UTAR ICS members actively participate in the "Earth Hour" environmental initiative

On the evening of 22 March 2025 at 8:30 PM, members of the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), led by Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei, Dean of ICS, and Dr Lew Hoi Len, the event organiser, joined hands with ICS students, faculty, and alumni from various regions to support the global environmental movement—Earth Hour. Notably, Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Chairperson of the Green Campus Committee at UTAR Sungai Long Campus, also participated in the event along with his family. During this hour, participants turned off non-essential lights and electrical appliances, taking real action to support global carbon reduction efforts and raise environmental awareness.

Beyond the Sungai Long and Kampar Campuses, ICS members from across Malaysia, as well as ICS postgraduates and alumni residing in various cities in China, including Beijing, Handan, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Guizhou, Guiyang, Sichuan, Shenzhen, Haikou (Hainan), and Xi’an also joined the movement by switching off their lights. This simple yet impactful gesture demonstrated their concern for sustainable development and highlighted the power of collective environmental action across different regions.

During this hour, participants engaged in various activities; some spent time with family and friends under candlelight, while others took a break from electronic devices to enjoy a rare moment of tranquillity. Though their approaches differed, they all shared the same goal— to reduce energy consumption and raise awareness about environmental issues.

To commemorate this initiative, we have compiled photos of participants from different locations and created a short video. Although Earth Hour lasts only 60 minutes, we hope this awareness continues beyond the event, inspiring everyone to make energy conservation and carbon reduction a part of daily life.