PENANG, August 2015 – The Ad’Trans 3.0 Programme, which aims to initiate volunteerism activities among the students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in reaching out to society by utilising the public transport system under Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) railway authority, will see 13 USM students ride the train that passes through areas such as Butterworth, Alor Setar, Arau, Padang Besar and Hatyai in Thailand.

It is a continuation of the programme which was carried out with much success last year in the East Coast and which began two years ago in the state of Johor.

This time, Ad’Trans 3.0, the result of a collaboration between USM via the Hostel Administration of Desasiswa Aman Damai and the Division of Industry and Community Network (BJIM) together with KTMB and iM4U, is giving more focus on providing community service (Baktisiswa) activities at locations such as SK Iskandar Kedah and SK Oran Perlis primary schools, Rumah Teratak Rahmat Perlis, KTMB Perlis Quarters and Prince Songkla University (PSU) Hatyai Thailand, along with other activities, such as giving motivational talks and staying with foster families and siblings.

The School of Humanities student who is also the Project Director, Intan Suraya Binti Zainol, 22, said, the approach taken for this programme is parallel to the policy of the government in encouraging the use of public transport as means of saving and to reduce traffic congestions, while ensuring sustainability and in improving the air quality in the country.

“I am hoping for everything to proceed smoothly and the objectives successfully achieved in shaping the society to be competitive, independent and well-versed in managing issues relating to sustainability, and to continuously achieve positive results in enduring the challenges of a globalised era," she said.

Another student from the School of Humanities, who is also the Deputy Director of the Ad’Trans 3.0 Project, Muhamad Syukran Bin Abdul Rahman@Omar, 23, also hopes that the participation of the students in programmes such as this would lead to a more holistic development in their personalities, as future successes could be savoured from their contributions to uphold their beliefs, race and nation in the form of community services.

“We would strive for the agenda on sustainability which is the pulse of USM, along with the campaign of ‘Say NO to plastic bags’ in the trains and also within the community,” he stressed.

Muhamad Syukran is hoping that the programme would go smoothly throughout the duration of the week, from the beginning until the end, as the impetus on the zest for sustainability for the students in the future.

The accompanying official who is also the Assistant Head of Desasiswa Aman Damai, Mohd Zuaril Akimi Bin Mohd Shaari said, the Ad'Trans Programme is an initiative by the students, which is a flagship project of the Desasiswa Aman Damai hostel in USM through the strategic partnership with KTMB.

"This programme is unique as it instils the spirit of volunteerism and provides service to the community, focusing on the people who live near the railway tracks or stations and with such a programme, students have the opportunity to gain the experience in dealing with a corporate body such as KTMB, as well as to delve into the lives of those who live next to or near the railway tracks," he said.

He explained that, the element of sustainability which is the main agenda of the university too could be broadened with the campaign done for the railway passengers as well as the participants, where there is a practical opportunity for the implementation of knowledge transfer and a campaign on saving electricity to selected schools in Alor Setar and Arau.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah