PENANG, 23 June 2013 – The number of community service programmes should be increased and held continually by various groups in the campus.

“In this way, we are able to provide services to various community groups, particularly among those who are less fortunate,” said the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)’s wife, Datin Noraizan Jamaluddin.

Noraizan said this in her welcoming speech to about 50 residents of Kediaman Abu Nur Pengkalan Hulu Grik, when she hosted a return visit by the residents to Anjung Jannatun (the Vice-Chancellor’s official residence), organised jointly by HELWA USM and the Vice-Chancellor's Office.

“I hope that programmes such as these pertaining to community service are held continually to train and expose the USM community in serving the local community,” said Noraizan.

At the event, she welcomed the children of Kediaman Abu Nur, and believed that this programme is also able to strengthen fraternity ties of brotherhood that has been established.

In conjunction with the one-day event, participants took part in a specially arranged sukaneka and then visited places of interest in Penang.

The volunteers also shared their experiences on campus life, provided advice, encouragement and inspiration to all Abu Nur residents as to encourage them in continuing higher education during a chit-chat session at the Botanical Gardens, Penang, in the same programme.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman was present to give away prizes to the winners of thesukaneka and made a donation to Ustaz Md Rejab Hassan who is Kediaman Abu Nur’s  representative. Also present was Dr. Nurulain Abdullah Bayanuddin, USM Wellness Centre Director-cum-USM Islamic Centre’s HELWA Chairperson. - Text: Mu'azzah Binti Ismail/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa and Yong Check Yoon/Translation: Yong Check Yoon