On the 22nd of October 2011, Warwick MSA organized an one-day trip to Bicester Village. We managed to attract a bus full of enthusiastic MSA members. It is a short bus ride to Bicester Village. Once we reached Bicester Village, we started shopping. There are many fashion outlets such as Burberry, Superdry, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein Underwear, etc.

Bicester Village is not just about shopping, it also offers fantastic food for hungry shoppers. Busaba Eathai is one of the many restaurants there in Bicester Village.

We can see that the members enjoyed themselves by the amount of shopping bags they had in their hands. Overall, the trip to Bicester Village is successful as everyone enjoyed the shopping opportunity.

Finally, the Warwick MSA would like to thank everyone who had come for this trip. It will not be this successful and enjoyable without the participation of you guys.

We hope you had an unforgettable fun-filled weekend, meeting other Warwick freshers, getting to know your seniors, learning about life at Warwick and the UK, while sweating it out in the various (sometimes seemingly impossible) outdoor activities held!

Congratulations to the winning team ‘Char Kuey Teow’, consisting of Chew Pei Shen, Tee Tze Li, Chan Yi Sze, Lu Sher Wen and Ding Ju Shuen!

Thank you seniors, for taking the time to help out and share your knowledge and experiences through the information sessions!

And of course, thank you freshers, for taking the initiative to attend the camp and for having an open mind throughout. We sincerely hope you learnt a lot from that weekend and we very much look forward to seeing you in Warwick! :)

Group pic atop Broga Hill while waiting for the sunrise

Pictures will be up soon! :)

Whether you’re a senior, or an incoming fresher, you would WANT to be a part of this! :)

Click here if you are a senior!

Click here if you are an incoming fresher!

To kick things off, we would like to proudly announce with great excitement, that the University of Warwick Students’ Union has awarded the Best Social Event of the Year Award 2011 to Warwick MSA for Malaysia Night 2011! This is a huge honour and we would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed, participated and spectated this event for making it such a success. To top it all off, we were also shortlisted for the Most Improved Society Award and nominated for the Best Society Award!

Speaking of our (now award-winning) MNight, the MNight DVDs are still obtainable at £7 each! Relive every moment of that spectacular night (you know you want to!). Simply place your orders by sending an email to MSA at WarwickMSA+DVD@gmail.com

In addition to that, Warwick MSA Hoodies and T-Shirts are also available! Don’t miss your chance to purchase a custom-designed MSA Hoodie / T-Shirt, with your name printed on it! Hoodies are priced at £23 each and T-Shirts are £13 each. Place your orders here at http://warwickmsa.co.uk/resources/members/hoodie/

On another note, we would like to announce that our treasurer, Chung Rui-Zhe has officially resigned from his post in the committee. Taking over the position as Treasurer until the AGM will be Samantha Chin Xin Yin, as voted for in the Special General Meeting.

On the topic of AGMs, the time has come for our next annual AGM. It will be held on (coincidentally) Friday, May 13th 2011 in H0.51 at 6pm, meaning our executive committees will be stepping down to make way for the new committee! If you feel like you should be a part of the new committee, just nominate yourself here! But not before you read the election info!

Nominations have opened and will stay open till 3pm, Wednesday, 11th May 2011. Do RSVP on the facebook event page!

Finally, Warwick MSA is also throwing an annual Charity Night on the 18th May 2011 (Wednesday). Come showcase your talent, or give support to your friends, while indulging in some delicious Malaysian food! This year’s Charity Night will have the same concept as last year’s! Human Auctions! Here’s how it works! Nominate someone you know (or yourself, if you’re brave) at http://warwickmsa.co.uk/charity/ to do something ‘interesting’ during the night itself, we will contact the nominee to get his/her approval, bidding will begin during the event and all proceeds will go to charity! Last year, our President, Paul, was so fortunate to have his legs waxed for charity! Here’s your chance to: Make someone drink some nasty concoction! Have your friend give someone a lapdance! Shave your friends’ eyebrows! Set someone up on a date! All in the name of charity!

This year, all our proceeds will be split between BCAS and OrphanCARE!

So get creative, and let’s raise some funds for charity! :)

We bring you: “Humanity: a Photography Competition“.

In light of the unrest in the Middle East, earthquakes in Japan, Myanmar, NZ, etc., Warwick MSA would like to do our part to increase awareness among our members on these humanitarian issues.

The details are as follows:
1. The competition will run from Monday the 28st of March to Sunday the 1st of May, 2011
2. Only Warwick MSA members are allowed to participate
3. Only one submission of photograph (entry) per participant, to be sent to msaphotocompetition@gmail.com
4. Entry should be accompanied by a description of not more than 250 words, relating the photograph with the theme “Humanity”
5. Entries will be judged based upon the appropriateness to the theme as the main criteria (among others)
6. Results can be expected on the week starting May the 9th, 2011
7. 40 chosen entries will be printed in colour for the participants’ keeping
8. The winning entry will be printed in colour and framed for the winner

Any queries please email msaphotocompetition@gmail.com or contact Khairul (07595846482).

Facebook event: http://on.fb.me/gDE2tZ

Looking forward to your amazing photo entries!

Warwick Malaysia Games 2011 is just right around the corner, and it’s happening one week after All England Badminton Championship! First time ever in Malaysian Games history, we will be having Ultimate Frisbee and Touch Rugby as part of the games. We are also offering our very own brand new MSA Football cup, MSA Netball cup and Touch Rugby Vice-President Shield!

Date: 19th March 2011 (Saturday)

Venue: University of Warwick Sports Centre, Westwood Games Hall

Time: 09:00 – 19:00

For students from Warwick University, what better way to start your Easter Break by battling it out on the courts? If you’re interested in representing Warwick MSA in any of the games, feel free to send us an email at warwickgames2011@gmail,com. We’ll inform the sports representative about it and you could start training immediately for Warwick Games 2011! Invitation pack, rules & regulations and registration form could be downloaded at www.warwickmsa.co.uk/warwickgames

If you don’t feel like joining any games but would love to be part of the Warwick Games 2011, sign up for our volunteer group at www.warwickmsa.co.uk/warwickgames/volunteer (Volunteers receive free lunch on the event itself and are also entitled to the volunteer t-shirts at just £1). Remember to join our facebook group too to receive the latest updates!

If you just want to experience a day of being in a Hari Sukan mood and cheer your hearts out for your friends on the court, just bring yourself to University of Warwick Sports Centre, Westwood Games Hall, Frisbee pitch, Astro pitches and Xcel Leisure Centre (netball) and enjoy some LIPS-SMACKING Malaysian food, which will be sold at Westwood Lecture Hall.

For students from other universities, it’s a great opportunity for you to meet up with your friends from all over the UK, indulge in authentic delicious Malaysian food,  and also compete to win the medals, trophies and the titles! Also you get to visit our beautiful campus during Spring, which looks really pretty. Registrations deadline is on the 16th of March (Wednesday)! Again, registration form, invitation pack and rules & regulations can be downloaded here!

See you at Warwick Games 2011! :)

Warwick MSA would like to sincerely thank you for your contribution, be it performing, working backstage, helping out, or attending and inviting your friends! We are thrilled to have been able to share the experience of MNight with you!

The memorable night kicked off at 8pm in Butterworth Hall with the play, ‘May I?…’ depicting the life of Awang, a kampung boy who grew up in a Malay family, but suddenly discovers that his real father is a Chinese.

The play is set in 1969, what is known as the darkest period of Malaysian history where racial tensions between the Malay and the Chinese were at its peak and no one was safe.

‘May I?…” is an emotional tale of how in the face of adversity, despair and hopelessness, love still conquers all.

Thank you so much to the amazing actors for portraying their roles exceptionally. And a HUGE thank you to the person who made it all happen, with her extraordinary vision and brilliant ideas, Tan Jen Lee.

Thank you to the Band for entertaining the audience during intermission!

Malaysia’s diverse culture was on full display throughout the entire night, especially through the magnificent dances. Thank you to all dancers and choreographers for your hard work and creativity in putting them together!

Silat/Wushu Dance

Our special guests for the night were the real heroes of Malaysia, 16 representatives from the Grantham District of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA) and 17 representatives from the Leicester District of the National Malay and Borneo Veterans Association (NMBVA); British soldiers who served in Malaya in the past.

Here is what they had to say after the event!

“On behalf of the Leicester Branch NMBVA, thank you very much for last night’s Malaysia night. We all had a great time! :D” — Owen Lawrence, Chairman, Leicester Branch NMBVA.

“Thank you for inviting us old Jungle fighters for an evenings entertainment at Warwick University. It was wonderful to see the costumes and traditions being upheld in modern Malaysia as displayed during the entertainment we enjoyed so very much. The show taking us back about 50 years when we were young and healthy ourselves like you all are now. I thank all concerned for both igniting the great memories of our time in South East Asia and Malaysia, in particular wiping away the years and the pains of old age in an instant. Everyone showed us the greatest respect both for our age and our involvement in helping Malaysia to become what it is today. You may care to know that my wife, young son and myself were there during the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and I saw active service around Kuching, Sarawak for a time. All winter long I have been longing to be back in your country if only to keep warm and enjoy the sunshine and the warmth of the Malaysia people. Best regards to all Malaysian Students at Warwick.” — George Reeve, Secretary, Grantham Branch NMBVA.

“Thank you so much for the superb production you entertained us with on Friday night. From the impact of the play through to the dance routines, it was an evening for you to be proud off. In fact, an evening we were all proud of as well, having been associated with your country in the past. In my own case twice, 1961-64 and on loan to your air force at KL in 1970-73. Please give our thanks to all concerned, you are an asset in Malaysia in every way, and wishing every student good luck in your studies.” — Ian Newton, Chairman, Grantham Branch NMBVA.

On another note, congratulations to Keef Lin Ting Rui for winning the iPad in the MNight lucky draw!

Also, the official DVD for Warwick Malaysia Night 2011 (taken by a professional videographer) is out! Please place your order by sending an email to our President, Paul Yung (paulyung.kh@gmail.com). DVDs are priced at £7 each!

Once again, thank you so very much for being a part of this momentous event! Click here to read the thank you note by our President, Paul!

After MNight, the after party, ‘Rock It Out!’ was held in Copper Rooms 2, where the Xanana’s buffet supper was also served!

A big thank you to Monoloque, Altimet, DJ Fuzz, DJ Evo, DJ Ribut and the Warwick MSA band for performing in our very first rock concert! And thank you to KNUKE for organising! It was a great end to a memorable night and we hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves :)

Post MNight Social

The Post MNight Social was held on March 2nd as a remedy for anyone suffering from Post MNight Syndrome (PMS), with free nasi lemak and curry laksa for everyone who was involved in the production of MNight. Thank you for attending and thank you for your perseverance and contribution! We hope that the memory of MNight 2011 will forever bring a smile to your face :)

Next up, Warwick Malaysia Games 2011!

Welcome back everyone! We hope you’ve had a great first week of Term 2 and a fantastic winter break! We trust that you have settled back into uni life smoothly and that you’re ready for the biggest, grandest and most spectacular MSA event of the year.

Warwick Malaysia Night is a theatrical and cultural extravaganza which aims to display the rich and diverse culture of Malaysia. Warwick Malaysia Night is undoubtedly one of the best Malaysia Nights anywhere in the UK. Last year, we attracted over 700 audience members and featured a cast of over 100 students!

This year our play is set in the 1960’s when Malaysia had just gained her independence and was not politically or racially stable yet, climaxing on the darkest day in Malaysian history, May 13 1969. We will be following the life of a young Malaysian who was born during that era, Awang, an innocent boy who finds himself in the middle of an identity crisis which threatens to tear his family and village apart, and take everything he has away from him, because of his race.

Will he succeed to untie the conflict and the prejudice?

Watch our trailer for a sneak preview!

Warwick Malaysia Night 2009

Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of the beautiful country that is Malaysia and be captivated by the impressive array of traditional performances we have in store for you. From the bold Sabahan warrior dance to the energetic Indian dance to the artistic Chinese fan dance to the dynamic Modern dance, we aim to share with you a glimpse of what our beautiful country Malaysia has to offer.

Warwick Malaysia Night would not be complete without a performance from our eminent and talented dikir barat team, which is definitely one of the best student dikir barat teams in the UK. Don’t believe us? Watch for yourself here :)

With such a spectacularly diverse range of performances lined up, Warwick Malaysia Night 2011 will undoubtedly have something for everyone. You would NOT want to miss out!! Click here for the official M Night website. RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179351315418813

What separates us from the other Malaysia Nights in the UK?

Warwick MSA is proud to present the grand debut of a revolutionary M’Night after party, Rock it Out!

Right after our Warwick M’Night, we will be heading over to the University of Warwick Copper Rooms for a musical extravaganza featuring two outstanding Malaysian bands, Altimet and Monoloque, two local British acts that we will be auditioning for in January, and our very own Warwick MSA Band followed by an all-night afterparty featuring Malaysian DJs, DJ Ribut, DJ Fuzz, DJ Evo and a local DJ.

It will be our first ever rock concert, and it will be sensational!

RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101264086596913

Of course, no Malaysian event is complete without food, so this year, at the interval after M Night and before Rock it Out we will be serving supper (buffet-style) catered by Warwick Student Union’s Xananas. The mouthwatering menu can be found here at http://www.warwicksu.com/refresh/menus/fusion/

What are you waiting for? Come join us this February 18th for a night of culture, drama, music and entertainment that promises to be all kinds of amazing!!!

As promised, here is the winner of our lucky draw held at the Warwick MSA booth during the Nottingham Malaysian Games 2010:

*drumroll*

Chua Ken Vui (David) from Cardiff University!

Congratulations, David! You will receive a pair of combo tickets that will entitle you to our MNight, Rock it Out, as well as our full buffet menu and one free drink at Rock it Out, complements from Warwick MSA :) We will be in touch with you!

HERE IS HOW YOU BUY TICKETS

*drumroll again*

It’s simple. Just click

We hope to see you all on February 18! Be there!

Click here to view the MNight Website again =)

It was great to see that everyone came well-dressed for the occasion and spreading the holiday cheer. There was a special performance of Christmas carols by the Warwick Malaysian Cell Group, including popular Christmas tunes like Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad, which hopefully got everyone in the festive mood!

Next there were games and gift exchanges! A big thank you to everyone who brought gifts, we do hope you’re happy with the gift you received in return!

Finally, dinner was served, in the form of Hainanese chicken and roasted chicken with rice, along with some fruit cake for dessert! Thank you for attending, we hope you had a blast at the social!

Santa Clauses & Santarina

It has been a fantastic Term 1, we look forward to seeing you again after the winter break in Term 2, where bigger and better MSA events lie in store for us! Do take good care of yourself this holiday. For those who are spending Christmas back home, have a safe flight! Warwick MSA wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you next term! :)