PENANG, 23 June 2013 - To ensure the cleanliness of the campus, especially the area around Tasik Harapan and Tasik Aman Damai, a group of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students took the initiative to clean up the area.

Although there is the on-going examination and coming long semester break, the undergraduates of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the USM volunteers pooled their resources together with some principal officers of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said the willingness of his 'children' and 'siblings' to team up in this gotong royong event has proven its collaborative nature, a widespread concern that has been the key to the success of the University in educating them to do work without regard to reward or remuneration.

“Although these activities are done on the weekends, I am excited to see more than 100 volunteers of all races joining in, including the support staff. Time spent on this indirectly strengthens the ties between us,” he said.

Admitting he will miss the  undergraduates who will be on a long semester break after this, Omar also advised them to take care of their personality and character always, realising that these qualities are always held in high esteem by society.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic & International Affairs, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal; Bursar, Hajah Salmiah Che Puteh; and Deputy Director of Development Department, Aziz Che Jusoh were among several main campus principal officers who joined the gotong royong which concluded with a lunch and a durian feast. - Text: Mohamad Danial Shahri/Photo: Mohd. Fairus Md. Isa/Translation: Yong Check Yoon