By Nor Zuwariah
LANGKAWI, 17 April 2015: The Undergraduate Transformation Programme organised by Biro Tata Negara, Prime Minister’s Department among the IIUM students was conducted from 4 until 7 April at Pusat Latihan Myangkasa Akademi & Resort, Langkawi.
This is a programme carried out by the government for NGO members, university and college students and youth as a medium to build the spirit of love for their country. The clubs involved are Yayasan Dawah Islanmiyyah Malaysia (YADIM), PERSADA club, Journalist club and SAHABAT club.
There were 65 members who participated in this programme.
They gathered at IIUM big stairs at 10 p.m on Friday night (3 April) and arrived at Kuala Perlis Jetty at 7 a.m on Saturday, 4 April. Next, the journey on the ferry took about 45 minutes to Langkawi Island. After that, around 10.30 a.m the members arrived at Myangkasa Academy and registered for the programme.
They listened to a talk given by the programme manager of Biro Tata Negara.
The first programme was that the participants were required to listen to a speech on the topic ˜Transformasi Mahasiswa ke Arah Pembinaan Generasi Berwibawa by Dr. Yusri Mohamad, Deputy Chairman of YADIM and President of ISS.
In the evening, they had free time as there was no activity. The members decided to take a rest in their room.
At night, they had a slot called CINTA 1, where this activity was about ice breaking among the society members as they were from different clubs and kulliyyah. The facilitators organised games for the members.
On the next day, 5 April, the CINTA 2 activity was about the importance of ˜HAND PALM as it related to the five Malaysia’s pillars, to make it easier they were divided into six groups.
Next activity is the CINTA 3, also related to love towards the country. At night, the members watched the film ˜The Terminal, which focused on how a person loses his citizenship. The moral of the film is that participants need to appreciate their country, Malaysia.
On the last day, 6 April, they had an explorace so they were brought to the Paddy Gallery located in Pantai Chenang. The aim of the visit was to expose students on how Malay folks in traditional time survived before the Independent Day. Each student was required to learn how to plant paddy and they also managed to find some fish in the paddy field.
The programme finished at 2 p.m. The participants had their leisure time visiting Kuah town to buy some souvenirs before departing for IIUM. ***