国大新春始于1989年，前期被称为国大新春联欢晚会。当时的新春联欢晚会节目较倾向于娱乐性，仅设有晚宴，但却能在晚宴上见识到中华文化节目，如传统舞蹈、传统乐器演奏等等。自1995年起，筹委会开始对活动的性质作出了改变，除了保留了现有的晚宴，还增设了展览区，更成为了新春联欢晚会的亮点之一。接着， 在往后两届的新春联欢盛会更是为活动性质加入了各种新元素， 如小型座谈会、 新春歌唱比赛、新春IQ比赛以及电影欣赏会。国大新春联欢盛会随着岁月不断地茁壮成长，并越战越勇，更一次又一次地登上全新的高峰，创下无数个璀璨时光。 国立大学新春联欢盛会是马来西亚国立大学内受校方承认的大型活动之一。

宗旨：

1. 提高国大生与外界人士对中华传统文化的认识与省思。

2. 提升国大华裔生与友族同胞之间的联系，从而将之推广至外界。

3. 持续让国大生与外界人士在和谐与温馨的华族传统节日下互相交流及庆祝。

目标：

1. 加强各族国大生之间的友好关系。

2. 提供一个合作与发挥的平台予国大生。

3. 促进各团体之间的交流。

Being one of the largest organizations that is well recognized in UKM, Pesta Ang Pow UKM (PAPUKM) was formed by aiming to create a better understanding among the students and also the public towards the Chinese traditional culture, to improve the relationship between the Chinese ethnics and other ethnic groups in UKM and also, to allow all the students and outsiders to interact and celebrate the festival in warmth and harmony.

There is a Chinese saying “取之社会，用之社会” which means that one should remember to give back what he/she has taken or benefited from the society. Here, PAPUKM urges all the students to reflect on this and apply it in time. Nevertheless, PAPUKM provides a platform to cultivate the students in becoming the most comprehensive student as well. It also promotes a good interaction between the various clubs and organizations in UKM.