KUALA LUMPUR, 2 May – The Student Parliament has now been officially recognised as the formal platform through which students of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) may raise and voice campus-related issues directly to the university’s management.

According to Dr. Salmiwati Othman from the Student Development Centre, the Student Parliament functions as a democratic simulation designed to empower youth by amplifying their voices, particularly when they express dissatisfaction with their university experience.

She explained that student representatives will engage in debates during the parliamentary sessions, after which their views will be reviewed and discussed with relevant stakeholders. These discussions will then form the basis for drafting proposals, which will be escalated to the central level at UiTM’s main campus in Shah Alam.

She further noted that the issues most frequently brought to the forefront are those concerning student welfare, including matters such as the provision of free electronic devices and the rising cost of food on campus.

“The most important issues are those that directly affect student welfare. For example, access to computers has become essential, particularly now that all students are engaged in Open and Distance Learning (ODL), which requires reliable online access.

“If students do not have suitable electronic devices—and not all of them do—then it becomes necessary to identify and implement solutions to address that problem,” she said in an interview with RTM following her appearance as a guest on Selamat Pagi Malaysia (SPM), broadcast live from Angkasapuri Kota Media earlier today.

Meanwhile, Assistant Vice President of the UiTM Student Representative Council (MPP), Zul Fadzli Wan Barhama, highlighted that one of the successful outcomes of the Student Parliament initiative was the reform of the MPP selection process, which is now fully managed by students.

“In the previous parliamentary session, a proposal was submitted to establish a student-led MPP selection committee. Previously, the selection of MPP members involved faculty or university management participation, but now the process has been entirely entrusted to the students, who have complete authority in electing new MPP representatives,” he explained.