“We want to improve welfare of KAED’s students”

By Azra Farzana Shuib

Since the result of Students’ Representative Council (SRC) election has been announced, there is bound to be optimism, enthusiasm and unity vibes among students this month and subsequently in the months ahead.

IIUMToday had a chance to interview the SRC representatives from the Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), Zul Afiq Zulkifli and Nurul Nabihah Muhamad Shukri. Initially faced with the challenge to campaign within such a limited time in a Kulliyyah where not a lot about SRC is known, the duo are ready to take the opportunity to improve KAED facilities, while at the same time improving KAED students’ intellect and skills.

“I feel very excited but it’s still dreamlike,” Zul Afiq said when asked about how he felt after winning the election.

“I don’t know if I can fulfil this or not, but I’ll try my best, Inshaallah.” Nurul Nabihah also described the same feeling. “The first two days felt unreal like “Really? I’m one of the SRC now?”  But I tell myself that I need to move forward and keep on going. “

A change in KAED’s culture

Zul Afiq is a third year student studying Architecture and he is also the President of the Student Representative Body in KAED, or better known as Archimic. To add to his impressive involvement list, he is also the founder of ‘Future KAED’, which is an organisation for KAED students who are passionate in volunteering.

He said one of the factors that motivated him to be part of the SRC leadership is to make a change in KAED students’ culture.

“Before I joined SRC, I took part in an outreach programme with Orang Asli community under JASA club. I noticed that there were only two representatives from KAED when there were five to ten people from other Kulliyyah. In my opinion, KAED students lack the interest to engage themselves with society, and it got me thinking, what’s the use of being a university student if you don’t help the society?” he said.

“That’s what I wanted to change. Now I’m starting my own organisation, ‘Future KAED’, which is NGO-like. But it’s not registered yet. I want to attract the outgoing people in KAED, and now with around 20 members, hopefully more volunteers from KAED will emerge soon.”

Nurul Nabihah, who is a second year Applied Arts and Design student, has also expressed her worry about the situation. According to both of them, most KAED students have little concern about matters outside their realm – be it in their own country or global problems.

“Even ‘SRC’ is a term that not everybody knows,” she said. “We hope we can ‘open’ their eyes so their knowledge on current issues can be up to par with students from other Kulliyyah.”

Concern over voter turn-out and KAED students’ welfare

Their concern is clearly manifested through the fact that the turn-out of voters in KAED were not many – only 51.6% casted their votes. As of 2 p.m. during the Election Day, there were slightly more than 20% of voter turn-out.

“I think many of them voted for me because I am their friend,” Zul Afiq said jokingly.

Like all SRC candidates, they have their own manifestos to improve the environment in their Kulliyyah. Apart from improving KAED facilities, one interesting manifesto from Zul Afiq is to get a special pass for the female students in KAED to enter their mahallah after 1 a.m.

“I think I need to stand for them.” he said. He also explained that it was not for purpose of having fun. The female students need it to do their work.

“Let’s say a sister finished her work at 4 a.m., and they couldn’t go back. But they need a rest. Before this, they will sleep at the musolla, but we have cases where males entered the female section of the musolla. We do not know whether it was done by our students or outsiders.

“And the problem settled after we have separated the brothers’ and sisters’ musolla, but the female musolla will close after Ishaa. Following that, female students will sleep in studios, and it’s improper. This has been an issue since a long time and it has never been solved.

“It’s not like we don’t want to do our work in mahallah, but we need the tables we have in KAED. I have done my work in my room before and it’s just messy. Night time is the only time we have to do our work. But the lecturers don’t really give us the support we need in this issue. I need to settle this issue, maybe by discussing with them. I have some plans to bring to the principals and the top management of KAED, Insha Allah I can solve this problem.”

Nurul Nabihah’s manifesto seemed to be more focused on the welfare of the needy students. Her first manifesto is to establish KAED Treasury Project, of which its main idea is to have a room or a space for KAED students to collect things needed for them to do their project.

“During the end of the semester, after tirelessly completing our projects, the studios will be in a mess. And there is just a lot of things will be left in the studio. Usually Daya Bersih with the help of a few number of students will clean things up, but the problem is things that can be reused like T-squares, rulers or boards are just thrown away.

‘Thus, with Treasury Project, reusable things can be collected during the beginning of the semester, especially for students who are unable to afford such things,” she said.

Nurul Nabihah who has held numerous leadership positions since school years definitely did not let her experience go to waste. Other than Treasury Project, she has come up with another two impressive manifestos, quite admirable since she is a second year student.

Improving facilities and setting up of KAED Students’ Fund

“My second manifesto is to improve facilities. Since Zul Afiq is focusing more on facilities inside the studio, I am planning to improve the cafeteria. The idea is to increase the sitting places to accommodate more students since the cafeteria in KAED is used not only by KAED students but also by Engineering and CFS students who have classes in Engineering building.

“Usually during lunch hour, especially during Mondays, the café is just crowded,” she said.

“But it’s not easy going through the office. Even HS café took five years to increase the number of tables. Thus, our idea is to add DIY chairs and tables using recycled materials made by KAED students. KAED students are always encouraged to make something out of recycled materials,” she said.

“My third manifesto is to start KAED Students’ Fund.  We have a lot of financial aids in the university but that can take a long processing time, and it doesn’t reach all students – not all students know about it. This manifesto follows the steps of AIKOL and Kulliyyah of Economics concerning ‘Tabung Kuliyyah’ in which they collected money for the needy students.

“In SRC Welfare records, KAED students are ranked the first in financial problems. We need a lot of money for our projects. I used to spend more than RM200 for a project and that’s only for one subject. Thus, with KAED funds, the needy students can just contact our welfare and we’ll give the money straight away.

“We’ll collect the money maybe through donations, or car boot sales since KAED students did a lot of projects. Usually the products of the projects are kept by the students. Lecturers from other Kuliyyah have suggested doing car boot sale so that we can sell our products and raise our income,” she stressed.

When asked about their hopes for KAED after their tenure, they have undeniably high hopes that their manifestos are successfully applied.

“I have hopes that KAED students will be more engaged with the society. Besides that, I hope I’ll manage to help people who are in trouble, and I hope I can deliver my tasks well, since it’s tough considering that I’m a final year student and currently in the toughest course in KAED which is Architecture,“ Zul Afiq said.

Nurul Nabihah also shared her thoughts.

“I hope my manifesto will be successfully applied, or at least in progress. I also hope to reduce the students’ burden especially in financial matter, and that they will be more upfront in many issues. I want KAED students to be perceived more positively by other people in terms of knowledge and social skills,” she said.***

Leave a Reply