide.
Keen-Yin Woo, a 17-year-old youth advocate from Greenwich High School, urged his generation to view fear not as a barrier but as a signal, guiding them toward personal growth and meaningful action. Through humorous anecdotes and real-life experiments with rejection, he challenged the audience to move from hesitation to courage, making the case that fear, if harnessed, can point us toward what matters most.
Echoing the theme of civic contribution, Uncle Kentang (Kuan Chee Heng) delivered a moving call for simple, grounded compassion. From offering emergency services to standing by the forgotten in death, his talk illuminated how everyday empathy can become a force for radical societal change. His message was clear: kindness is not an act, it’s a way of life.
Dr Yoong Soo May asked the audience to reconsider neurodivergence, not as a disability but as a form of cognitive diversity deserving of understanding, not stigma. Her talk challenged systems that marginalise difference and invited a deeper embrace of diverse ways of thinking, especially within education and community structures.
Closing the session, software trainer Shanice Wong presented “When Letting Go Saved Me,” highlighting the unspoken power of facial expression in leadership and connection. She emphasised that true leadership lies in emotional presence, urging individuals to lead with softness, intentionality, and kindness, allowing their faces to be a safe and welcoming space for others.
What united these diverse voices was a common conviction: that “a better now” is built not just with innovation, but with integrity. Whether by shifting how we speak, act, serve, or think, the time to do so is now.
About TEDxUTAR
TEDxUTAR is an independently organized TEDx event licensed by TED, bringing together ideas worth spreading within the UTAR and Malaysian community. The 2025 edition was supported by UTAR’s Faculty of Creative Industries, and the Department of Soft Skills Competency.
Clockwise from left: Prof Dato’Ewe, Prof Cheah, Jerry Chong and Dr Esther Hooi
Clockwise from left: Nara Lee, Kayne Masters, Uncle Kentang and Keen-Yin
Mr Maxwell with Dr Yoong (left) and Shanice Wong (right)
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