PENANG, 20 December 2013 - Members of the newly elected Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Students’ Representative Council (DPP) has been urged to interact with fellow members from abroad to gain more knowledge.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman said that DPP should not only limit their discussions on matters related to the university but should also dwell on universal issues.

He stressed that the University is the best platform for the students to develop knowledge and at the same time capitalise on the opportunity of the empowerment given to them by the University.

"It is hoped that DPP will not just focus on giving criticism but also offer constructive proposals for the benefit of the university, society, the nation and the world.

"DPP should also be able to assist the university in addressing new ideas and views from the younger generation’s perspective that will be beneficial for the future,” Omar said.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the students’ reaction and involvement is very much needed, for example in implementing a range of initiatives under the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) including the APEX Scholar programme and others.

"DPP is not only given the responsibility to discuss matters pertaining to the welfare of USM students but also on issues that transcend the boundaries of campus, state and country.

"The DPP members should also be more focused in debating matters especially those related to empowerment from the university to the students, MPPUSM and students’ societies as well as universal issues concerning humanitarian and natural disasters,'' he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said this during the launching of the Students’ Consultative Assembly Academic Session 2013/2014 here today. Also present were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Student Affairs and Development, Professor Dr. Adnan Hussein and DVC Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Muhamad Jantan.

Omar hopes that DPP will continue to serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas, and members will take this opportunity to show maturity during discussion and that the discussion should be based on facts and data, not on emotions alone.

The 2013/2014 DPP represented by 118 participants comprising of 68 members and 50 observers, will see the tabling of 12 motions covering USM students’ affairs and welfare, as well as the student representatives ideas to help improve service delivery and development of the University.

DPP has also appointed Muhamad Haziq as the Speaker, while Nur Safinah and Nurul Amni as the Deputy Speaker and the Secretary of the Students’ Parliament respectively.

Among the issues raised include the proposal to improve the infrastructure and upgrade of the sports facilities in USM especially futsal, limiting the organising of activities by rural communities in the Health Campus and stepping up security when such activities are being held.

The student representatives also urged the University to intensify the efforts of turning the whole campus into a non-smoking area, submit a proposal to the relevant ministries regarding the amendment of the Constitution by staking claim of Sunnah Wal Jamaah as the official Islamic sect in Malaysia, and so forth. - Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe /Text & Photo: ​​Marziana Mohamed Alias