CONGRESS Gombak takes a Stand on Student Welfare

By, Farah Aishah Rosli

GOMBAK, 25 March 2025: As part of student’s who experience the first-hand and relentless struggle of daily life walking on campus, CONGRESS Gombak, based at the IIUM takes a forefront step in overcoming the struggles of having to walk under the scorching hot sun and the sudden downpour from the unpredictable weather forecast. As part of the community that embraces empathy, putting oneself in other people’s (or students’ shoes), CONGRESS Gombak took the initiative of creating umbrella spots around the campus.

This project aims to provide aid towards students, mainly female students, whose residents are far from their respective kulliyyahs to take the pathways, protecting them from the unpredictable weather either rainy or sunny days.

This project is perceived as modest in scale but CONGRESS Gombak believes the small steps taken by them is far greater than being a bystander, by not taking any action to ease the struggles of students. It represents a deep sense of humanity and empathy from lived experiences— by putting themselves in the students’ shoes.

Furthermore, this temporary relief taken also serves as a reminder for every student that their rights on campus are more than just academic justice— having a better and well-maintained facility to ease student’s movements and daily life is part of our rights that are often overshadowed. This also highlights the subtle call into action questioning why students are the ones who need to act upon this and not those who are in power?

Indeed, CONGRESS Gombak believes that students’ rights on campus extend beyond the academic’s right. Henceforth, it is part of their duty to step forward to stop normalising discomfort as part of the students’ life by recognizing that real progress stem from addressing the lived realities of students.

In a campus where silence has long been mistaken for compliance, CONGRESS Gombak, representing the students forefront voice, is always open to any kind of suggestions or initiatives to ease students’ life whether on campus or outside the campus. With integrity and a student-centric approach, they believe that prioritising students’ needs is one of the utmost responsibilities they hold as students themselves.

Students can now find the umbrellas at these spots: HS Dry, KOED Cafe, Halimah bus stop and Hafsah bus stop. Lastly, do not forget to return the umbrella once you finish using it to allow others to use it as well.***