Theme: Inspiring Futures

The theme "Inspiring Futures" was inspired by the official motto of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) - "Inspiring Futures, Nurturing Possibilities", which represents the fundamental principle of driving the UKM community forward.

“Inspiring Futures” encompasses the idea to inspire individuals from all walks of life to pursue their ideas albeit the ideas may appear unrealistic or unconventional to some. The pursuit of unorthodox ideas can help change not only one’s life but also society itself. This theme aims to provoke the audience to understand what it means to go beyond the ordinary and develop new ideas, find ways to solve problems, make life more meaningful and better. “Inspiring” in the wording denotes inspiration to have the courage to pursue. On the other hand, “futures” signifies the endless possibilities in our lives.

With the theme revolves around Inspiring Futures, the TEDxUKM Team wants to help the audiences to live their lives to the fullest by instilling them the valour to break free from the shackles of nonsensical and materialistic society’s opinion. The theme strives to remind us that other peoples’ opinions which somewhat shape our reality do not necessarily depict the entire facts or truths of a matter but they are just mere perspectives. Thus, we should not hesitate to be eccentric, to be more of ourselves, and to have faith in our ideas.

Panggung Seni
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Ground Floor
Bangi, Selangor, 43600
Malaysia

Arissa Jemaima & Davina Devarajan

Refugee Activists

Arissa Jemaima and Davina Devarajan were just 23 and 25 years old when they founded Women For Refugees (WFR), a non-governmental organisation aimed to empower and uplift refugee women. Refugee women are disenfranchised not only by the lack of proper policies and systems in place but also by social stigmas that contribute to gender disparity. They lack avenues to voice their concerns, resources to learn new skills, and opportunities to create a better life for themselves. Having realised this, Arissa and Davina initiated WFR as a grassroots platform to empower refugee women by equipping them with the skills into becoming formidable women leaders in their communities. Young people are often put on the back burner of social change. However, both Arissa and Davina are committed to rising above such hurdles. Today, they are pursuing a mission to champion the idea of community impact through grassroots initiative. They believe that change often comes from the courage to begin at zero.

Bernard Eng

Green Entrepreneur

Bernard Eng found the love of his life after planting his first tree in a peat swamp. Through tree planting, he is able to reconnect to the earth and ever since then he has initiated and participated in various environmental projects. Bernard's sustainability journey grows from leading grassroot-level environmental organisations to being a policy maker in international organisations. Today, he is a sustainability entrepreneur where he turns environmental problems into business opportunities. Bernard ,who is also an alumnus of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), will be talking about the Future of Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at Inspiring Futures 2021.

Irma Shida Abu Samah

Entrepreneur

Dr. Irma Shida Abu Samah merupakan seorang alumni Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) berkelulusan dalam Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pembedahan Pergigian di Fakulti Pergigian UKM. Dr. Irma setelah bertahun berhempas pulas untuk mencapai impiannya kini telah menjadi seorang ahli usahawan berbagai bakat yang berjaya. Pengalaman yang diperolehnya dalam mengusahakan Klinik Pergigiannya telah menjadi batu loncatan bagi beliau menjadi seorang usahawan yang berjaya. Kini, beliau mengusahakan beberapa syarikat dan juga perniagaan. Dr. Irma juga dikenali umum kerana berjaya menempuh pelbagai cabaran dan stigma masyarakat Malaysia bahawa seseorang wanita tidak akan berjaya apatah lagi dalam bidang keusahawanan. Kejayaan Dr. Irma yang juga merupakan seorang ibu kepada dua orang anak terus menjadi inspirasi kepada wanita-wanita lain yang ingin mengejar impian mereka.

Janice Lee

Animal Welfare Activist

Janice Lee is the managing director of My Pets Haven which provides temporary shelter for stray animals. Janice and her mentor Aunty Aileen, both managed the running of My Pets Haven to ensure stray animals have a place to call home. Most of us see stray animals as a nuisance to the neighbourhood, perhaps it’s the traumatised experience where we were chased down nonsensically by stray dogs or that one morning where we found out our rubbish bin was rummaged by stray cats which cause us to develop this deep-seated aversion toward them. But Janice’s compassion and love for these stray animals transcend the superficial animosity normal people held against them. Despite being a full-time medical student with a hefty workload, Janice is determined to devote her free time help the stray animals to find a home. Janice is a testament that change is possible if we were willing to start small and lay the groundwork for a better future.

Kuan Chee Heng (Uncle Kentang)

Social Worker

Mr. Kuan Chee Heng or more fondly & widely known as Uncle Kentang is a philanthropist of his own. Unlike the many business tycoons who set up foundation funds and donate their money to the indigents, Uncle Kentang rolls up his sleeves and goes to ground zero to provide aid to the destitute community. Uncle Kentang is a beloved figure in Malaysia, endeared by many for his alacrity to render aid to those in need. Hehas started various projects such as Teksi 10-Sen, Van Jenazah RM 1, and Pasar 10-Sen among others. These are his own initiatives to help the impoverished community to get by. As a recognition of his charitable work, Uncle Kentang was conferred the prestigious Commonwealth Points of Light Award by Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. There are many ways we could do charity and Uncle Kentang has found his way to serve his community. Uncle Ketang and his work is a manifestation of the famous saying 'when there is a will, there is always a way'.

Raja Muhammad Zuha Raja Kamal Bashah

Forensic Entomologist

Dr. (PhD.) Raja Muhammad Zuha Raja Kamal Bashah or better known as Dr. Zuha is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). While many might not be familiar with the word “entomology”, it is a subject that should not be taken for granted given its practicality in forensic studies. Out of love for his work, Dr. Zuha often engage with the public through the media to share about his scientific discoveries and research. We humans view insect as insignificant creature in our world. But behind the lifecycle of each insect, there is a million stories to be told about life after death. The understanding and appreciation of the existence of these little creatures is what fuels and ignites Dr. Zuha’s passion to continue studying and researching about them. Today, Dr. Zuha is a mission to re-tell the stories of these amazing tiny little creatures and what their lives meant to that of ours.

Ramalinggam Rajamanickam

Munsyi Dewan (Bahasa)

Seorang tokoh akademik yang begitu sebati serta tidak asing lagi dalam bidang bahasa Melayu. Secara rekod, Prof. Madya Dr. Ramalinggam Rajamanickam atau lebih mesra disapa sebagai “Dr. Rama” oleh orang sekeliling dan anak didik beliau, merupakan salah seorang Munsyi Dewan (Bahasa) dan penerima Anugerah Sahabat Citra DBP. Beliau juga merupakan Ahli Jawatankuasa Tetap Bahasa Melayu DBP. Yang menariknya, bidang kerjaya beliau berlatarkan undang-undang dan bukannya dalam bidang bahasa Melayu. Meskipun beliau bukanlah anak Melayu, namun kefasihan dan kepetahan beliau berbicara dalam bahasa Melayu membuatkan pendengarnya kagum akan kebolehan beliau. Dr. Rama percaya bahawa Bahasa Melayu, iaitu bahasa kebangsaan Malaysia mempunyai keindahan yang unik dan merupakan alat untuk menyatupadukan masyarakat berbilang kaum di Malaysia.

Ryanalysa Lai

Social Worker

Ryanalysa Lai, atau lebih dikenali sebagai Lysa, pada tahun 2018 telah menyertai projek “Food for Mahasiswa” yang kini dikenali sebagai Persatuan Kasih Mahasiswa Malaysia (KASISWA). Setelah dua tahun berjuang dalam KASISWA, Lysa telah dilantik sebagai Presiden KASISWA. Dalam tiga tahun Lysa berada dalam KASISWA, beberapa program untuk membantu pelajar-pelajar UKM yang tidak berkemampuan untuk mendapat akses kepada bekalan makan yang berkhasiat dan barang keperluan seperti pad wanita telah diwujudkan. Lysa juga membantu dalam intiatif untuk menyediakan “Food Bank” di UKM agar pelajar-pelajar boleh mencapai keperluan harian mereka dengan mudah. Food Bank KASISWA merupakan idea yang unik kerana ia dibina berdasarkan suatu sistem kepercayaan dan amanah antara pelajar-pelajar berkemampuan dan pelajar-pelajar kurang berkemampuan di UKM. Menerusi sistem ini, pelajar-pelajar UKM dapat membantu antara satu sama lain untuk meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan mereka sebagai pelajar di UKM.

Samuel Isaiah

Innovative Educator

Samuel Isaiah is famously known as the teacher who inspired educators from across Malaysia and the world with his story of how he changed the lives of the Orang Asli community through education. It was a unique story of how a teacher went the extra mile to help provide the best education that he could get for the little children from the Orang Asli village in Muadzam Shah, Pahang. His work has been recognised by the world when he was nominated as one of the top 10 finalists for the 2020 Global Teacher Prize or the “Nobel Prize” of the teaching fraternity. In modern Malaysia, Orang Asli education has been neglected as they are not considered capable enough to help in the building of the nation. Having to face such reality especially when he first stepped foot in the Orang Asli village, Samuel Isaiah vowed to bring change to Malaysia as he believes that education can help change the lives and future of anyone including the Orang Asli people.

Tang Qi Yau

Musician

Ever since Qi Yau was in primary school, he has been playing the Harmonica which he sees as not just as a musical instrument but also a close companion. From then on, Qi Yau has not only performed on the international stage but also winning international harmonica championships in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. After a few years exploring and experiencing music through the harmonica, Qi Yau soon realised his success came not just from hard work but also from his love of music. With this newfound sense of realization, Qi Yau started a harmonica class in hometown and in UKM. He uses unconventional methods and techniques to help his students, and peers to learn the harmonica. Today Qi Yau is on a mission to use his knowledge and experience to share how we can be unconventional in a conventional world through music.

Tharma Pillai

Youth Activist

Tharma Pillai sebuah nama yang mendapat perhatian ramai melalui gerakan Undi 18. Beliau merupakan pengasas bersama bagi Gerakan Undi 18. Tharma Pillai juga tersenarai sebagai “2021’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List” atas perubahan sosial yang dibawakannya. Parlimen Digital yang digerakkan olehnya merupakan sebuah inisiatif melibatkan sidang parlimen secara maya telah membuka mata ramai pihak akan kepentingan untuk mempunyai sistem demokrasi yang bersifat inklusif terhadap anak muda sehinggakan sidang tersebut disaksikan secara langsung oleh 500,000 orang. Tidak hairan sebenarnya jika direnungkan mengapa inisiatif beliau mendapat perhatian ramai pihak kerana Parlimen Digital yang melibatkan masyarakat umum merupakan yang pertama di dunia. Beliau berpendapat bahawa gerakan ini adalah penting untuk memekarkan lagi prinsip demokrasi yang meluas dengan meningkatkan keterlibatan anak muda melalui #UndiSaksama yang memastikan setiap undi adalah sama nilainya.

Zainab Afiqah Mohamad Rom

Education Changemaker

Zainab’s story is unique as her journey and passion in making changes through education was a result of a poignant moment where she witnessed how education inequality can gravely impact the future of a person and even their families. Knowing her true calling in Education sector, she signed up to become a Teach for Malaysia fellow and taught for two years in a public high school in Klang. Currently, she is the Senior Executive of Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR), an organisation aimed at empowering youths especially high potential student from the unprivileged background through Biasiswa Tunku Abdul Rahman (BTAR) and Closing the Gap (CTG). Zainab truly believes with the right resources and support, students from the underprivileged have the potential to be a part of our beautiful country’s nation-building.