Going to the Future

311 days ago, the Principal dissolved Mahallah Representative Committee (MRC) 2014 and, hence, established MRC 2015.

That was the day MRC comprises of all newbies. No previous MRC member remained.

That was the day I become the President.

That was also the day I address our Mahallah at the first time on that capacity and, at the same time, present my planning for the whole tenure of appointment, which is now our Strategic Plan.

To be frank, it’s not easy for me to be the President.

To my knowledge, no one felt me – but those who are really know and understand me, and those becoming the President, Chairman or Chief Executive of other bodies – because you are not the President.

If my members think that duties given to them burdened them, I need to tell this Meeting that: The President felt the burden more than the other members did.

The reason is crystal clear: Members are only responsible to help the President by performing such duties and powers provided by law or presidential directive.

The President did more. Still, he tries his best to delegate duties and powers to other members.

I wish I did it to the best of my ability though I always prefer working independently. Even so, I am just a mere man like you; in need of support.

If you need support, I need it more than you do. No one want to lose it.

Therefore, stop complaining. Talk less and act more. Be the problem solver, not the problem maker.

Learn from Awang Selamat concept. He comes when he is not yet called; he answers when he is not yet asked; and he finished the duty when he is not yet instructed to do so.

In short, be ready at all times.

Don’t be self-centred; you will go nowhere; so be people-centred. Reach and know the peoples around us. Understand their needs. Appreciate their specialties. Heed their weaknesses. Strive towards peace and prosperity.

At the same time, stand as one as oneness makes us all stronger together, which will bring you further.

That’s the ASEAN Way, the way paved a long time ago before the establishment of ASEAN in 1967.

We will follow this way as ASEAN declared the formal establishment of the ASEAN Community on 31 December through a declaration signed by Heads of State and Government of ASEAN on 22 November.

From this time forward, we need to think big – to expand our worldview – and, then, to translate our brilliant ideas coming from our expanded worldview into effective actions.

It is not because of the 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community.

It is not also because of the direction of this University since the first day it is operated.

It is because of the need of Islam, our world and our peoples.

We are here for that reason.

For those who want to serve a larger group of peoples in the future, our Mahallah is the right place for preparation.

For those who want to be a head, minister or secretary of state, our Mahallah is the right place for such ambition.

For those who want to be a corporate leader, our Mahallah is the right place for such aim.

For those who want to be someone notable to the community in the future, no matter what field he choose, our Mahallah is the right place for such purpose.

This Mahallah, in short, is meaningful – and should be meaningful – for everyone residing in her land and working for her.

For those who mean our Mahallah very much through their dedication and contribution; I offer them my greatest appreciation.

Our Mahallah is very grateful for having them in her life.

They are the peoples who work for her tirelessly.

They are the peoples who really understand the need of sacrifice.

They are the peoples who really understand the meaning of tolerance.

They are the peoples who really cares the peoples around them, especially those in need, despite of the truth that they also have their own need to be prioritised.

Today, we prove to this University that Mahallah as-Siddiq, despite of facing deficiency, still has the ability to provide services and conduct activities.

Consequently, we made significant achievement throughout 2015 without telling the others.

We are 5 percent beyond the target stated in our Strategic Plan.

We organised 13 activities, including 4 activities involving collaboration, and excluding 2 activities organised mainly by Students’ Representative Council but involving our Mahallah.

We held 8 series of Mahallah Executive Meeting, 20 series of MRC Ordinary Meeting and a number of MRC Special and Ad-hoc Meetings.

We have the largest number of internationals becoming members of MRC this year.

We have the most active website.

We have debaters and orators who glorify the name of Malaysia and this University.

However, we cannot simply be satisfied with these achievements. There are always shortcomings.

We need to improve.

We need to learn past histories for a better future.

We need to work harder for this Mahallah.

We need to extend our hands to other individuals and organisations inside and outside this University.

We need to produce high-impact activities and, at the same time, provide more quality services.

We need to earn more medals in the next IIUM Sports Carnival.

We need to keep our good record in the next Inter Mahallat Cultural Week.

We need to be the Champion of the Community in other fields as well.

We need to propose more nominees for the annual Anugerah Tokoh Siswa (University Student Awards) organised by our own Ministry of Higher Education.

We will do this together once we start 2016, the year we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mahallah as-Siddiq, according to Hijri calendar.

We will make this celebration a history for our Mahallah, not only through quality services and facilities, but also through quality activities.

Whatever we are about to do in 2016, we are always in need of our peoples as our Mahallah belongs to us all.

Therefore, we need them to make our hope a true; and let us share our hands to bring our peoples towards the true peak of success.

If we could do these all, believe me: One day, Mahallah as-Siddiq will be the place of choice for all members of our University community to stay and socialise.

I bid my heartiest congratulations to one and all of you for bringing Mahallah as-Siddiq to its significant stage of success in 2015.

Thank you very much for helping this Mahallah in “Generating the True Hope”.

Although we achieved 75 percent of our Strategic Plan, it does not reflect our true success in “Generating the True Hope” because our True Hope, actually, is to obtain the Grace and Mercy of Allah SWT while serving our peoples by all means. Strategic Plan that we have now is just a platform for such purpose.

We are coming to the end of 2015. It is already a long and challenging journey for us all.

Throughout the journey, we shared everything. I hope we learnt a lot of things throughout the journey.

I apologise for all of my sins and mistakes throughout the journey. I pledge to improve myself to the best of my ability.

For those who will end this journey today, thank you for your sacrifice, patience and passion in going through this turbulent journey. You may take an exit in front of you after this.

For those who will be continuing this journey, keep strong. You would not be alone there. Allah is always with you.

For those who will start this journey, start this journey in the name of Allah. Ask Allah to help you throughout this journey. Go through it with a pure and sincere intention. InsyaAllah everything will be well.

Now, to the business in my hand.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, it’s my great honour to declare International Islamic University Malaysia Mahallah as-Siddiq Representative Committee 2015 dissolved.

At the same time, I move to formally establish International Islamic University Malaysia Mahallah as-Siddiq Representative Committee 2016.

AWANG ABDUL MUIZZ BIN AWANG MARUSIN
President, MRC as-Siddiq, IIUM Gombak Campus

(in conjunction with the dissolution of MRC as-Siddiq 2015 and formal establishment of MRC as-Siddiq 2016)

Mahallah as-Siddiq Executive Meeting 8/2015
Wednesday, 11 December 2015
Ibnu Sina Presentation Room, Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences
IIUM, Gombak, Selangor