PENANG, 20 December 2014 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is committed to realising the establishment of Students’ Consultative Assembly (DPP) or Student Parliament among universities in ASEAN, in line with the university’s efforts to expand DPP at universities abroad.

USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Students Affairs and Development, Professor Dr. Adnan Hussein said initial discussions had begun and it is hoped that the initiative can take off in 2015.

He said the ASEAN DPP can serve as a starting point to develop student network at the international level, before being adopted by other universities in the country.

"USM DPP is working hard to achieve this objective. It is a very commendable process and it should be given all the necessary support to ensure that it is successfully implemented,'' he said.

He said this during a press conference after the officiating ceremony of 2014/2015 DPP sitting by the Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker, Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee here today.

Adnan also said that the USM DPP, which had been ongoing since 2010, is the result of the students’ efforts with the support of the university’s management where the university provides full empowerment to the students in expressing ideas and views on issues related to the well-being of USM community.

"DPP was established with the purpose to train the students to use official platform to debate and share views rationally and accompanied by data and facts, in accordance with USM’s role as a tower of knowledge.

"They are trained to show maturity in debating various social issues, with the hope that this would become a culture practiced by students who will one day become leaders in their career field,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Ronald who attended the meeting for the first time and followed the DPP sitting proceedings also expressed his excitement and happiness to see the spirit of USM students in display in realising the first Student Parliament in Malaysia.

He said that USM efforts in implementing the Student Parliament is highly commended and is seen as an effective measure to nurture and produce quality, critical thinking and idealistic students with good leadership skills.

Besides that, he said USM recognises the significance of student voice in the formulation of university’s policies related to students’ affairs including welfare, scholarship, financial and so forth.

"I fully support the desire of USM to implement Student Parliament at the global level. Therefore, I hope that DPP will also include representatives from among the international students in the future.

"This is important because it shows that USM recognises the existence and presence of the international students here,'' he said.

DPP comprises 68 members, including members of the Student Representative Council (MPP) and the leaders of selected associations and clubs as well as invited observers.

At the 2014/2015 session, 12 motions were tabled, from improving the service delivery and development on USM three campuses, the proposal to review postgraduate tuition fees, adding of new academic programmes to other current issues of major concern. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photo: Mohamad Danial Shahri