After attending physical classes, sitting for exams, and studying really hard throughout their academic calendar, a rafting event was organised by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia International (UTMi) for UTM international students. The offer excited the students as it provided them with a new experience to do rafting at Kampung Ulu Slim River, which was the programme’s main focus. The students were selected based on their prior experience in swimming and who were brave enough to do extreme outdoor activities. Students from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Singapore, Yemen and Libya joined the programme and have a go at extreme activities. In addition, the programme also involved a courtesy visit to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) and UPSI museum at Tanjung Malim, Perak and Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB), Selangor.
The students, UTMi staff and UTM security personnel started their journey from the UTM JB campus on the 17th of March. They reached the UPSI campus to attend a campus tour followed by a visit to Muzium Pendidikan Nasional UPSI on Day 1.
The second day was the most exciting day for the participants. All the participants reached KKB Adren-X Park to participate in zipline and ATV outdoor activities. The participants joined the zipline activity wearing safety gear with a double check from camp to the starting point of the zipline course. A drone action camera captured the excitement of the zipline adventure. Everyone joined the excitement of the zipline experience. After the lunch break, all participants experienced an open Hilux ride to go to the rafting river starting point.
Before starting the extreme rafting experience, participants were given clear instructions and briefings before embarking on an adventurous river journey. All participants wore safety vest, held paddles, listened attentively to the briefing, and eagerly waited for the final excitement of the trip. The local villagers, known as orang asli Slim River, were the guide and captains of each boat as they have professional experience. The students and all staff enjoyed the commands “right-right, left-left, seat and hold”, which made the rafting experience more enjoyable. The guides divided the participants into 4 to 5 riders per boat with safety vests, helmets and a paddle in their hands. The final excitement began with slow, steady water, followed by a sudden fall of rough river water tide. The participants enjoyed four falls in a 2km length of the wild river. The water rafting experience allowed participants to understand more about themselves in terms of their level of confidence, especially when faced with panic moments in the rough water. After the final drop into the river, the guides asked everyone to get into the river to swim and allowed them to enjoy swimming towards the end of the rafting expedition. After a wild rafting adventure, all participants were served with delicious meal and a souvenir-giving ceremony with the local orang asli. The event ended with a group photo with orang asli and international students. All the student participants, UTMi staff and security personnel enjoyed and appreciated the extreme experience, which was organised under extreme care and in a safe environment.
Prepared by:
Corresponding Author: Norfaeza binti Ali
Co Author: PM Dr Mohd Ariffin bin Abu Hassan
