The new year ushers in a fresh spring breeze, carrying warmth, joy, and the sounds of gatherings and fireworks. Amid this, innocent youths frolic as snaps and pops echo across a vast cerulean canvas, while ‘mythical’ lions in radiant coats prance to the thunderous beats of 24 festive drums, sharing prosperity and harmony through the breeze of heritage.
Although the spirit of togetherness may be the most vivid during festivities, the essence remains a recurring theme throughout the year. An education institution, where knowledge sharing and skill building remain the keystone, becomes a living embodiment of that enduring spirit.
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Take a walk at UTAR during the day, and you will often find voices and laughter in diverse groups—colourful booths filled with discussions and chatters at the bustling cafeterias, spirited recitation of club slogans along walkways, and clubs settling on random spots and actively preparing for upcoming events.
“After hours will be much quieter, right?” your inner thought begs to differ. As evening falls over the green Kampar Campus, rhythmic beats, spirited exclamations, and hurried footsteps greet your ears. Drawn by the sound, you find yourself at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, where youths, drenched in sweat yet radiant with passionate smiles, strike Chinese drums adorned with delicate Mandarin characters. The thunderous rhythms shift in tempo, mirrored by flowing postures that move from elegance to powerful, swift manoeuvres. With each resounding beat, the UTAR Kampar 24 Festive Drums Team comes into full view, resonating not only with force, but with dedication, teamwork, and cultural pride.
Officially established in 2009, the UTAR Kampar 24 Festive Drums Team was a proud creation of a coterie of passionate drummers from the UTAR Kampar Campus Wushu Club. Formed as a division of the Wushu Club, the Malaysian hand percussion team served as a steadfast companion to its parent body, complementing martial discipline with rhythmic expression and cultural depth. In 2019, the club officially parted ways with the Wushu Club, emerging as an independent entity with a novel vision for its future.
Throughout the years, the club has produced an assortment of original musical pieces, including Drums of Famine (飢鼓; recipient of the Silver Award & Best Arrangement Award at the 1st Malaysia Intra-Varsity Competition of 24 Festive Drums), Lost and Confused (迷惘), The Beginning (啟), and Metamorphosis (蝶). Beyond organising vibrant concerts on campus, the club also provides their expertise to external communities, receiving regular invitations for volunteer performances. As years of independence unfold, the UTAR Kampar 24 Festive Drums Team—now comprising more than 100 members—remains a lively presence within the university community and an enduring friend to the Wushu Club, often lending its passion to its former parent body and beyond.
With more than a decade of drumming experience, Ng Jing Earn, the current Chairperson of the UTAR Kampar 24 Festive Drums Team, deftly juggles her demanding assignments as a Business Administration programme student with the creation of euphonic drumbeats alongside her teammates for the community. “Why go to such great lengths despite an already busy schedule?” you asked. Her answer is simple: passion, duty, and friendship.
She remarked, “I truly cherish every training session that has left a deep impression on me. Each practice allows me to learn, grow stronger, gain valuable experience, and eventually step onto different performance stages. None of these would be possible without the support of my teammates, who fight alongside me throughout this journey. The sweat we have shared, the countless cheers of encouragement, the repeated practices that stretched late into the night, the moments of motivating one another before each performance, and the encouragement we had for one another as we made mistakes, have all helped me to understand the true meaning of teamwork.”
She added, “We have always stood back up and continued our practice together after each tumble. To me, this team has not only taught me professional skills, but also instilled in me the values of perseverance, responsibility, and mutual support. These experiences have shaped who we are today and remained the most valuable and unforgettable memories of my time in the club. I am truly honoured to serve as the Chairperson and to be part of this team.”
Education institutions may not be the first sector that comes to mind when cultural arts are considered, yet they provide an inclusive platform for learners from all walks of life to preserve invaluable heritages. Hark back to the cherished moments of your adolescence, and clubs and societies in your schools were more than likely recurring companions in your avid pursuit for belonging and personal growth. Beyond academic pursuits, these student-led communities at the tertiary level are no more different, serving as vibrant spaces where passions are nurtured, traditions are upheld, and friendships are forged through shared experiences—like the cycle of joy and heritage flowing through Malaysia’s many festivities.
UTAR offers over 140 programmes from Foundation Studies to Bachelor, Master’s and PhD degrees in Accounting, Business, Finance and Economics, Actuarial Science, Mathematics and Process Management, Agriculture and Food Science, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, Chinese Studies, Creative Industries, Digital Animation, Multimedia and Design, Engineering and Built Environment, Information and Communication Technology, Life and Physical Sciences, and Medicine and Health Sciences.
Visit UTAR Open Day on 4-5 April and 25-26 April 2026 from 9am to 4.30pm at both Kampar and Sungai Long campuses. For more information, go to www.utar.edu.my or call 05-468 8888 (Kampar Campus), 03- 9086 0288 (Sungai Long Campus).
