By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
TANJONG MALIM: The August 2025 Monthly Assembly, organised by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) as Semarak Merdeka, was held in a festive atmosphere, highlighted by a traditional costume parade featuring 19 contingents representing various faculties, departments, and responsibility centres of the university.
UPSI Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Norkhalid Salimin, said the event was more than just a fashion showcase, as it symbolised Malaysia’s cultural diversity and the unity of its multiracial society.
“Every traditional attire on display carries its own meaning as it reflects our nation’s heritage. This is the true face of Malaysia—rich in ethnicity, culture, and language—and the same spirit is very much alive here at UPSI,” he said when officiating the event at the SITC Hall, Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Campus, yesterday.
In the best contingent competition, the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts (FMSP) emerged champion, followed by the Department of Development and Property Management (JPPHB) in second place and the Registrar’s Department in third.
Norkhalid added that the participation of various groups in the parade reflected the values of teamwork and mutual cooperation, which lie at the heart of Malaysia’s independence celebrations.
“As members of the university, we are responsible for nurturing the nation’s future leaders. Independence must be interpreted not only through symbols, but also through integrity, work ethics, and the spirit of nation-building rooted in knowledge,” he stressed.
The monthly assembly also served as a platform to strengthen camaraderie among the UPSI community while commemorating the historic moment of August 31, 1957, in a spirit of patriotism.
