December 2023

By Muhammad Hanif Bin Anas PAGOH, 18 August 2023: As delicious and homey food is always associated with healing elements; Healing Cooking 1.0 and Community Engagement was held in aiming towards promoting good mental health and quality education for the staff in Kulliyyah of Languages and Management IIUM Pagoh. The event which was organized by the Malay Food Heritage Branding Flagship (MFHB) in collaboration with the Counseling Unit of KLM, was attended by KLM staff, Kumpulan Wanita Laman Tani Kompleks Penghulu Mukim Parit Jawa, and a team from Gambang Campus.  The event began with a sharing session on how cooking heals by Masterchef Malaysia Dr. Ezani Farhana Binti Md Monoto, Sr. Nur Masturah Binti Mohamad Arif the counselor, and our fellow IIUM family from Gambang campus, Madam Hanifah Binti Eydel. The session highlighted how the process of preparing dishes can be a therapy for stress. Some valuable information on the nutritional values of ingredients that aid physical and mental health was also shared on that day. A live cooking demonstration of a special Johorean food, Kacang Pool by Masterchef Malaysia, Dr. Ezani Monoto was a real treat. Through this segment, the chef celebrated local ingredients and demonstrated her techniques in preparing the delicious dish, for everyone to taste. The highlight of the event was a cooking competition which was participated by the six teams from the Department of Arabic Language (DOA1 and DOAL2), Department of English Language (DOEL), Department of Malay Language (DOML), Department of Tourism (DOT) and the General Studies Unit (GSU). All teams showcased their cooking skills while fostering a sense of community with the locals and embracing our Malay local dishes. A wide range of traditional Malay dishes was available for sampling and tasting. Top three winners were announced with their amazing menus.  The overall winner of this competition went to team Department of Malay Language (DOML) with their menu that consists of: Daging salai rebung masak lemak cili padi Sambal bilis petai Ulam ulaman Sambal belacan tempoyak Air kelapa muda    The Department of Tourism (DOT) bagged second place with their: Ikan siakap masak lemak cili api Sambal udang petai Jagung lemak manis Teh O limau In the third place, was the Department of Arabic Language (DOAL) with its breakfast menu, Bubur Nasi and Air bunga Telang Healing Cooking 1.0 and Community Engagement was a successful program as it received encouraging feedback from participants. Overall, this program was enjoyable, leaving attendees inspired, educated, and with full stomachs. Events like these play a vital role in fostering a love for cooking, managing overall well-being, and bringing people together through the universal language of food. The cooking competition also suggested a friendly environment that allows room for incorporating teamwork skills.

By Nurul Farhana Binti Zulfikri In celebration of IIUM’s 40th Anniversary and World Arabic Language Day (WALD), the Global Arabic Islamic Annual Festival 2023, known as “GARIIF23,” unfolded as a spectacular of Arabic and Islamic culture. Collaboratively organized by prominent entities such as TV ALHIJRAH, IKIM FM, Astro, and various student societies, this annual festival took place at the IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC) from December 11 to 18, 2023. One of notable highlights of GARIIF23 was the active participation of ARCOM students, which sent 70 dedicated students (including 4 ENCOM students) to orchestrate two significant events: the Kalimatusabah Competition and the Arabic Islamic Heritage Book Review Competition. These students, temporarily resided at IIUM Gombak for nearly a week, immersing themselves in the rich atmosphere of the festival. ARCOM’s engagement extended beyond event organization, as five of its students represented the course in international competitions, securing impressive victories. In the Arabic News Anchor Competition organized by Che’gu TV and TV Al-Hijrah, Putri Oktavianty claimed the championship, with Nurul Farhana Binti Zulfikri as the 1st Runner Up. Meanwhile, Ahmad Nidhal Hilmy Bin Nasir clinched the top spot in the Tarannum Competition organized by JKQ and QYC. Additionally, ARCOM made its mark in the Arabic & Islamic Heritage Book Review Competition organized by ARCOM and ALA, where Ahmad Rahimin bin Tajul Azhar secured the 1st Runner Up position. These achievements stand as a testament to the dedication and excellence of ARCOM students on the international stage. In conclusion, GARIIF23 emerged as a successful program, fostering an environment where students deepened their understanding of Arabic language and culture. The festival not only marked a milestone in IIUM’s 40th Anniversary celebrations but also served as a platform for students to showcase their talents and enhance their knowledge in the realm of Arabic and Islamic studies. Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding achievements!

The Department of Arabic Language, Kulliyyah of Languages and Management, IIUM Pagoh, is pleased to extend congratulations to the graduating class of 2023 for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Arabic for International Communication and for the Master of Arabic for Specific Purposes. The department also has the pleasure to congratulate: Sr. Anis Azrina Binti Anuar for her winning the Best Master Student Award Kulliyyah level in the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Sunday 27th November 2023. Sr. Anis Azrina successfully graduated with a Master of Arts Teaching Arabic for specific Purposes. (MTASP). Sr. Nurhani Binti Raihan for her winning the Best Student Award (Academic) Kulliyyah level in the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Sunday 28th November 2023. Sr. Nurhani Binti Raihan successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Arabic for International Communication. Sr. Mashitah Binti Hussin for her winning the Best Student (Department Level)in the 39th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on Sunday 28th November 2023. Sr. Mashitah Binti Hussin successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Arabic for International Communication.

The Department of Arabic Language at the Kulliyyah of Languages and Management, Pagoh Campus, received an official visit from the University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar, El Oued, Algeria, on Wednesday, 8th November 2023. The esteemed guests included Prof. Dr. Ahmad El Shayeb Arabwi, Prof. Dr. Al Azuzi Harzuli, and Prof. Dr. Kamal Bin Umar from the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts and Languages. The visit’s schedule commenced with a welcoming remark by Assoc. Prof Dr. Mohd Azrul Azlen, the Dean of KLM, followed by a talk from Prof. Dr. Ahmad El Shayeb Arabawi on ‘خصائص اللغة العربية وميزاتها’ The guests had the opportunity to visit the KLM Studio and then tour the library at the shared facilities of Edu Hub Pagoh. They were accompanied by Dr. Nonglaksana Kama, the Head of the Department of Arabic Language, Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman, the Coordinator of KLM Language Lab, and Sr. Farhanah, the Chairperson of ARCOM Office, Kulliyyah of Languages and Management Students’ Society (KLMSS). This visit also includes a meeting with the Dean and members of the Department of Arabic Language. The meeting discussed potential collaborations and research opportunities between the two faculties. Additionally, the Student Exchange Program for ARCOM students in September 2024 was also discussed. The graduates of the Arabic Language for International Communication Bachelor’s program took the guests on a tour around Kuala Lumpur. These graduates were among the students who participated the Student Exchange Program to University of Echahid Hamma Lakhdar, El Oued, Algeria in 2017.