Malaysian Student Association Brought Back to Sekolah to UCO

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Malaysian Student Association (MSA) brought students on a trip down memory lane with their event, Malaysian Night: Back to School/Sekolah, held Sept. 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the University Center Heritage Room 326.

This year, the event embraced a uniquely Malaysian theme: school life. “I wanted a theme that reflected something that every Malaysian would have experienced,” said MSA President Joelene Loh. “More than celebrating cultural festivals like Hari Raya or Deepavali, I wanted something exclusively Malaysian.”

Attendees enjoyed a series of nostalgic games that many Malaysian students remembered from their school days, including Eraser Battle, Bottle Flip Challenge, and the Pepsi Cola game. “These games show how creative we can be with such simple things as kids, and they often happened during recess or when teachers didn’t come to class,” Loh explained.

The event also gave the UCO community a glimpse into Malaysian culture that isn’t often highlighted. “Most people don’t think about our school days as part of our culture, but they absolutely are,” said Loh. “It displays the everyday things we grew up doing, and others might even connect it to similar experiences in their own countries.”

Planning for the event began well before the start of the semester. The MSA team transformed the concept into concrete plans, including filming a fun classroom skit and preparing decorations reminiscent of Malaysian schools. Loh said she hoped attendees, both Malaysian and non-Malaysian, would leave with new friendships and a deeper understanding of Malaysian culture.

Cultural nights like this fostered connections between international and local students, offering insights into how people live, play, and “lepak”, a Malaysian term for chilling out with friends.

“Just bringing all Malaysians together makes them feel at home,” Loh said. “Speaking our language, using our slang, and being around each other brings out the Malaysian in us.”

Looking ahead, MSA is preparing for I-Fest, UCO’s annual international festival, and is considering a special night featuring home-cooked Malaysian food in collaboration with Chi Alpha’s international branch.