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By: Wan ZulAzzlan Wan Jusoh, IAC
y name is Mahamalar Mailvahanan
(Mahamalar Ramanathan). I was
Mborn in Kajang, Selangor on 14th
September 1938. My father was the Principal
at Kajang High School. I am the fourth child of
six brothers and sisters. My early education was
at the Convent, Kajang. Later on, I continued
my secondary education at the K.G.V School in
Seremban, Negeri Sembilan as I wanted to do pure
science and later joined Victoria Institution, Kuala
Lumpur to do my Form 6.
After completing Form 6 in 1961, I had offers to
do a degree from two universities - University of
Malaya and University of Singapore. The offer
from University of Malaya was to pursue a Science
Degree whereas the offer from University of
Singapore was a Pharmacy Degree. I accepted the
offer from University of Malaya as it was a privilege
and honour to enter the University of Malaya and
I did not want to miss this golden opportunity.
At that time, it gave Malaysian a sense of pride to
study in University of Malaya.
I started my journey as an undergraduate in 1962
and graduated with Bachelor of Science (BSc) with
Honours in Zoology in 1966.
I enjoyed my undergraduate days at the University
of Malaya. It was an experience that cannot be
forgotten. I always felt and still feel the best part
of my life was my undergraduate days at the
University of Malaya.
There were a number of sweet and bitter
experiences that I encountered during my
university life. For example, getting together with
friends and missing lectures. As an undergraduate,
I did not stay at the Residential College. I travelled
to the university daily from Kajang. Whenever I had
any free time in between lectures, I used to go to the
library and made full use of the reference books.
One of my friends in my batch (Science Course)
who did well in life and became a Minister was
YBhg. Datuk Mokhtar Hashim. Apart from that,
I also had a close friend- who stayed at the Third
Residential College.
// sejenak bersama alumni
My advice to the current
students and future students
is to study very hard and at the
same time enjoy university life.
It is the best part and once a life.
After completing a Diploma in
Education, I started my teaching
career as a Science Teacher.
My frst posting was at Victoria
Institution, Kuala Lumpur where
I taught the Form 6 students.
My advice Later I was transferred to
to the Sekolah Menengah Maxwell,
current Kuala Lumpur and after two
students years was again transferred to
and future Sekolah Menengah Sri Pantai,
students Kampong Kerinchi where I
taught until my retirement. After
is to study retiring, I also did my part time
very hard teaching English for the Science
and at Undergraduate students.Being a
the same proud mother of three children
time enjoy and devoted grandmother of fve
university grandchildren, I am nowfully
life. enjoying my retired life.
- Mahamalar
University of Malaya has
given me a lot. As an alumna
of University of Malaya, it is
only fair for me to ‘give’ back
to UM. My contribution and
my love and affection for my
alma mater is nothing much.
It is mainly to be present at all
alumni programs organised
by Institutional Advancement
Centre (IAC). In the meantime,
the programs organized by IAC,
are benefcial to me like Alumni
Leadership Series Forum (ALS)
with the topics discussed by
experts in their respective felds.
Where as, the Alumni-Student
Synergy program connects me
with students from UM. I hope
to see many more of my friends
in the programs organized by
the University of Malaya, in
particular IAC.
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