Regional Outreach in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

In response to an invitation from the British High Commission, two members of the Chevening Alumni Malaysia (CAM) Committee – Nithi Nesadurai and Sharifah Bakar Ali – and one member, Kia Jia Yaw, travelled to Kota Kinabalu, in the eastern-most state of Sabah, to engage with alumni at 5.30pm on Wednesday, December 9 at the impressive Sabah Art Gallery.

This engagement was part of a larger programme led by British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell and the BHC to undertake outreach activities in most states in Malaysia. On this particular day, alumni in the state were invited to a screening of three films on social issues which had been shortlisted after being entered for the Borneo Eco Film Festival.

Being in Kota Kinabalu enabled the Committee to achieve its goal of regional outreach – meeting and engaging with alumni based outside Kuala Lumpur. On this occasion five local alumni and one alumna from Kuala Lumpur, who happened to be in the city, met up with the three CAM representatives and Chevening Scholarships Officer, Bavani Sivalingam, prior to and after the film screenings.

During the discussions, the local alumni were encouraged to organise social gatherings amongst themselves. They were also encouraged to host discussions on topics of interest in the state. As conservation, biodiversity and environment were areas in which the alumni present had common interest, they were considered a good starting point. Any effort initiated by local alumni were assured of support from the CAM Committee. Three of the alumni signed up as CAM members.