Sunday 28 December 2008

Introducing Malaysia



Malaysia is a country located in the center of the Southeast Asia, surrounded by Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. Malaysia has thirteen states and three federal territories separated into 2 regions by the South China Sea. Malays, Chinese, Indians make up the main ethnic groups, there are also many other ethnic groups, which all have lived together in Malaysia for generations. The combination of the many different cultures and vast ethnicity makes Malaysia a truly unique country. The people are friendly and the country has a lot to offer in terms of sight, sound and taste.

Mount kinabalu is a prominent mountain in Southeast Asia.

A Borneo Orang Utan


Redang Island


Kuala Lumpur - The capital and largest city of Malaysia

There are many attractions in Malaysia. The nature lovers will love the enchanting rain forests in East Malaysia, track up Mount Kinabalu and bask on the beautiful beach in Redang Island. For city lover, Kuala Lumpur will be the best destination, it is the most industrialized region in the country and has a wide variety of shopping centers and mega malls which carry well-known global and local brands.
Interestingly, the architectures in Malaysia are combinations of many different styles, influenced by the different cultures and religions found here. Hindu-Indian, Arab-Muslim, and Chinese have the most influence, while some influences from the Portuguese and British during the colonization still remain in local architecture.


Ais Kacang



Malaysian food is not one particular kind of food but a unique culinary spectrum originating from Malaysia's multi-ethnic population that has melded together sampling tastes, ingredients and cooking methods from each other. Each state has different things to offer in terms of culinary delights.



Kite flying is a popular traditional games in Malaysia

Malaysia has a wide variety of traditional handicrafts. Some of the popular items include Perak's labu sayong, geluk, belanga, Chinese dragon kiln ceramics and Sarawakian tribal motif pottery. Batik, songket, pua kumbu and tekat are some of the traditional Malaysian textile which is most sought after for its vibrant captivating colors. There are also a lot of leather-crafted goods, beadwork necklaces from Borneo or finely made gold and silver jewelry adorned with gems.

- Vincent Liew
Malaysian Representative

HKMaS Committee Members 2008/2009

Executive Committee
President – Adrian Ng
Vice President – Chloe Chong

Standing Committee
Secretary – Jeannie Law
Vice Secretary – Lai Yee Chaw
Treasurer - Cathy Wong
Vice Treasurer – Li Wan Liew
Finance Officer – Alison Chai
Recruitment Officer – Hui Sing Yau
Communications Officer – Felicia Tan

Organizing Committee
Event Director – Sarah Lim
Assistant Event Director – Chin Wei Tan
Public Relations Officer – Lily Tang
Entertainment Officer - Martin Tam
Entertainment Officer – Ronald Vong
Food and Catering Manager – Kah Hue Phang
Sports Officer – Jeffrey Soo

Press and Support
Press Officer – Deborah Quah
Deputy Press Officer – Jacquelyn Yeo
I.T. Officer – Steven Liew
Photographer – Vincent Lee
Health and Well-being Advisor – Li Pei Fong
Education and Support Advisor – E Qian Tan

Representatives
Hong Kong Representative-Au Yeong Quan Bo
Malaysian Representative – Vincent Liew
4th Year Pharmacy Representative – Kok Hong Chia
3rd Year Pharmacy Representative - Vita Kong
2nd Year Pharmacy Representative – Ee Lian Tan
1st Year Pharmacy Representative - Esther Sii
1st Year Pharmacy Representative – Kim Fen, Bong
City Campus Representative – Priscilla Wong

Contact list for Education and Supports

Services Contact number
1.University switchboard 0191 515 2000
2.The Gateway 0191 515 2222
3.Residential Services 0191 515 2943
4.Facilities 0191 515 2021
5.International Recruitment 0191 515 2648
6.Student Recruitment Helpline 0191 515 3000
7.Chaplaincy 0191 515 2933 (Reception Desk), 0191 515 3482
8.Childcare (Chester Road Nursery) 0191 515 2286
(Gorse House Nursery) 0191 515 2668
9.Counselling 0191 515 2933
10.Disability Support 0191 515 2952
11.North East Regional Assessment Centre (NERAC) 0191 515 2249
12.Sport & Recreation 0191 515 2937
13.Library 0191 515 3691
14.Out of Hours IT Helpline 0191 515 2992
15.NHS Direct (24 Hour helpline) 0845 4647
16.Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre - Minor Injuries & Illnesses Unit (0191)5252300
17.Bunny Hill Primary Care Centre - Minor Injuries & Illnesses Unit (0191)5800


Expert financial counsellors
Adrian Herbert
Telephone: 0191 515 3478
email: adrian.herbert@sunderland.ac.uk
Louise Cutty
Telephone: 0191 515 2284
email: louise.cutty@sunderland.ac.uk

Accommodation
Accommodation Office in The Gateway on 0191 515 2943 or email: residentialservices@sunderland.ac.uk.

Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy offers information on the many different places of worship in the area and encourages and supports students and religious groups of all faiths and denominations. A full-time Chaplain, together with a number of Associate Chaplains from local churches, are always available. There are a number of advisers from other world faith communities.

For further information call 0191 515 3482 or click here to visit the Chaplaincy website.

Childcare
Opening times
8.00am - 1.00pm and 1.00pm - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Full or part-time sessions are available.

Further information
For more information about fees, session times etc please contact us on 0191 515 2286 or email: lisa.stringer@sunderland.ac.uk

Counseling
Students can refer themselves by booking an initial appointment with the Counseling Service reception by telephone 0191 515 2933.
Email: peter.hughes@sunderland.ac.uk

Careers and Employability Service

Contact Details
The Careers and Employability Service is located in the Gateway, City Campus, Chester Road. Telephone 0191 515 2920.
Fax: 0191 515 2281

Contact list of hospitals, doctors, dentists and University Student support

SERVICES CONTACT
1. Sunderland Royal Hospital (0191) 565 6256
2. Family Planning Department, Sunderland Royal Hospital (0191)5699966
3. Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM), Sunderland Royal Hospital 0191 569 9021
4. Accident & Emergency 999


Local Doctors (around City Campus, Clanny House
and Chester Road area)
1. Millfield Health Centre (0191) 567 9179
2. Pallion Health Centre (0191) 567 4673,(0191) 567 2995,(0191) 567 1319
3. Southill Crescent (0191) 567 6828
4. 3 Eden Terrace (0191) 567 5673
5. Hylton Medical Group (0191) 565 8598
6. Student Health and Wellbeing 0191 515 2938

Local Doctors (around Hendon and Ashbrooke)
1.Ashburn Medical Centre (0191) 567 4397
2.74/75 Toward Road (0191) 567 1035
3.Deerness Park Suffolk Stree(0191) 567 0961/2
4.Villette Surgery Hendon (0191) 567 9361

Local Doctors (around The Forge)
1.Old Forge Surgery, Pallion Park (0191) 510 9393

Local Doctors(around Panns Bank, Roker
and All Saints)
1.St Bede Medical Centre (0191) 5675335
2.Fulwell Medical Centre (0191) 548 3635
3.Southwick Health (0191) 548 6944
4.Roker Avenue (0191) 5678023


Local dentists
1.I. Gray & S. Gray (0191) 510 8686
2.Mr Miller, Miss Kerr & Mrs Farrell (0191) 514 2727
3.Ramshaw & Silver (0191) 567 2604
4.Mr P.J. Knops & Miss J. Kirk (0191) 567 3791
5.Oasis Dental Care (0191) 534 1167
6.Vaughan, Common & McDermott (0191) 565 7058
7.Mr F.A. Ardabili (0191) 567 4844
8.Peel Street Dental Surgery (0191) 567 2035

Health and wellbeing
Highly experienced Registered Nurses and a Student Support Adviser are available to offer confidential advice and support on a drop in basis.

For further information call 0191 515 2938 or email: health.wellbeing@sunderland.ac.uk

Drop in to see us Floor 2 of the Edinburgh Building on the City Campus.

Reception Desk (telephone 0191 515 2933) is open for appointment bookings, information about our services and general enquiries between 8.30am and 5.30pm and until 5pm on Friday during term time and 9-5pm during University vacations.

Disability Support Team
Support is available for disabled students and students who have a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), such as dyslexia.

Call 0191 515 3987 or email: joanne.bainbridge@sunderland.ac.uk

For further information call 0191 515 2952 or email:disability.support@sunderland.ac.uk

Tuesday 23 December 2008

Liverpool Day Trip – 22nd November 2008

I went to Liverpool for the first time last month. In fact it was my first day trip with my friends as it was organized by the Hong Kong and Malaysia Society (HKMaS) and what I have to say is that it was a fun trip from beginning till the end. We have visited several places like Liverpool Cathedral which is the largest cathedral in the United Kingdom. Besides that, we do go to the Chinatown of Liverpool, Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral and we did go to the Liverpool ONE. After a half day trip walking around Liverpool, we went back to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre to support our team members which are playing game (badminton) for the Liverpool Game and the team from our society did won the game by winning gold medal for men’s single and 2 bronze medal for men’s double and single. All what I can say is that, it was a great day trip with the joy and laugther of all the members which went for this day trip.


- Ee Lian, Tan
2nd Year Pharmacy Rep

Liverpool Day Trip – 22nd November 2008

The Malaysian Society of the University of Liverpool organized a sporting event on that day, and there were some representatives from our university to play in the games. A group of us stayed with our sports players to give them support, while I joined the tour for sight seeing around Liverpool. It was my first trip to Liverpool and I felt so excited because Liverpool is chosen to be one of the hosting cities for the European Capital of Culture for the year 2008. From the university, we walked to the Metropolitan Cathedral. We then went to Liverpool Cathedral and we have spent approximately one hour here. When it’s noon time we all wanted to go Chinatown and have lunch. However, the street was practically ‘dead’ as the restaurants will only open at night, so we decided to have our lunch in city centre. After lunch, we went to few places including Albert Dock, maritime museum, theatre, Liverpool tower, and Williamson Square. Along the walking, all of us had fun taking photographs. It was so cold throughout that day but I felt warm when I was walking with a big group of people. I felt so lucky that I have a chance to go this trip as I have made many friends. I hope that HKMaS will organize day trips in future again.

- Lai Yee, Chaw.
Assistant Secretary of HKMaS

Nottingham trip – 8th November 2008



It’s my very first outing with the HKMas and everything started on very well as the bus arrive just in time at 630am. Despite the chilly weather, every participant was on time as well, which made a good start of the trip. The coach was nice and comfortable. We reached the University of Nottingham 10ish, the committees of HKMas was very considerate to give us a map of the city and the university, which gave us a rough guide about where to go and what to do there. But of course the main reason we were there was for the Nottingham games. We headed to the sports centre for the games. Then the best part of the day-Malaysian Food festival. From nasi lemak, cendol, Ramli burger,laksa to the delicious kuih-muih. Every little Malay food that we’ve missed so much were sold there. We spent plenty of time in the university and the city until 5:30pm, and then it’s time to go home! Overall it was a great day.

- Kim, Bong
1st Year Pharmacy Rep.

Nottingham trip – 8th November 2008



On the 8th of November 2008, the HKMaS organized a trip to Nottingham; this is my first trip with the society. The society was invited to participate in the Nottingham Malaysian Games, sadly we weren’t able to register our players on time, so we just went there to have a look. We were all given a map together with brief introduction about the university and the life there by our lovely committee on the coach. It took us 3 hours to reach there from Sunderland and finally arrive at 10am. When we arrived there, we stop by the sports centre to watch some games and had a look around the university. Then, we had our meal at the Malaysian food festival. There were a huge variety of Malaysian food which drove me crazy and felt homesick. After the fabulous meal, we went to the city centre. We gathered at University of Nottingham at 5:30pm and headed back to Sunderland. Overall it was a nice trip, although it was short, we met lots of people and I am really grateful that I was a part of the trip.

- Esther Sii
1st Year Pharmacy Rep

UK Pre-Departure Information

Here’s some general information on what to bring or remember to do before coming to UK. (Students who are already in UK could forward this page to friends or family members who are interested in pursuing their education in the UK)
1.) The following documents should be kept in your hand baggage.
• Bank drafts
• Unconditional Offer Letter (original)
• Confirmation of Accommodation , please provide landlord’s name, add and contact numbers
• Original Academic Certificates
• Medical Report (highly recommended)
2.) 6-12 passport-sized photographs
3.) Have approximately GBP 500 ready in Cash/travellers cheques as bank draft takes 10-14 days for clearance
4.) You can bring along a laptop but make sure you have all the installation CDs and receipts.
5.) Ensure your airport greeting service is confirmed
6.) Accommodation Registration, the following documents are needed:
• Photocopy of tenancy agreement
• Unconditional Offer Letter (original)
• Passport-sized photographs
• International passport
7.) Enrolment following documents are needed:
• Unconditional Offer Letter (original)
• Passport –sized photographs
• Original Academic Certificates
• International passport
• EVIDENCES of Payment of tuition fees or RECEIPTS Note: if you have made you payments.
8.) How to open a bank account in the UK ie: HSBC, LloysdsTSB, Natwest, etc. The following documents are required :
• International passport
• Passport photograph
• Account activate within 2/3 weeks
• GBP 1000 deposit (minimum)
• University letter and enrolment slip
9.) Health insurance will be covered by NHS and travel insurance is up to individual
10.) Good luck in your studies in the UK!

For more information please visit: http://www.educationuk.org
Or check with the University or UK representatives in your country

Welcome message.

Welcome to the blog of the University of Sunderland, Hong Kong and Malaysia Society (HKMaS). Recently established, HKMaS is one of the official student societies aiming to provide diversity to the Institute of Sport and Students' Union. At the same time we promote and represent the interests of Hong Kong and Malaysian Students at this University.



Adrian Ng

President 2008-2010
Founder of HKMaS