PENANG, 6 September 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Osman Omar today urged all new undergraduates to develop their skills especially leadership skills to ensure that the benefits can be emulated by the next generation.

“If we remain at status quo, do not study very hard, constantly missing opportunities, then we would be among the people who procrastinated and wasted their life,” he said at a brief ceremony at the Padang Kawad USM.

The Vice-Chancellor met the USM undergraduates before sending them off to be enrolled in the Program Pimpin Siswa (Students Leadership Programme) in selected camps in which he also advised them to always abide the instructions of their facilitators for safety reasons.

“You all should be proud to have been chosen to attend the 5th Program Pimpin Siswa as this programme is mentored by experienced trainers who had trained nearly 15,000 students since it was first introduced,” he said.

“With their extensive experience, it will make the programme more attractive and interactive,” he added.

Omar also hoped that the relationships forged during the programme can be maintained among the participants, not only those from the same hostel, but from the other hostels as well.

“Hopefully the experiences at each camp will be a wonderful memory during your studies in the university, enabling you to add new contacts, and that the knowledge learned can also make a positive impact on yourselves.”

A total of nearly 3,500 students, including facilitators will participate in a 3-day Program Pimpin Siswa which is divided into several camps and they are Kem Tasek Bris, Kem Perik, Kem Batu Hampar, Kem Palas, Kem Manong, Kem Cinta Alam Kelimat and Kem Gerik. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa