By: Siti Nur`Ain Feisal

SERDANG – 18 July 2021 a historical moment for Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council when it successfully celebrated the first anniversary of the establishment of the Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council under the Pre-Launching Ceremony of Alumni Day Celebration of Public University of Malaysia.

The Public Universities Alumni Council, registered on July 18, 2020 has proven that the unanimous among 20 Public Universities (UA) in Malaysia can empower UA alumni in Malaysia to return to alma mater comparable to overseas university alumni.

The virtual celebration was officiated by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Raman Noordin, Chairman of the Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council.

Also attended, UNIMAS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Datuk Khairuddin Kana Deputy Chairman of the Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Arifin Abdu Organizing Committee of the Pre-launching Ceremony of Public University of Malaysia Alumni Day Celebration, Head of Secretariat of the Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council,  Dr. Mohamad Fuad Debit, Director of UPM Alumni Relations Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arba'ie Sujud Head of Alumni Empowerment Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council, Head of Network and Industry of Malaysian Alumni Council, Dr. Khairuddin Osman, Head of Career of Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council, Encik Mohd Asri Haji Husain as well as alumni directors of public universities and officers of Malaysian public universities.

Generally, the establishment of Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council is a manifestation towards the efforts to empower alumni institutions in Malaysia. The establishment of the council was also an effort to further strengthen the agenda in alumni management and also strengthen the alumni role with alma mater.

In the opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Raman, who is also Chairman of the Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council, he was optimistic that the establishment of the event would be the rewarding of efforts to elevate the alumni institution itself.

"I am confident that with this Alumni Council, the alumni function can be utilised optimally. With the three core that further strengthen the establishment, namely alumni empowerment core, core networking and industry as well as career core, it will surely manage the governance of each alumni role in more detail." he said.

At the pre-launching ceremony, Prof. Dr. Raman asserted that alumni are the future source of a university. With a strong relationship between alumni and universities it can help in the provision of funds through more comprehensive financial or material contributions.

Meanwhile, as the Organizing Committee for the Pre-Launching of Public University of Malaysia Alumni Day Celebration Ceremony, Head of Alumni Empowerment Public University of Malaysia Alumni Council and Director of UPM Alumni Relations Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arba'ie Sujud also expressed his gratitude to Public University of Malaysia in empowering public universities alumni role with the slogan ‘Berganding Bersama Mencitra Alumni’.

"May what we do be eased by Allah SWT and accepted as a good deed for all of us. On this occasion, I would like to wish you a happy Malaysian Public University Alumni Day 2021," he said.

As a sign of the togetherness and cooperation between Public Universities of Malaysia, Pre-launching Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Day Celebrations was a collaboration between UPM Alumni Relations Centre as the Organising Committee together with Public University of Malaysia (MAUAM) Alumni Council, Alumni Empowerment Core fellow namely University of Malaya (UM), National University of Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Sultan Zainal Abidin University (UNISZA), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Expressing strong support to the Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council, citing the words from the Director of Alumni Centre of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Dr. Mohammad Puad Bebit, alumni are an asset to the university and alumni should always remember the dedication given by their educators despite having travelled so far in search of opportunities and spaces.

"In conjunction with today's historic day for the Malaysian Public Universities Alumni Council, we at UMS also wished a Happy Alumni Day to all alumni of the Malaysian public universities with endless bounds," he said.

All 20 Malaysia public universities express their appreciation and gratitude through the alumni slot accompanied by montage video expressing their appreciation towards Alumni Day 2021 with a common responsibility to drive the alumni role in ensuring the success of the vision and mission of public education institutions in Malaysia.

In conclusion, the Public Universities of Malaysia Alumni Council is seen to be able to strengthen the alumni institutions which in turn will implement various agendas that will benefit alma mater and alumni. The growing number of alumni from year to year requires a special body to govern and at the same time indicates at the way in which they may contribute. Although this is a huge challenge, it needs to be looked at from a strategic cooperation point of view as the alumni of this university are valuable assets to illuminate the path to the next generation of universities.

Date of Input: 31/08/2021 | Updated: 30/09/2021 | alif.isnain