By Farah Husna
GOMBAK, 21 March 2023: Organised by IIUM Student Parliament Commission, the first physical IIUM Student Parliamentary Sitting was held since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 at the Senate Hall of the Muhammad Abdul Rauf Building, IIUM Gombak, Saturday (18 March).
“The objective of this student parliamentary sitting is to collect all the voices of student leaders in answering any issues related to the rights and demands of students in educational and social needs inside and outside of university life,” said Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy bin Abd. Rahman, Deputy Rector of Student Development and Community Engagement in his opening speech.
“The administration must be seriously looking into empowering students as they are allowed to participate in the decision-making process of the university,” he added.
According to Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy, student leaders should be focusing on activities that will benefit students and enrich their own experience, as well as skills such as digital marketing. The other programme that should also be emphasized is the spiritual programme.
There were five motions accepted out of the seven that were brought to the Student Parliamentary Sitting:
1. Amendments to the IIUM Student Union Election Regulation (2020)
- This amendment is to make all the words and phrases in the Regulations clear and precise.
- There are two sections proposed namely the Amendment and Insertion New Clause.
2. Endorsement of the Election Tribunal Committee
- This endorsement is to hear and decide an appeal from any candidate and to invite any person or students to obtain any information and facts about the objection on the conduct of the Student Union Election.
3. Endorsement of the Election Audit Committee
- This endorsement is to confirm voters’ data and data on the aggregation of votes.
- To require any person to confirm and certify the voting system.
- To examine the voting system at the polling station at least once before the voting commences and to examine the election process in accordance with the rules and regulations.
4. Amendment to IIUM Student Union Constitution
- This amendment is to provide stronger foundation to members of IIUMSU and the inner-workings of IIUMSU.
- To ensure the natural cause of justice in which a lawful member of the mainboard committee enacts the decision-making.
- To encourage and empower the students’ voices pertaining on any issues on the political, social, and national level.
- To exemplify diversity among IIUMSU members ranging from opinions and ideas; ensuring equal and fair treatment to all Students without discrimination.
5. Endorsement of IIUM Student Union Election Commission Lineup
- This endorsement is to showcase the selected commissioners selected by the already appointed IIUMSU Election Commission for the ‘Secretary II’ seat, ‘Registrar’ Gombak and Kuantan Campus seats, and the ‘Media and Advocacy’ Kuantan and Pagoh Campus seats.
With the approval of five motions in the IIUM Student Parliament sitting, Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy emphasized the importance of amanah in his closing speech.
“Student leaders should strive to fulfill their responsibility with integrity, honesty, and transparency and also embody the positive moral character to help earn trust and respect from students,” he urged.
The IIUM Student Parliamentary Sitting was conducted physically and streamed online on Youtube from 8.30pm – 5pm, the members of the IIUM Student Parliamentary Sitting consisted of:
- All executive committee members of the IIUM Student Union from Gombak, Kuantan, and Pagoh IIUM campuses.
- All presidents or their representatives from each Kulliyyah Based Societies (KBS) in Gombak, Kuantan, and Pagoh campuses.
- All presidents or their representatives from each Mahallah Representative Committee (MRC) in Gombak, Kuantan, and Pagoh campuses.
- The President of the Postgraduate Students’ Society (PGSS)
- The President of IIUM Ibn Ummi Maktum Club (iMaC).***