By Zuraini Md Ali and Norafida Ab. Ghafar
As 2025 draws to a close, it leaves behind moments that will remain deeply etched in the collective memory of the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya. This year marked our Silver Jubilee—25 years of journeying through challenges and change, growth and achievement. More than a measure of time, it was a celebration of people, perseverance, and shared purpose.
One of the most moving moments of the celebration was the return of our founding Dean, Professor Emeritus Ezrin Arbi, together with all former Deans of the faculty. Their presence was profoundly symbolic. It reminded us that the faculty’s story is not one of isolated leadership, but of continuity of visions passed on, responsibilities shared, and foundations carefully strengthened over time.
This continuity traces back even earlier, to 1995, when the journey first began as an Architecture Programme under the Faculty of Engineering, laying the academic and institutional groundwork that would later give rise to the Faculty of Built Environment. Seeing them gathered together was a quiet yet powerful affirmation that what began in 2000 has grown into a resilient and thriving institution.
It was also a meaningful occasion to honour those who have served the faculty from its earliest days until now, whose steadfast dedication—often unseen—has shaped its character and direction. Today, that foundation has expanded into a multidisciplinary faculty comprising five departments: Architecture, Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate, and Urban and Regional Planning.
For many of us, the celebrations stirred vivid memories of the early years. The faculty was small, resources were limited, and much had to be built from the ground up. We worked from the old Alam Bina building, supported by only a handful of academic and administrative staff.
There were long days, moments of uncertainty, and challenges that tested our resolve. Yet, what sustained us was a shared belief in what the faculty could become, guided by a piece of wisdom often reminded to us by Professor Emeritus Ezrin Arbi when managing the team: “Umpama menarik rambut di dalam tepung, rambut tak putus, tepung tak berselerak.”
This gentle proverb carried profound meaning. It taught us to lead with care, to resolve differences wisely, and to move forward without causing harm—values that quietly shaped our working culture and became the foundation of our collective identity.
Today, standing within the 10 storey Mercu Alam Bina building, it is impossible not to feel a deep sense of awe and gratitude. The faculty has grown far beyond what we once imagined. There are more staff, more students, stronger academic programmes, impactful research initiatives, and achievements that extend beyond national boundaries. What was once a modest beginning has evolved into a vibrant and dynamic academic community.
Beyond buildings, rankings, and milestones, the true legacy of the Faculty of Built Environment lies in its people. It lives in the founders who dared to begin, the staff who stayed and nurtured its growth, the alumni who carry its name with pride, and the students who continue to give it life, relevance, and purpose.
As we close this Silver Jubilee year, we do so with thankful hearts. We honour the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future with hope and confidence. May the spirit of harmony, wisdom, and togetherness that guided us in our earliest days continue to shape our journey ahead so that the legacy of the Faculty of Built Environment endures not only in the structures we build, but in the values we uphold and pass on to generations to come.
Assoc Prof Sr Dr Zuraini Md Ali and Assoc Prof Dr Norafida Ab. Ghafar are Associate Professors at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya
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