Secretariat Rakan Muda of UTP (SRMUTP) has taken the initiative to organize an art and culture event under the Art and Culture Lifestyle of SRMUTP. The event was successfully held on the 4^th of August until 8^th of August 2008. MARSYA ’08 consists of the Art and Culture Exhibition, the Art and Culture Competition, and the Malam Prihatin Sanggar Mustika, as the finale of MARSYA ’08.

The Art and Culture Exhibition were successfully held from 4^th of August to 5^th of August 2008. The exhibitors that involved in the exhibition were Balai Seni Lukis Negara, Perbadanan Kemajuan Kraftangan Perak, and Mariwasa Kraftangan Sdn. Bhd.

During the exhibition, the students can feel the hands-on experience themselves because they can try out how to shape the ceramic and to sew the embroidery. Besides the hands-on experience, a large number of students were attracted to the batik colouring, where they can colour the batik provided themselves.

During the exhibition, the Balai Seni Lukis Negara brought a few impressive drawings to be displayed. They also provided an artist to draw the caricature of students who are interested. Mariwasa Kraftangan Sdn. Bhd. also contributed in the exhibition, where they brought medals, coins, jewellery, and a few handicrafts to be displayed and to be purchased at a reasonable price.

The Art and Culture Competition were held during MARSYA ’08 to give the platform for students who are interested in the arts and culture to develop their potential through competition. The competitions were Wau-making, Poem Writing, Poster Designing, and Calligraphy (Khat).

The finale of MARSYA ’08, Malam Prihatin Sanggar Mustika was successfully held on the 8^th of August 2008, at Multi-Purpose Hall. The first performance is from Tronoh Theater Shop. The Dikir Barat Team of SRMUTP performed next with three impressive songs, followed by Read-One, the nasyid group which entertained the audiences with two songs. The night was continued with poem recitation. Finally, the orphanages from Yayasan Amanah An-Nur Maisarah performed nasyid.

We are very grateful since we received positive feedbacks from students of UTP and the student bodies of UTP. We hope that MARSYA will become an annual event in UTP and are looking forward for a positive reply and supports from the SSS Department.