ISDEV NEWS: KEMPI 2019: A MELTING POT FOR POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

One of the posters on KemPi2019.

It's that time of the year when MISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Mixed Mode) students had to organize KemPI - an acronym for Kem Pembangunan Insaniah (Quality Human Development Camp). This year it was the turn of MISDEV 17.2 and MISDEV 18.1 students to organize KemPi2019 held at Pendang Lake Resort from Friday 5 April, 2019 until 7 April 2019. This year's theme was Untaian Hati Mahabbah Ukhuwwah (The Tying of Hearts, The Strengthening of Brotherhood).

A group photo of ISDEV members with the community of Pendang that was the masjid that day..

The participants of KemPi2019, consisted of six ISDEV lecturers, three RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research) students and 16 MISDEV students. A few ISDEV lecturers were there with their family members. The three days two nights KemPi2019 started with a community engagement programme with the community of Pendang, Kedah Darul Aman at Masjid Tok Guru Haji Aziz Pendang.

Community engagement at Masjid Tok Guru Aziz Pendang.

After the gotong royong of helping the masjid committee with the upkeep and cleanliness of the masjid and the establishment of solat Jumaat, MISDEV students, with the help of RISDEV students, proceeded with the theoretical and practical aspects of Islamic corpse management (pengurusan jenazah). A wonderful experience and sight to behold as the Pendang community listened, watched and gave some pertinent pointers, to fine tune the students' skills in handling a deceased Muslim.

A fun and relaxing morning with the tele-match among participants.

On the morning of the second day, before the tele-match began, participants of KemPi2019 had a warm up session in the form of Wan Tai Kong that was led by ISDEV Founder, Professor Muhammad Syukri Salleh for the male particpants and Puan Marzizah Daud for the female participants.

Ustaz Muhammad Auwal (left) guiding two MISDEV students with the art of slaughtering a hen - the Nigerian Style.

For the afternoon session that day was a debate competition followed by the theory and practical aspects of slaughtering. This year, students get to learn the art of slaughtering the Nigerian style. As in the previous years it was compulsory for the male MISDEV students to slaughter at least one chicken while option was given to female students to slaughter.

Prof Syukri receiving the hand made souvenir from a MISDEV17.2 student.

The night on the second day was a relaxed and enjoyable one. Students prepared a few performances and presented hand made souvenirs for all ISDEV lecturers whilst enjoying the BBQ chickens which were slaughtered earlier that day. There was also a special performance by the three RISDEV students from Nigeria. They composed a poem (nasyeed) in the Arabic Language with the English translation read out. All ISDEV lecturers were mentioned in the poem describing briefly some of their attribute.

The Arabic version of the poem composed by the three RISDEV students from Nigeria.

For the last day of KemPi2019, there was the horse riding session for all participants at the nearby equestrian centre. Besides riding and being up close with the horses, there were snakes too for participants to touch and take photo with.

Having a pleasantly great time - Assoc. Prof. Dr Zakaria giving his thumbs up.

All in all KemPi2019 proved to be a success as it had successfully met the objectives set. Besides gaining a better understanding an refinement of fardh ain (personal obligations) and fardh kifayah (communal obligations), the bond of brotherhood among ISDEV members were proactively strengthened. Prof Syukri in his congratulatory note while summing up KemPi2019 stating that it proved to be a suitable melting pot for postgraduate students of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

As a picture speaks more than a thousand words, more photos are included below on KemPi2019.