Gratitude, Transformation and Writing Our Own Story
Pancawarna 100 Hari Rektor @ UiTMCPP marked the first 100 days of my tenure as the first female Rector of UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang. More than a commemoration of an administrative milestone, the occasion provided an opportunity to share an early leadership direction for the campus—one grounded in kesyukuran (gratitude), holistic education, strategic alignment, sustainability and the courage to create meaningful change. At its foundation was a simple reminder: gratitude must be consciously cultivated, because recognising and appreciating what we have is itself a beginning for further growth and rezeki.
The first reminder in my 100 Days as Rector address was deliberately simple: “Jadilah orang yang bersyukur” — become a person of gratitude. Gratitude should not be taken for granted as something that comes naturally to us; it is a quality that needs to be consciously nurtured, practised and continually sought through doa. Before speaking about achievements, strategic plans, new initiatives, work culture or the way forward for UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, I wanted to begin with the inner state of the individual. Institutional transformation begins with people, and the transformation of people begins from within. When gratitude becomes part of our character, we begin to see our responsibilities, opportunities, colleagues and even our challenges differently—as amanah and rezeki entrusted to us by Allah.
Central to the address was the university’s fundamental purpose: to educate and groom students holistically. Drawing upon the Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan, education was framed as the integrated development of the intellectual, physical and spiritual dimensions of the individual. Academic achievement alone was therefore insufficient. Educators were encouraged to help every student progress from wherever they began, while reconnecting knowledge and learning to values, spirituality and ultimately to the Creator.
The address also introduced elements of a new work culture based on synergy, efficiency and proactive leadership. The principle of “one action, multiple benefits” encouraged staff to move away from isolated activities and instead design programmes, research and initiatives capable of contributing simultaneously to multiple strategic objectives. Rather than simply following what others had done, the campus community was encouraged to become trendsetters—to “write our own story,” create our own projects and seek the “wow factor” that could distinguish UiTMCPP and increase its impact.
An engineering analogy was used to describe the human dimension of transformation. Just as differences in pressure or temperature create movement, organisations also need a positive difference—a spark that generates momentum. “Love is Power” captured this idea: greater love for our work, our students, our colleagues, our families and our country can become an internal force for purposeful action. Leadership, in this sense, is not simply about directing people, but about capturing hearts so that people themselves want to move.
The occasion also highlighted UiTMCPP’s commitment to sustainability through the launch of the Sahabat Green Nation initiative, including the Projek Pokok Angkat, which encouraged faculties and departments to assume responsibility for the care and stewardship of the campus environment. It reflected the broader aspiration to build a high-performing university that remained conscious of its social and environmental responsibilities.
Ultimately, Pancawarna 100 Hari Rektor represented an early statement of a leadership philosophy: be grateful, groom people holistically, work synergistically, create rather than merely follow, and have the courage to write our own story.