The launching ceremony of Program Jalinan Erat UKM-Masyarakat Kundang Ulu, Ledang Johor was held on 8 February 2009 with its theme Kelestarian Dalam Khidmat Masyarakat. The event was to purify the already established relationship between UKM and the community of Kundang Ulu. The event also stood as the medium for UKM to announce all its community service activities that are progressing in the vicinity of Kundang Ulu.
The launch was officiated by Y.B. Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin Haji Mohd Yassin as the Pagoh Parliament Member and Minister of International Trading and Industry. Also present during the glorious ceremony were the ADUN of Bukit Serampang, state government agencies, heads of villages as well as the Kundang Ulu community. Principals and students from all schools in Kundang Ulu were also present.
UKM has always been a caring and commmited body that accentuates on the well-being of the community and its social surroundings. Therefore, Kundang Ulu has been chosen as one of UKM’s own community service projects when the country was badly affected during the flood disaster that hit most states in late 2006 and early 2007. Johor was badly struck by a series of flood that damaged many properties, including the Kundang Ulu area.
During the disaster period, UKM with its initiatives, had mobilized a volunteer group of 1000 students and staff, the Disaster Aid Brigade, by providing help to the victims of flood in Kundang Ulu. Starting from that point on, UKM, headed by the Vice Chancellor, Y.Bhg. Prof. Dr. Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin, suggested that Kundang Ulu should be the adopted foster village of UKM in order to facilitate further planned community services by UKM in the future.
On 16 February 2007, the Vice Chancellor announced officially that Kampung Kundang Ulu as the Foster Village of UKM. In accordance to that, a few activities was carried out including free medical checkups by the Healthy Community Programme, faculty of allied Health and Sciences, Hari Raya Feast and students visit to Ulu Kundang.
In October 2007, the Office of University-Community Relations, under the patronage of Deputy Vice Chancellor of industry-Community Partnerships had put an effort in elevating the status of the current research-based long term community services. Three research projects have been identified; Program Penilaian Keberkesanan Intervensi Kesihatan Terhadap Penduduk Kundang Ulu, Program Kecemerlangan Akademik Pendidikan Sekolah (PKAPS) dan Program Merapatkan Jurang Digital: Kajian Kes Kerjasama Universiti (UKM) – Kawasan Pedalaman (SMKTTA).
Among the event that took place during the launch was the official launching of UKM’s community service book, “Pengukuhan Keterlibatan Masyarakat: Menyemarakkan Masyarakat Penyayang”. The book lists down a number of community programmeswere carried out by UKM during the previous years. Aside from that, the organising committee also held a few exhibitions from the faculties/centre/institutes/, exhibition of village products, National Service (PLKN) show, health services by FSKB and psychology test by Student Service Centre. Some other exhibitors were:
- Faculty of Information Science and Technology
- Faculty of education
- Faculty of Allied health and Sciences
- Faculty of engineering
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty Economics and Business
- Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI)
- Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor Industry-Community Partnerships
- Office of University-Community Partnerships
- Industry Liaison Office
- Chancellor’s Foundation Office
- Student Advancement Centre
- Department of Student Service
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