Today, while most would consider it an off day, my hours were once again devoted to official responsibilities that reflect the continuous commitment required in academia and governance. In the spirit of Merdeka—where sacrifice and service define our independence, I found myself immersed in multiple layers of work.
This morning, I received new tasks related to the Research University audit by Jabatan Audit Negara (JAN), passed to me by Bahagian Universiti Penyelidikan dan Impak, JTNCPI UTM. It was my first time seeing this part of the audit, but it came right after an intense weekend. Since Friday and Saturday, I had already been preparing details of publications from university and national research grants (2021–2024) for the JAN audit, demanding and stressful due to the scope. On top of that, I also spent my Saturday through Monday completing the Audit Lanjutan for Unit Audit Dalaman (UAD), UTM. With overlapping audits, it truly feels like being bombarded with layers of scrutiny.
Beyond the audits, I carried forward my teaching duties. I finalized the test and exam materials for my short semester course, Master Energy METE 1153: Occupational Safety for Energy System, while also resolving a hiccup where two lecture videos could not be accessed. The issue was rectified and clarified for students to ensure smooth learning.
On top of that, I also prepared myself for a 3-day work trip to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in Putrajaya (2–4 September 2024), where I will accompany 15 UTM researchers pitching for their PRGS proposals. Thanks to my wife’s help, accommodation was arranged at Dorsett Hotel, Putrajaya.
Speaking of her support, my wife also assisted me today in registering my publication in RADIS. While the system was supposed to automatically import my publication data this year, some technical issues forced me to manually input the details—a task familiar to many researchers.
Lastly, I took the chance to print out my slides for the NALI Educator Award 2025 presentation, intended for the panels. I will pass them to my assistant through my better half, so that CDEX UTM can provide them directly. Hopefully, having a hard copy will make it easier for the panels to engage with my content.
Though today was technically an off day, I am reminded of the essence of Merdeka: service, responsibility, and dedication. Just as independence was achieved through perseverance, the work we continue to do in education, research, and nation-building is our contribution to Malaysia’s future, even when it extends beyond working hours.
#20242025 Day 063
#Monday (Off-day)
