my 11.01.2011

salam.

One thing that never fails to make me smile is seeing young young people wow a room with their word of wisdom, bright idea, and the best part is to debate one another.   

As if the last Tuesday, dated nicely on 11.01.11, held an event with name of National Students Assembly @KL/Sel Chinese Assembly Hall. The format was simple.  The participants were divided into sections and they’re set. 

Open mic session as the start of all is told to be at fast pace, they’re queued to speak their own mind, one by one, mic after mic, tak cukup masa and intense too –macam rebut rebut nak cakap la - because of time limitation and surely because of everyone wanted to speak, which is good!   

It was “Popular assembly” where you Stand up and speak up! Every student gets a quick turn to share or vent about their student problems in this fast-paced, democratic, sharing session. The session continued after break with workshop session. 

Pause! Wait up, fyi I was late. I came after class in the evening - well I don’t skip classes – but I had friend who committed himself from the very start so I knew a little of all, at least for writing this, still I’m not the person to review the whole event. 

I missed out the workshop session, where described in their web like: “Where do student problems come from? Find out in this group workshop by identifying root causes and mapping out the BIGGER picture!” Then, they’re as ready to run the last show: The Students’ Parliament.

First usul to be brought up was Student’s Cooperation. Koperasi Mahasiswa lah in Bahasa. I personally think that having cooperation was great. Coop can run for financial steady for supporting its activities-to-be-carried-out. Particularly for students, things like buying textbooks, running a cause, and applying for sponsor and so on and what I think most is coop let an organization deserve recognition. 

I’m not sure how to say this, but recognition of your very own body/organization can ease things surely better from before. I mean a legal coop open up job opportunity, setting up financial, services, especially for students’ issues.

But things are not easy as ABC. As debated in the session, some came up with issue on how will this Student’s Coop being managed? By whom? What about its enforcement, should or shouldn’t it be compulsory to all students? How about AUKU 15A which let no student funding a body? 

Next is the issue of student’s representative in parliament which is supported only by approximately one-third of the hall. As a senator. Well, the system does not favorable, period! 

Next is about the unity. Eh, fyi there were lots of them, but in very limited time some are discussed while some were combined. It was already Maghrib, and the session continues. Last of it was about student unity. Well, I just wondering, don’t we have SMM? What? Dominated?  Pawned.

Anyway, it’s great to see an event filled with activism breeze so that people knew our voice sounding steady. A sound that is not loud, but audible, for those who concern. 

Dah 2 kali dengar rapat umum di UIAM, what’s next step? 

*aku dengar pagi tu ada non-student with fake id trying to get into the hall. heh, cheap. students' activities has never be at peace