On May 18, 2025, the 12th Pesta Tiong Hua UMS, jointly organised by the Confucius Institute at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (CI@UMS) and the Chinese Cultural Club of UMS, was held with great fanfare at DKP Lama 1, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The event featured a vibrant atmosphere, offering audiences and guests an immersive cultural experience that blended tradition and modernity.
Since its inception in 2011, the Pesta Tiong Hua UMS has become an annual cultural highlight on the UMS campus. The 2025 event was themed “The Twelve Zodiac Signs,” aiming to foster intercultural understanding by introducing students of various ethnic backgrounds to the symbolism and stories behind their respective zodiac signs. The event sought to enhance public appreciation and recognition of Chinese culture.
Distinguished guests in attendance included UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof. Dr. Asmady Idris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs) Associate Prof. Dr. Raman B. Noordin, Director of Student Affairs, Mr. Azmi Bin Jumat, Directors of CI@UMS Dr. Chiew Tung Moi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huang Yuehua.
Festivities began in the afternoon with a variety of booths offering traditional Chinese food and beverages, attracting many guests to sample the culinary delights. Concurrently, martial arts demonstrations, campus singer performances, musical medleys, and a range of stage shows contributed to a vibrant and festive ambiance.
The evening programme officially commenced with an energetic lion dance performance by the Che Sui Khor Moral Uplifting Society Kota Kinabalu. Prof. Dr. Asmady Idris delivered an opening speech, congratulating the organisers. University leaders and directors of CI@UMS then took the stage to contribute brushstrokes to a calligraphy display of the twelve zodiac signs, further enriching the literary atmosphere of the event.
This year’s Pesta Tiong Hua UMS showcased performances by various UMS student societies, including the 24 Festive Drums troupe, the Chinese Orchestra, the Martial Arts Association, and the FunzCrew Street Dance Group. Notably, the event featured a special guest performance by well-known Malaysian Chinese singer Uriah See, whose heartfelt singing captivated the audience and brought the celebration to a new peak.
Six newly recruited volunteer teachers of CI@UMS who will arrive to report for duty also appeared on the big screen, sharing their insights on the twelve zodiac signs in an interview with the Chinese Cultural Club UMS, exemplifying cultural exchange between youths from Malaysia and China.
