I studied for my undergraduate degree in the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Graduating in October 2000, i have some very fond memories of the place. Tonight was the Alumni Annual Dinner 2002, and it was held in grand fashion at the Mandarin Oriental, one of the best hotels in town.
It was a fantastic experience, and well worth the RM100 registration fee.
The night started with a flash presentation on a huge screen showcasing the historical roots of the university. Who were its first leaders, its first presidents, rectors and the various campuses it had to rent from the ministry of education before it found its permanent home in Gombak, Selangor. Had to imagine that what was little more than a whole in ground has become a massive collection of faculties spread over a RM1billion campus. And i was there to see it happen over my 6 years as a student (2 years pre-uni and 4 years degree). Watching the presentation made me realize that i had been fortunate enough to be a part of something that started out as a vision and dream, and then translated into the reality that is IIUM.
Old laurels
Over the years, the university has done very well in international student competitions and tournaments, especially taekwondo, mooting and debating. My heart filled momentarily with pride when my major contribution to this list of achievements was flashed: 7th in the World University Debating Championship, 2000, Sydney, Australia. That was something else - never before and never since has any team outside of the UK, US and Australia made the Top 10 in a competition that regularly has 300+ teams participating. But my team made it, my team mate and me and that stunned the debating world. When the organizers made the announcement that fateful day, they was a split second of silence as the news sunk in, before the hall burst into rapturous applause. That was my moment, and i will remember it always, and always be thankful to IIUM for the belief it has in its students. Not all universities, certainly, not any other university i know of in Malaysia would have patiently invested hundreds of thousands of ringgit over 10 years to build a team capable of challenging for international honours against the likes of Oxford, Harvard and Monash.
As i sat there watching the screen, i felt a rush of endorphins that is rarely felt. I was very pleased.
Dinner
Dinner followed quickly after the show ended (to thunderous appreciation from the audience). A five course meal, that frankly, i thought didnt justify the cost of admittance. Actually, the best part of the meal was the desert - an ingenious mix of vanilla ice cream with bubur cha-cha and some lotus paste-filled baked buns. YummY!
Speeches by the Rector of the University, Prof Kamal and the VVIP of the night, Tan Sri Najib Abdul Razak followed. Tan Sri is a very composed, polished speaker, though i sensed that some people did not agree with some of the things that he spoke of tonight. Oh well, he is a politician after all and in Malaysia there are only two types: the ones you hate, and the ones you love.
Notices...
I noticed quite immediately that most of the attendees happen to be men. And even the women in attendance (about 500 people altogether) seemed to be there because their husbands are alumni rather than themselves. Strange, but true. Any correlation i wonder between gender and the ability to attend a dinner function of this type...?
Juma was there tonight. Looking splendid in an modern kebaya, she was invited to be the MC and she was very good; calm and composed. Had a chance to say hello to her, but we both seemed really detached, or at least we were trying to be. I guess, i'll always feel something for that lady; we went through too much for me not to. Maybe that's what my dream last night was trying to tell me.
(From right to left) Me, Azahan and Fazli
All in all, it was a tremendous night. Gave out a ton of business cards, received nearly as many, shook a lot of hands and smiled until my gums went dry. It was fun. Can't wait till next year.
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