IIUMSU Election 2023: Syafiqa Aleesya hopes for more students’ engagement with the Student Union

by Nurdina Haziyah

GOMBAK, 26 June 2023: “The challenge for students is that they think the Student Union is too formal and political. Thus, we want to bring them closer to the Student Union,” said Syafiqa Aleesya.

On June 6, 2023, the official result of the IIUMSU new lineup was announced, with a total of 12 candidates submitting their nominations for the seats. The candidates won the seats uncontested, and Syafiqa was one of them.

Syafiqa Aleesya is a third-year student at KIRKHS who won the seat of Office of Communication, Advocacy, and Promotion (OCAD) uncontested. In an interview, Syafiqa stated that after joining IIUMSU the previous semester, she noticed the low frequency of students’ engagement with the Student Union. Most of the students think that there is nothing they can do by engaging with the Student Union.

“I believe that students can get involved with the Students Union by participating in the activities hosted, and that getting involved with the Students Union does not merely mean being an officer,” she stated.

Syafiqa analysed the problem as to why most students do not engage with the Student Union, which is that the news, information, and announcements do not reach students, hence most of them are not aware of the activities.

With her achievement in winning the OCAD position, Syafiqa emphasised her vision for the new lineup, which is that she would love to see more students engage with the Student Union because the organisation looks out for students’ wellbeing and could benefit them. As the officer of Communication, Advocacy, and Promotion, she believes the challenges will be the gap between students and the Student Union, and she aims to ensure effective communication between both parties. On top of that, adapting to changes in students' needs requires them to always re-strategize their ways of responding in accordance with the issues, on campus and beyond, physically and virtually.

“On a personal level, I think it will be hard to balance my work and study, but hard days will pass,” she added as a possible challenge in the future.

Syafiqa joined IIUMSU after being introduced by a friend to fill a vacancy as the Head of Department for the Media Department. Initially, she used to feel there was nothing she could do by engaging with IIUMSU, but she took the challenge nonetheless, which changed her perspective towards the Student Union.

Listed below are Syafiqa Aleesya’s manifestos on contesting the seats:

1. To promote more effective information and engagement

2. Active advocacy on campus and beyond

3. Towards a friendlier union

We wish the best for Syafiqa Aleesya’s new position for the upcoming semester. ***