PENANG, 28 June 2013 – Malaysian Nationhood module will be included into the Program Intensif Meningkatkan Pengupayaan Insan Siswa (Pimpin Siswa) for the new students who will be enrolling in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) this coming September.

This proposal was raised by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato' Dr. Omar Osman during a get-together session with more than 100 Pimpin Siswa volunteers comprising administrators, lecturers and senior students of the University. They will leave for Camp Perik, Kedah for a four-day Training of Trainers workshop starting today.

"I suggest that historians like Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Khoo Kay Kim should be invited to share the country’s rich history to the new USM students," said Omar.

"In addition, skills and leadership traits can only be gained through experiences and not acquired overnight. USM students should excel in everything they do which makes them unique and set them apart from others," added Omar.

According to the Director of Student Development Sector, Division of Student Affairs and Development, Dr. Nazarudin Zainun, this September’s Pimpin Siswa is the fifth that started in 2009 for the first intake of students under the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX).

This year, a total of approximately 3500 new students will enroll and will join the programme to be conducted in eight camps simultaneously. This programme provides a platform for the new students to interact with their seniors and also with lecturers and administrators. - Text: Rafizah Nor Md Zain/Photo: Mohammad Danial Shahri/Translation: Tan Ewe Hoe