A first for this institution since its upgrade to a university, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) celebrated its grand Merdeka celebration on 22 August 2023. The ‘Malaysiaku Jiwaku Merdeka’ celebration was a culmination of a three-week-long festivity that showcased the University’s commitment to patriotism and unity.
Among those who attended the grand celebration were Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Chairman of the Board of Governors of TAR UMT, Tan Sri Chan
Kong Choy, Chairman of TAR UMT Alumni Council and member of the Board of overnors of TAR UMT and Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President of TAR UMT.
In addition, two family members of the late Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj namely Yang Mulia Tengku Rozani Putra and Yang Mulia Tengku Norin Putra as well as Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, the daughter of the late Tun Tan
Siew Sin and member of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation also attended the celebration. The late Tunku Abdul Rahman and the late Tun Tan Siew Sin were past national leaders and were also instrumental figures in establishing the then TAR College.
Datuk Seri Ir Dr Wee, lauded the ‘Malaysiaku Jiwaku Merdeka’ Celebration for exemplifying the TARCian unity and patriotism. “We have achieved a lot in the past and the journey ahead only gives us abundant opportunities to achieve even greater heights to support our nation’s development and growth. That is why it is important we celebrate our love for our country, to remind us to unite as one while giving our best for the wellbeing of Malaysia,” he said.
The grand celebration was filled with the unified patriotic spirit of TARCians and invited guests, waving the Jalur Gemilang, especially towards the end of the event when the famous Tanggal 31 Ogos patriotic song was played.
In addition, one of the highlights of the celebration was the premiere of TAR UMT’s first-ever Merdeka video titled “WAU”, a collaborative effort of approximately 60 students and lecturers from the Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI). The short film centred around a diverse group of friends studying in TAR UMT who worked together to build a ‘Wau’, which is a traditional Malaysian kite. They then improvised the Wau by using a drone to fly it high. The message behind the film is that through solidarity and embracing the concept of ‘Satu Malaysia’, the students could overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. ‘WAU’ can be viewed on TAR UMT’s Youtube channel from 29 August 2023 onwards.
Meanwhile, in the three-week jubilant countdown to the main ‘Malaysiaku Jiwaku Merdeka’ event, many TARCians came together to stamp their fingerprints on A1 boards. Approximately 10,000 fingerprints were collected from students, staff and alumni of TAR UMT KL Campus who gladly contributed their fingerprints, symbolising their unwavering love and hope for the nation.
The fervour of the Malaysiaku Jiwaku celebration extended into the digital realm, through a video competition with the hashtags #malaysiakujiwakucontest and #tarumtcelebrate, calling the TAR UMT community to showcase their love for the country on social media platforms throughout the three weeks.
Apart from that, there was the vibrant Merdeka March, a spirited parade that traversed the KL campus grounds on 14 August 2023. Led by Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, over 100 staff and students marched across the campus proudly waving flags,
resonating with Merdeka chants, and singing patriotic songs.
Reflecting on the patriotic-packed three-week-long celebration, Prof Ir Dr Lee remarked: “The essence of Malaysiaku Jiwaku is not just for this period of time; it lives on in the hearts of every TARCian. The grand celebration, the WAU video, the fingerprints, the social media posts and the march – they are all threads in the tapestry of our commitment to Malaysia’s future. Through such experiential learning opportunities and activities, we hope to mould students into professionals and patriotic citizens.”
The unity of TARCians displaying their love for the nation in traditional costumes
during the grand celebration.
Online Education Fair 线上教育展
Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT)
东姑阿都拉曼管理及工艺大学（拉曼理工大学）
https://edufair.fsi.com.my/tarumt
