Volunteering work close to heart of Saiyidatul Marsyitah

PEKAN, 16 December 2022 - Starting with participating in a programme organised by the Islamic and Human Development Centre (PIMPIN) as a committee member of the Karnival Mahabbah Masjid committee provided an opportunity for Saiyidatul Marsyitah Aisyah Suhaime, 22, a student of the Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronics Engineering Technology to seriously participate in volunteering programmes in Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP).

She then registered as a member of the Rakan Siswa YADIM UMP Secretariat (RSYUMP) from year one until now (year four), and during that period, Saiyidatul Marsyitah was entrusted and appointed the Director of the Intellectual Women’s Exclusive Discussion Program (DEWI) and Director of the Siswi Circle Programme.

In addition, she actively participated in volunteering activities including Iftar UMP Volunteer, Community Outreach Programme in Kampung Marhum, Pekan, Dakwah Programme Ummah@ Perkampungan Orang Asli Sungai Ruai, Raub, Pahang and Jom Lepak Masjid@Masjid Saidina Othman, Bukit Rangin, Kuantan.

She was also involved in the UMP-Hochschule Community Club (UHCC), where she prepared a paperwork for the Children’s Day Celebration Programme at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan in 2019 while in year one.

She said during her second and third years, she was also a member of the Students’ Representative Council (MPP) and was responsible for ensuring the welfare of the students.

“At that time, I also assisted the management as a student volunteer during the admission to campus in phases, delivery of food and supplies to students (close contact and COVID-19 positive) during the Movement Control Order (MCO) at the university,” she said.

As there were frequent flood disasters in Pahang, she often participated in flood volunteering programmes.

She said that her leadership qualities began during her school years as she was regularly given the responsibility of Assistant Chief Prefect and received several awards at the school, district and national levels.

While in secondary school, her leadership talent was honed through her involvement in competitions - public speaking, marching, athletics, volleyball, tae kwan do, debating and choral speaking.

Her involvement in volunteering was honed while in secondary school when she was appointed Vice President of Peer Counselling.

She regularly helped teachers in schools as a volunteer for programmes, events and sports tournaments.

At the matriculation college level, she was also active in tae kwan do and futsal.

At Kolej Matrikulasi Melaka, she participated in a volunteering programme organised by Tae Kwan Do Club at SJKT Ladang Tebong.

She, who is from Melaka, aims for at least one volunteering activity every month and even intends to organise high-impact programmes in collaboration with NGOs and external organisations based on volunteerism.

Among the programme plans in 2023 include the Plight of Palestine Convention and the Festival of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (3K).

Saiyidatul Marsyita, the third of ten siblings, is of the opinion that the university is the place of all the knowledge available to be learned for free and can gain experience from every mistake made.

“Learning in lectures and outside the lecture room are both important.

“In lectures, we are taught the basics of knowledge, guidance in knowledge but outside the lecture room is where we apply the knowledge learned because knowing how to apply it is more important,” she said.

Hence, she advised other students to engage in the student body organisation or any programme, but it must suit their own abilities.

She added that if we can afford one activity, we do one and that should suffice.

“If we get involved with a lot of things but cannot manage them well, it will be a waste of time and energy and causes stress.

“However, what is important is the clear goals and objectives of something we want to implement,” she added.

Information

Rakan Siswa YADIM UMP Secretariat
•    Vice President (22/23)
•    Treasurer (21/22)
•    Deputy Treasurer (20/21)
•    Exco Siswi (19/20)

Students’ Representative Council
•    Interim Secretary (Information and Corporate) (22/23)
•    Vice President 2 (21/22)
•    Chairman of the Complaints and Services Committee (20/21)

UMP-Hochschule Community Club (UHCC)
•    Deputy Secretary (19/20)
•    Exco of Welfare and Spirituality (20/21)

Education/School:
•    Sekolah Kebangsaan Tampin, Negeri Sembilan (now known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Tengku Zainon)
•    Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Besar Tampin Negeri Sembilan,
•    Kolej Matrikulasi Melaka

Hobbies:
Surfing the internet, reading books, sports, playing with cats, cooking and travelling

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology