"Senior Citizens" Visit The University

Recently a group of Senior Citizens, ex PETRONAS staff and retirees, visited University Technology PETRONAS (UTP) at the invitation of its Rector and CEO. This is the second time that I visited the University. The first time was when the complex was under construction and the University was operating in temporary buildings at the site. I was still working then. Now, after about 10 years the complex or campus is almost completed with the main buildings and facilities available. There should be more buildings constructed according to its master plan but these will be built in due time. In deed there are construction activities going on but these are at areas away from the main buildings.

The objective of the visit was for the Retirees Fraternity to have an overall view of the University, its development and progress to date and to see for themselves how the thoughts, ideas and plans that some of them had put in place for the University when they were still working in PETRONAS has materialized. A majority of those in the visiting group had in some way or other contributed to the existence and perhaps the development of the University. The visit was also to explore the possibility of having the Retirees share their experience(s) in their working life by returning to the campus giving lectures, or talks or contribute in whatever way possible to the development of the young minds in the campus. This aspect of the visit was highlighted by the Rector several times.

A 44 seater bus was provided by our host and our pick-up point was the parking lot of the KL main mosque (Masjid Wilayah). I was there early to ensure that ‘things’ that should happen, happen as required. All went as planned with nothing untoward. Heading the group was the President of the Retirees Fraternity. There were about thirty of us and a few came with their spouses, Ram included. We left the pick-up point at just after 9.00am and arrived at the gate of the university at just before 12.00 noon.

We were accorded a most hearty welcome and we could see that they were indeed well prepared for the visit. On approaching the gate of the University, a security outrider accompanied us leading the way to our first destination, where the Rector and his Management staff were waiting to greet and meet us. They had planned to take us around the site, visit the various facilities, the halls, resource centre, mosque, and a briefing on the development of the university.

The entrance to the University was a simple yet nicely arranged non-imposing gated structure but on driving up to the security control centre one would notice the mosque, the first building visible from the entrance, very imposing, whitewashed, domed at the front and full of pillars. It was surrounded on one side by a lake which I found out later was a double level cascading water design, man made out of the original mining pond. That was a unique design. From the distance and especially at night, with built in lights, the view would be of the mosque standing over the edge of a waterfall. There were also a lot of tall trees around such that the view of the main buildings in the campus as we approached the mosque was hidden by the trees.

We visited the Chancellors Complex, a very impressive huge building that houses the Resource centre, Administrative centre, Chancellors offices, Senate and Conference halls on one side of the complex and the Chancellors Hall on the other side. The resource centre is four levels of shelves that can hold about 500,000 books with large seating spaces also provided at each level together with IT facilities and other library equipment and resources. The Chancellors Hall is a movable stage and movable theatre-tiered seats hall large enough to seat about 3000 people (my estimate) and with the stage and the theatre seats retracted, the hall will be used for their exams sessions. We were also shown the engineering laboratories and the academic blocks all of which adjoins the main Chancellors building.

We were later brought on a tour of the whole site in the bus and viewed the academic blocks, the residences and other facilities. The campus stands in an area of 1000 acres much of which are greenery, very conducive to study and the interactivity of the minds. After viewing the complex, I said to myself how wonderful it would be to be able to go back to University and study with such nice facilities provided………… (I am comparing these facilities to what I was used to when I was a student hmmmm!!)

After a visit to the mosque and after prayers we left UTP to return to KL by the same bus arriving at the KL mosque at just after dusk prayers. It was an enjoyable trip. Everyone, I think, was satisfied that it was a good trip. Apart from viewing the facilities participants had an insight into how UTP function as engineering studies provider and the extent it stretches to its shareholder i.e. PETRONAS, to the community and also to the country in the provision of engineering skills and knowledge. I also think that the participants are willing to positively respond to the call by the Rector for Retirees to return to UTP and assist it with inputs for the ‘young minds’. The thing to do now is to identify how and what input is required from these Retirees. We will have to start working with the relevant officers of the university to identify these areas of input. Retirees may be free with all the time in the world but being retirees, to get them going may take some time. Hence an early start is what all are looking at….. I wonder if they are all looking at me (being the secretary of the Retirees Fraternity) to start ??…….. Hmmmm… I guess they are…

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya