Thursday, 17th May 2012
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Symbolic Artifacts
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The Mace

The Mace of Universiti Teknologi MARA is in the form of a Malay keris (dagger) known as the Keris Agung and accompanied by a pair of long lances known as the Tombak Agung. Both items symbolise UiTM as an institution of higher learning for bumiputeras which is unique, strong and pure.

The Keris Agung

keris agung

A sheathed Keris Agung symbolises the strength and the wholeness of the Malays. The motif on the Keris Agung is apt for the meaning and the aim of its creation. The motif represents the King, Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agung as the Chancellor of UiTM, and at the same time representing UiTM as a unique Bumiputera institution of higher learning.

The natural and genuine characteristics of a Malay keris in the Keris Agung represent the philosophy behind the establishment of Universiti Teknologi MARA. These were adapted from the creation of a keris known as Keris Potong Barat.

The motif on the hilt of Keris Agung is a yellow gourd flower, the hilt ring has a bamboo shoot motif and the sheath is covered with Bunga Tanjung (Mimusops Elengi).

The yellow gourd flower represents the royal colour which signifies the Malay Sultanate. The bamboo shoot motif represents the educational process in moulding students into professional graduates. The Bunga Tanjung on the sheath represents the State of Selangor where the main UiTM campus is located.

The authority in the meaning of the keris is exuded by the UiTM logo on a silver design at the top of the sheath. The middle part of the sheath is covered in silver inscribed with the UiTM motto Usaha Taqwa Mulia (Endeavour, Spirituality, Nobleness) in Arabic caligraphy.

The Tombak Agung

tombak agung

The Tombak Agung consists of a pair of long lances, one with a bamboo leaf-shaped blade, another with a five-curved blade which represent religion, knowledge and personality values as well as the sovereignty of the Malay society and the nation. The overall motif on the shaft of the spear is adapted from a design of a dome to symbolise UiTM as a font of knowledge, disseminating and receiving knowledge according to the law of knowledge towards creating the good and banishing the evil based on religious teachings particularly among the undergraduates, all for the religion, the race and the nation.

The blade with five curves represents the five Pillars of Islam while the bamboo leaf-shaped blade symbolises the rich traditional Malay art. The decoration on the shaft starts with a traditional silver head-dress which symbolises the responsibility of the Malay kings towards matters pertaining Islam as well as the pinnacle of the Malay civilisation.

Below the head-dress is a silver inscription of UiTM motto Usaha Taqwa Mulia and UiTM logo in Arabic calligraphy followed by a silver engraving of Bunga Tanjung. The logo and the motto represent UiTM as a premier institution of higher learning which has been established based on the aspiration to produce Bumiputera graduates who have mastered knowledge and technology.