Gombak, 19 April 2025 — CONGRESS Gombak wrapped up their third volume of Sekolah Kesatuan with triumph. Sekolah Kesatuan, known as one of the flagship events organised by CONGRESS Gombak has brought together young minds who are eager to understand, discuss and reshape the IIUM governance landscape.
The one-day programme equipped participants, mainly IIUM students, with theoretical insights and hands-on activities to instil a deeper understanding towards the students. The modules meticulously prepared by the organising committee enriched the participants with versatile, thought-provoking worldviews. This transformative event has proved to be more than just an educational event, it goes beyond that by rallying a call for a new era of student-led change.
From the programme, participants have shown remarkable contributions and up to par level of awareness about both IIUM’s internal governance system as well as the national political framework.
In part 2 of the event, participants actively contributed and presented their findings after an insightful discussion with their respective facilitators. Each group was given an ideology and had to brainstorm the recurring campus problems. Participants were then required to solve the problems based on the ideology given and had to present their thoughts to others. The issues, such as wild dogs, female students’ safety on campus, as well as other arising problems.
Throughout the programme, participants showed a remarkable level of awareness about both IIUM’s internal governance system and the national political framework. Many shared that while they were highly conscious of campus issues and had solutions in mind, there had never been a proper medium for them to express these ideas until now.
“The most meaningful takeaway from Sekolah Kesatuan is definitely the basic knowledge that Congress tried to convey about how politics on campus works. As someone with little to no knowledge regarding this topic, Congress succeeded in educating me, and the programme is also beginner-friendly,” said Ahlam Batrisyia, one of the participants of Sekolah Kesatuan 3.0.
“The way Congress broke down complex topics into digestible, beginner-friendly discussions really helped me feel less intimidated. Now I have a clearer understanding of how decisions are made and how students can play an active role in that process,” Ahlam Batrisyia continued.
After the application and hands-on activities, participants were brought down the memory lane of students’ movements in Malaysia and Singapore, tracing the roots back to the early days of student voice being voiced. Participants engaged attentively on the emergence of student activism in the 1960s, where a focus on the May 13 incident marking the subsequent government crackdowns.
A clear distinction was drawn between the fiery, movement-driven student activism of the past and the more subdued climate of today. Discussions also touched on the steady decline of active student movements in recent years—an outcome participants attributed to institutional suppression, lack of encouragement, and general fear of opposing authority.
Adrian, one of the participants of Sekolah Kesatuan, reflected a good point on the decline of student power in today’s student movement climate. He stated, “SK3.0 has given me a lot of insights on how the Students’ Union of the past are of very high calibre and their shoes are quite big to step in. But it gave me hope that one day, the students of Malaysia will start to faze out the culture of old where no questions are allowed to be posed to the actions of the administration, no matter how disadvantageous it is for the students. If only the administration itself can be accountable to the voices of the students.”
With the clear perspective pointed out by the participants, the sessions emphasised the students’ autonomy in educational spaces. Adrian added, “I would definitely like a more democratic university system. At the end of the day, students are the ones paying for the tuition fees, as per the saying “Tanpa Mahasiswa, Tiapa Universiti”. I would like students to have a say in any policy matters done by the university. I am aware the Students’ Union always fight for students’ rights and all that, but they still have to bend the knee to the administration’s will when it comes to the Academic Calendar, for example. The University itself needs to start listening to the voices of its students via the memoranda.”
Therefore, the introduction and crystal clear explanation of the historical context of government opposition to student activism did not deter the students, but instead, it underscored the need for a continuation of resistance and reform.
As Sekolah Kesatuan 3.0 centralised on the issue of unionism, participants were asked about their thoughts on student unionism in IIUM. Many expressed their thoughts, stating that there’s still a gap between students and decision-making bodies. They express their hope at how great it is to see more inclusive platforms where students can express their concerns and ideas without feeling like they’re talking to a wall, demanding a more transparent communication and consistent follow-ups from student representatives could also help build trust and engagement.
Nearing the end of the half-day programme, participants expressed their heartfelt gratitude to CONGRESS Gombak for initiating such a meaningful programme
It opened the students’ eyes to the inner workings of campus politics, something most of them had previously had no clue about. What stood out was how welcoming the environment was, even for someone new to these conversations. It didn’t just infuse them with knowledge but also supplied them with the confidence to think critically and to be more involved.
The program concluded with a united call for Sekolah Kesatuan to expand further, with participants urging for more active promotion and support of political education programs. They emphasised the need for CONGRESS Gombak and other student fronts to continue championing student voices.
As one student aptly said, “I hope SK4.0 will impart knowledge on more students in a bigger venue and participation.”***
