MAKE MERDEKA MONTH A CATALYST FOR NATIONAL SPIRIT

UUM ONLINE: Members of the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) community have been urged to make Merdeka Month a catalyst for strengthening patriotism, fostering unity and promoting harmony across the university.

Chairman of the UUM Board of Directors, Tan Sri Dr. Mazlan Yusoff, said the spirit of independence should be nurtured among every member of the UUM community by making the campus a platform for unity regardless of background, race, culture or field of study.

“Merdeka Month must be commemorated through efforts to uphold the values of independence and contribute meaningfully to the community and the country. It should not be viewed merely as an annual routine of flying the Jalur Gemilang or remembering the history of the country’s independence.

“In the context of UUM, independence means freeing the mind, overcoming ignorance and empowering the nation through education,” stressed Tan Sri Dr. Mazlan during his speech at the launch of the UUM-level Merdeka Month 2026 celebration organised by the Corporate Communication Department (JKK).

The launch ceremony was attended by UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, members of the senior management and university staff at the Sultan Sallehuddin Chancellery Building in Sintok.

The UUM-level Merdeka Month celebration was also enlivened by poetry recitation, a symbolic launch and Merdeka Aerobics as part of efforts to instil a spirit of patriotism among UUM staff.

Commenting further, Tan Sri Dr. Mazlan said the Jalur Gemilang flying across the campus was not merely a symbol but also a reminder that all Malaysians share a common homeland, hopes and future.

He said this spirit should be translated into action through the pursuit of knowledge and excellence, as well as volunteerism, innovation and service to the community and the country.

“Malaysia gained independence in 1957 after a long historical journey. Similarly, UUM has its own history of contributing to the nation’s development. Since its establishment on 16 February 1984, UUM has played an important role as an agent of national development, driven by the determination, commitment and sacrifices of generations of its staff and students. The university has successfully produced 180,000 graduates who have contributed to the country’s progress across various sectors, both domestically and internationally,” he explained.

Today, upholding the spirit of independence requires all university staff to ensure that the benefits of development, knowledge sharing and national stability reach society, in line with the theme of this year’s celebration, “Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati”.