NTU's Malaysian alumni relish the "balik kampung" feeling at the first gathering held in their honour.

As many as 350 Malaysian alumni and students, including staff, got a sense of balik kampung when they turned up, at the Malaysian alumni dinner gathering.

Held for the first time by NTU's Alumni Affairs Office, the gathering reunited fellow countrymen, namely, Malaysians who have left their hometowns for studies and are now working and residing in Singapore. Kinship aside, surely they were also drawn to the lucky draw prizes. What with PSP and DVD player among the giveaways.

A reunion worth the wait
Guest-of-Honour, Mr Anthony Teo, Secretary to the University, hailed the first dinner gathering of Malaysian alumni of NTU, as a "terrific success". He said: "I am glad to learn that the Malaysians, who are here tonight, are originally from different hometowns. Some are from Kedah's Kulim, KL, whilst others are from Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. The rarest among all is our Class of 1964 alumnus from Segamat (Johor)." The Segamat alumnus Mr Teo referred to was Mr Chen Chuan Chong.

Mr Teo called on the Malaysian alumni to reunite regardless of age and institutions. Some among them were from NTU's predecessor institutions – Nanyang University and the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI).

The past was not far from the minds of the Malaysian alumni. Flowing with the theme of the night, "Rhythm of the past", the alumni had their fill of reliving their student life. Some even shared the time they had spent, dwelling in the campus Halls, and the struggles they went through, being away from home.

By students, for alumni
Amid the warm sharing, the alumni exchanged namecards. They were also treated to a sumptuous buffet spread and entertainment. Malaysians, who are still students, serenaded their seniors with piano performances and a cappella. Getting in on the act, the Malaysian student organising committee also put together some dance items for the alumni to enjoy. It was truly an evening well spent for the alumni.

The dinner gathering was organised by NTU's Malaysian undergraduates and held on 21 March, at the NTU Alumni Club located at NTU's one-north campus.

"I joined the gathering with two other graduates from NTI. All three of us graduated from NTI in 1988. We were among the rare group, who had experienced the old facilities of Nanyang University and the new facilities of NTI. It was great for us to meet fellow alumni. I hope that the organiser will hold such gathering again and that more senior alumni would attend." - Gwee Swee Ho (CEE / 1988)

© Malaysian Students Association & Association of Malaysian Chinese Independent Schools Alumni