By Abd Ra’ai bin Osman
Pix Abd Ra’ai bin Osman

BANGI,  29 May 2014 – The Islamic Centre of The National University of Malaysia (UKM) has launched a development fund to help maintain the university’s mosque facilities as well as carrying out its community services.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali launched the fund at a thanks giving ceremony in conjunction with the 44^thanniversary of UKM, last week.

He said UKM had faced various challenges in its early years of existence noting that it had then to rely mainly on foreign contract workers including Indonesians. It is an irony that UKM has now been able to also help educate Indonesians in its various disciplines of study.

UKM has to constantly strives to improve the quality of teaching, learning, research, student affairs as well as the faculties to meet current requirements”, Prof Noor Azlan said.

Efforts by its academics and alumni have brought results with the university gaining trust and recognition for its numerous academic, research and community services.

UKM staff wanting to contribute to the fund can do so through donation boxes at the mosque or contact the Treasury at the ground floor of the Chancellery building.

The 44^th Anniversary Thanksgiving Ceremony began with the recitation of the Surah Yasin, eulogies for deceased UKM alumni, and a brief religious talk by Director of the Islam Hadhari Institute, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Othman.

Present at the ceremony were the Deputies Vice-Chancellors Prof Dr Ir Riza Atiq OK Rahmat (Academic and International Affairs) and Prof Datin Noor Aziah Mohd Awal (Students and Alumni Affairs), the Registrar Asmahan Musa and Treasurer Dato’ Hj Mohd Abd Rashid Mohd Fadzil, Chief Librarian Hafsah Mohd and other senior officials.