The best of times

Proud UKM alumni reflect on how their varsity experience shaped their characters and careers.

Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai

Group Advisor, Star Media Group Bachelor of Arts, 1984

THOSE seeking to pursue their tertiary education in the 1980s would tell you just how competitive it was, because there were only five public universities in Malaysia then. For non-malays, with the affirmative action policies in place, it was even more difficult to get a place. And private universities were the stuff of fantasies.

In 1980, I had just completed my Higher School Certificate (now Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia) and began working at The Star in Penang. Six months into the job, I received an offer to study at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

When I attempted to locate UKM, I couldn’t pinpoint Bangi, Selangor, home to the main campus.

UKM was born from the aspirations of Malay nationalists to uphold Bahasa Malaysia as the language of knowledge and instruction.

The student population was predominantly Malay, with Islamic Studies a compulsory course for every student. UKM was a whole new experience for me in many ways but I wasn’t apprehensive in this new environment. I was prepared in some ways, as I had studied

Malay Literature and Islamic History in my Sixth Form. I enjoyed it, which surprised many non-malays.

Although I was the last batch of HSC students schooled in

English, I could write essays and do my academic work in BM, and even take part

actively in tutorials and seminars. We received marks for speaking up.

But I had to make some adjustments. On my first day at Kamsis B hostel, now renamed Kolej Aminudin Baki, I walked into the canteen in shorts

– like most beach boys in Penang – only to be politely told that there was a dress code on campus.

But I settled well in UKM. The National University of Malaysia opened my mind and eyes, in many ways. The medium of instruction at UKM was BM although refin erence books were in English.

I’ve lost track of the hours spent in the freezing Tun Sri Lanang Library, which is one of the biggest in Malaysia.

In my pursuit of knowledge, I met and studied under many distinguished Malaysian top scholars, including the late Fadzil Noor, Dr Harun Din, Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, National Laureate Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail, Dr P. Ramasamy, Kamaruddin Jaafar, Dr. Harold Crouch, Dr Heng Pek Koon and Dr Ibrahim Saad.

But UKM wasn’t merely about getting a degree. It was about forging friendships, too. Many of my friends at UKM have become distinguished members of the work force. Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was a Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak is now director general of the Higher Education Ministry, and there’s senior lawyer Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen

Mohame dy unoos, who is now my fellow moderation advocate and a columnist with The Star.

With politics always present in campus, it was not just the students who were influenced. Sociology professor, Dr Ting Chew Peh joined the MCA and eventually became an MP and minister.

At the office, our unofficial UKM club comprises chief content officer aka editor-in-chief, Esther Ng, sports editor Rajes Paul, Metro desk news editor VP Sujata and Seremban bureau chief Sarban Singh.

Though deserving, there are simply too many alumni names to list here, especially those in my New UKM 80s chat group. But you know who you are, and the things we did in UKM together, the memorable ones and the ones we choose to forget.

Studying at UKM has been a privilege and honour for me. Happy 50th Birthday UKM!