UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which was officially established on 16 February 1984, is the sixth Malaysian public university. It is the only university that was set up to specialise solely in management education from the very beginning of its establishment. The planning of the construction of this sixth university began in August 1983 when the Ministry of Education Malaysia began to give form, in earnest, to the idea of setting up this university. On 19th October 1983, the Cabinet gave its official approval for this project in Kedah. At that time, the project was called “The Sixth University Project”. Several months later, the temporary office of the sixth university, officially named Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), was officially opened on 15th February 1984 in Jitra.

Four months after its official opening, the UUM office was relocated to its provisional campus – the Darul Aman Campus – in Jitra, in June 1984, when the first phase of the project had been completed. The relocation was carried out so as to be able to usher in the very first batch of students for the academic year which commenced in early June 1984. The Darul Aman Campus was on a 62-acre tract of land in Bandar Darulaman. It was 18 kms north of Alor Setar and 4.8 kms from Jitra. In the meanwhile, the planning of a permanent campus for the university had already begun. This permanent campus was to be built on an area of 1,061 hectares in Sintok (in the district of Kubang Pasu), situated about 48 kms north of Alor Setar and 10 kms east of Changlun, a small town along the North-South Highway, near the Malaysia-Thai border. The permanent UUM campus, referred to as the Sintok Campus, commenced operations on 15 September 1990. Situated in a former tin mining area, it is ensconced in a valley of lush tropical forests, embraced by blue hills, and watered by two rivers that flow along the middle of the campus. The rivers, Sungai Sintok and Sungai Badak, complete the scenic beauty of the natural environment, affording a myriad vistas of verdant splendour. The MYR580 million Sintok Campus was officially opened on 17 February 2004 by the Royal Chancellor, His Royal Highness Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah. The main buildings of the campus are the Sultanah Bahiyah Library, the Chancellery, the Sultan Badlishah Mosque, the Mu’adzam Shah Hall, the Tan Sri Othman Hall, the Sports Complex, the Varsity Mall, the Budi Siswa building, the Convention Complex, and the buildings that house the various departments of the Academic Colleges. As a campus situated far from the madding crowd, UUM has ensured that its students do not want for adequate accommodation. At present, UUM has 15 Student Residential Halls (SRH), which, all together, house 20,000 students. The SRHs are named after Malaysian companies, institutions, and organisations of repute, namely MAS, TENAGA NASIONAL, TRADEWINDS, PETRONAS, EON, MISC, SIME DARBY, BSN, TM, PROTON, MAYBANK, YAYASAN ALBUKHARY, BANK MUAMALAT, BANK RAKYAT, and SME BANK. Apart from these, UUM also has comfortable accommodation available for visitors at the University Inn and the EDC-UUM Hotel. Mindful of the welfare and need for accommodation among its personnel, the University has built about 600 housing units of various types for a sizeable portion of its workforce. UUM has evolved into an open campus where outsiders and tourists are allowed the freedom to visit and utilise the various amenities within it. An area encompassing 107 hectares of forest has been developed into various facilities both to attract tourists to the northern region and to satisfy the recreational needs of the members of the campus community. Among these facilities are a picnic area, a nine-hole golf course, a go-kart circuit, a shooting and archery range, an equestrian site, and many others that are fast gaining popularity among tourists and the members of the campus community alike.

In January 2008, a restructuring of the university academic system was undertaken with the express purpose of preparing a strong structure that would enable the increase in the number of postgraduate students and the hoisting of the UUM flag in the international academic arena. The university sees the need to be global in practice and content since the knowledge it generates and purveys transcends and extends far beyond the borders of Malaysia. In this restructuring exercise, 13 faculties were merged and streamed into 3 main Academic Colleges, namely UUM COB (UUM College of Business), UUM CAS (UUM College of Arts and Sciences), and UUM COLGIS (UUM College of Law, Government and International Studies). This step is in line with the imperative articulated in the statements of both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Higher Education that underscored the need to increase the number of postgraduate students in the country to 100,000 by 2010. This main strategy is embedded in The National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2007-2010. To emblazon the name of UUM in the annals of academic excellence as an Eminent Management University and as a Research University in the Social Sciences, a UUM Transformation Plan was launched by the Vice-Chancellor of UUM, Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, in conjunction with his 2011 New Year’s Message on 1st January 2011 at the Mua’adzam Shah Hall. The UUM Transformation Plan, which is essentially a roadmap for the future pursuits and endeavours of UUM, is divided into two phases. Phase One, which is from 2011 till 2015, is focused on unequivocally placing UUM on the local academic map in a systematic and planned manner. During this period, greater emphasis will be given to ensuring the successful achievement of the objectives of the First Phase while, at the same time, being mindful of the imperatives of the Second Phase of the Transformation Plan, which will be from 2016 till 2020.

Subhanallah...Beautiful Sceneries at Pedu Lake.

Assalamualaikum..Just look at those pictures..Aren't they beautiful???Beautiful right? The beautiful pictures were taken at Pedu Lake or Malays called it Tasik Pedu. Want to know about Pedu lake? Okay. Let me tell ya this. Basically Pedu Lake is a man made lake located in the State of Kedah, North Malaysia. Located about 5 km from Thailand, this huge lake covers an area of 75 km².And of course my hometown near the lake. So, I've been like two times at that place. Just recently I got the opportunity to take pictures of the lake. Well, I got there with my sisters and a brother of mine plus friends. We got there by motorcycle. I definitely enjoy my time with them. Travelling and taking pictures with them..So, if you want to have a nice holiday just came here, at Pedu Lake as it offers you a lots of activities like fishing, kayaking and so many more interesting activities. Tourists also came here for backpacking and hiking. Don't worry about where you will stay while you are here...there are lots of homestay or safe places for you. Just enjoy the beautiful scenery...

POWERLESS..

As person who study international politics, I'm not really happy with the world system. Why do the US government need to interfere with the other state affairs? In Syria for example, who's fault it is? If the American didn't started to make fuss about the issue it won't turn to be that worst. The Arab spring had worsened because of the American influence. The US again 'acts' as the peacemaker, trying to promote resolution to the use of chemical weapons in killing the civilians as the counter attack to the rebellions. Plus, US wants to spread democracy idea to it's allies, president Bashar al-assad. US seems proud to violate the international law. Another violation of international law done by the United State is the secret Drone warfare launched in Pakistan and Yemen. The US government launched the drone strikes in order to keep the WEST safe cause they claimed the drone strikes is to targeted the Militant group- Al -Qaeda. But they had killed the civilians. Is killing the civilians makes US or WEST more safer? They (AMERICAN AND WESTERN)easily called the Muslims TERRORISTS just because the Muslims try to protest what they have done. They created the character of Osama bin Laden and 9/11 to promote to the world that ISLAM is the religion of terrorists. They are the real terrorists actually. They deliberately want to vanish the Muslims because they feel threatened by the Muslims. They simply labelled the Muslims as extremist group. Are they? Undeniably that there are the extremists, terrorists BUT NOT ALL MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS...JUST BEAR IN MIND THAT.. If I were a powerful person I would stop what US is doing right now. Interfering other states and causing problems to the world. I would not recognized US as the veto powers. I would not recognized US as the permanent member of the United Nation. But now what to do, I'm powerless. If only my little voice could be heard. I believe that there are lots more people who agree with me. I believe that there are lots more people that will stop the injustice in this world. I wouldn't blamed U.S if it didn't try to put world in chaos. WHAT SAY YOU?? I ONLY WANT TO ENSURE THE GLOBAL PEACE AND STABILITY..NOTHING MORE THAN THAT..

Dear Pemilik Tulang Rusuk Ku..

Assalamualaikum...hmm...I'm just wondering on what will happen to me in 5 years time. As a normal growing up girl, I began to think about my future imam. What kind of man will he be. I always pray to Allah that HE will give me a good/soleh man. I want a good man to become my imam. I'm not really a good muslimah, so I need someone who can guide me. I'm the one who easily turn my life upside down when I'm really sad and disappoint with my life. I want a good companion to correct me when I'm wrong. But...I always tell myself that "Ya Nur Asmaa..If you want a good man as your husband, don't look for them but make you yourself a good muslimah..then you'll get a soleh husband.." Yes.. I believe that Allah will give me a good man if I'm a good muslimah..no need for me to look for them but I must prepare myself to be a good muslimah...Insyaallah.. I don't really care about man's handsome face. I don't really care about their physical appearances as long as he is soleh ( as me my self's just a typical girl )..Well...my parents asked me whether I have a special boy-friend or not..and I was like..NO...cause I hate the "couple thing". They asked me cause they already worried about me. They think that I'M old enough to not having a boy-friend..HELLO, I'm just 22 years old o.k...And guess what, my mum said that she already had my sister (ANGAH) at my age...waaa...I asked them why they asked me bout that thing and they told me " most of your school friends are getting married this year and we wonder when you'll get married.." Nah, that's the problem. I told them, jodoh kan Allah yg tentukan...Allah had decided for me..when and who Allah knows...And they said 'Yes my dear daughter, tapi awak kena la jugak cari..berkawan..." To make them stop I said 'Insyaallah, the time will come'.... It's not like I don't have boy friends..but I just be friend with them..not more than that..I want to give my heart to the man that deserved it. A man that have the right to own me..my heart and soul. That's the only special thing that I have to offer to him once he had become my husband. I don't want to ruin it. I'll protect it..( although I sometimes admiring handsome guys )I want a halal relationship, not the "boy-friend-girl-friend type" relationship. It's better love after nikah..insyaallah, we will get HIS barakah... So....dear my Mister Right, I'll wait for you..Insyaallah. If you love me, come and meet my parents..

MY UNEXPECTED LOVE

Peoples say " The best love story is when u fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time"..Yes it definitely true. An unexpected person which is a guy that I've known for so long had confessed his love to me. Wow, I'm speechless at that moment. I even asked him since when? and guess what, he fell for me years ago. Okay, as for me I do happy when he is around. He always makes me laugh by telling me his jokes. But as a girl who never fall in love and as a girl who inexperienced in lovey-dovey things aside from admiring handsome guys, I don't know whether this is that thing called love or not.. But surely, my heart keep telling me that I like him too. And I appreciated his love for me. I admire him because I think he is brave enough to confess his love for me.But tell you what, we are not couple. We are not boyfriend-girlfriend type relationship. I don't want that. I just want a typical friend-like relationship, not until we had a halal relationship.Enough if we talking and advising each other .And although now we are facing a biggest test and challenge in our relationship I'll still keep on praying to Allah that we can be together some day, Amiin..If we cannot be together I'll accept the Qada and Qadr with an open heart as me myself believe that Allah had prepared something special for me and I'll never forget that..Insyaallah. As for the time being I'll keep on praying that "THEIR" hearts will be opened and accept us and we will live happily ever after and our love last till Jannah..

SUMAYYAH..SRIKANDI PILIHAN..

Sumayyah binti Khayyath, syahidah pertama umat Islam yang menumpahkan darahnya demi mempertahankan keimanannya bersama suami dan anak lelakinya. Teladan istimewa yang wajar dikenang sepanjang zaman. Sumayyah binti Khayyath adalah seorang hamba sahaya milik Abu Hudzaifah bin Al-Mughirah. Oleh tuannya, ia dikahwinkan dengan seorang lelaki asal Yaman yang bernama Yasir bin Amir yang merupakan perantau di kota Makkah. Kerana banyak mendapat halangan, Yasir meminta perlindungan kepada Abu Hudzaifah yang merupakan kepala suku Bani Makhzum. Hasil perkahwinannya dengan Yasir bin Amir, Sumayyah dikurniai anak lelaki yang diberi nama Ammar bin Yasir. Melalui anak lelakinya inilah, pasangan Yasir dan Sumayyah mengenali agama Islam. Suatu hari, Ammar yang mula menginjak usia remaja mendengar khabar tentang kedatangan nabi baru yang membawa ajaran Tuhan. la pun segera mencari dan ingin membuktikan khabar tersebut. Sebaik sahaja mengenali Rasulullah s.a.w., Ammar pun terus jatuh hati dan langsung mengucapkan ikrar syahadatnya. Mendapat khabar gembira, Ammar segera menceritakan kepada ayah bundanya. Berbeza dengan kebanyakan orang Quraisy yang anti bahkan memusuhi Islam, Yasir dan Sumayyah justeru menyambut gembira khabar gembira ini. Bahkan mereka kemudian mengikuti jejak Ammar untuk bersyahadat dan menjadi Muslim dan Muslimah. Keislamanan yang awalnya disembunyikan akhirnya diketahui juga. Mendengar cerita bahawa keluargaYassir ini memeluk agama Islam menimbulkan kemarahan Abu Hudzaifah. la memaksa supaya keluarga ini meninggalkan Islam dan kembali kepada agama nenek moyang mereka yang menyembah latta dan uzza. Namun ketiganya berkeras mempertahankan keyakinan mereka. Seperti yang dialami oleh golongan awal yang memeluk Islam, Yasir, Sumayyah, dan Ammar mengalami banyak sekali halangan dan cubaan. Hal ini ditambah lagi kerana status keluarga mereka yang bukan daripada kalangan bangsawan Quraisy. Akibatnya penderitaan yang mereka alami keterlaluan dan mereka diseksa dengan kejam melampaui batasan kemanusiaan. Orang yang paling kejam menyeksa mereka adalah orang-orang yang selama ini melindunginya iaitu daripada kalangan Bani Makhzum yang dipimpin Abu Hudzaifah. Sumayyah yang merupakan seorang wanita, dihumban ke atas pasir, lalu tubuhnya ditimbus dengan pasir yang sangat panas. Seakan belum puas hati, dada Sumayyah kemudiannya dihimpit dengan batu besar supaya ia tidak dapat bernafas. Lalu mereka memaks Sumayyah untuk mengimani berhala-berhala nenek moyang mereka. Namun wanita solehah ini tetap bertahan dengan keyakinannya kerana ingat janji Allah SWT bagi hamba-Nya yang bertakwa, iaitu syurga. Yasir, Sumayyah, dan Ammar terus mendapatkan seksaan yang sedemikian keji. Mereka didera, dicambuk, disalib di padang pasir yang terik, ditindih dengan batu panas, dibakar dengan besi panas, bahkan sampai ditenggelamkan ke dalam air hingga sesak nafasnya dan mengelupas kulitnya yang penuh dengan luka. Suatu hari ketika Ammar sudah tidak mampu untuk menanggung penyeksaan, ia kemudian mengadu pada Rasulullah s.a.w. mengenai keadaannya. Rasul yang setiap hari datang memberikan sokongan lantas berseru, "Sabarlah, wahai keluarga Yasir. Tempatyang dijanjikan bagi kalian adalah syurga." Sekalipun berat seksaan yang diterima, namun ketiganya tetap mempertahankan keislamannya. Ketika berada dalam keadaan sedar, tidak ada satu pun kalimat yang teriontar dari mulut ketiganya kecuali kalimat "Ahad..Ahad.." seperti yang dilontarkan Bilal bin Rabah. Hal ini semakin meningkatkan amarah orang Quraisy kerana gagal melunturkan keimanan mereka. Hingga suatu ketika, orang Quraisy berasa putus asa dengan keteguhan iman ketiganya, mereka memutuskan membunuh Sumayyah. Adalah Abu Jahal yang melaksanakan perbuatan keji tersebut. Dengan tombaknya yang runcing, Abu Jahal menjadikan Sumayyah mujahidah pertama yang gugur di jalan Allah apabila tombak tersebut menembusi dada Sumayyah. Menjelang wafatnya, tidak sedetik pun Sumayyah menggadaikan keimanannya. Sumayyah binti Khayyath simbol ketabahan hati, kekuatan iman, dan ketangguhan jiwa seorang mujahidah. la rela mengorbankan segala-galanya, termasukjiwa dan raganya demi Islam. Sumayyah binti Khayyath syahid dengan meninggalkan teladan yang luar biasa. Tidak hairan ia menjadi wanita yang sangat mulia dengan keberanian dan ketabahannya. "Apakah manusia itu mengira bahawa mereka dibiarkan (sahaja) mengatakan: "Kami telah beriman" sedang mereka tidak diuji lagi?" (Surah Al Ankabut, ayat 2).

ZINNIRAH..SRIKANDI MUSLIM..

Zinnirah adalah seorang gadis yang berasal dari Rome. Kehidupan keluarganya sangat miskin dan dalam keadaan serba kekurangan. Ketika berlaku satu peperangan besar di Rome, Zinnirah terpisah daripada keluarganya lalu menjadi tawanan perang. Sejak itu dia dijual sebagai hamba dan sering bertukar tangan. Sepanjang menjadi hamba abdi, Zinnirah dilayan dengan kasar dan adakalanya diperlakukan seperti binatang oleh tuannya. Suatu hari Zinnirah berkenalan dengan seorang hamba yang senasib dengannya. Perkenalan itu akhirnya membawa Nur Islam dalam diri Zinnirah kerana hamba itu menerangkan ajaran yang disampaikan oleh Rasulullah. Penerangan yang tulus itu membuka hati Zinnirah untuk memeluk Islam. Namun, dia terpaksa melakukan ibadat secara rahsia kerana tuannya memusuhi Islam. Nasibnya lebih malang apabila dia bertukar tangan kepada bangsawan Quraisy yang sangat berpengaruh masa itu, Umar Al-Khattab. Ketika itu, Umar belum memeluk Islam dan juga tidak mengetahui keIslaman Zinnirah. Umar yang sangat memusuhi Rasulullah terkenal dengan bengis dan kasarnya sehingga digeruni, baik lawan maupun kawan. Akhirnya, Umar mengetahui mengenai keIslaman Zinnirah apabila suatu hari dia mendengar gadis itu membaca al-Quran. Ini menimbulkan kemarahan Umar yang mahu menghukumnya dengan siksaan berat. "Tahukah kamu apa hukuman yang layak untukmu?" Tanya Umar keras dengan wajah bak singa sambil mengheret Zinnirah ke tengah padang pasir. Di situ, Umar mengikat khaki dan tangan Zinnirah dan menjemurnya di tengah panas terik. "Inilah caranya supaya kamu insaf," katanya lalu meninggalkan Zinnirah di situ. Walaupun mukanya perit dipanah matahari dan kehausan, Zinnirah tabah menghadapi penderitaan itu sambil mulutnya tidak berhenti membisikkan Allah.. Allah... Apabila melihat hamba abdinya belum insaf, Umar menyeretnya ke pinggir kota dan mengikatnya di tiang. Dia menyuruh orang mengorek mata Zinnirah sehingga buta. Walaupun darah bercucuran daripada matanya dan dia diejek oleh orang kafir Quraisy yang percaya dia dilaknat tuhan Latta dan Uzza, iman Zinnirah tidak luntur malah mampu berkata, "Sekalipun aku dibunuh, kepercayaanku masih tetap pada Allah yang Esa." Penderitaannya itu akhirnya sampai ke pengetahuan Abu Bakar as-Siddiq yang membeli Zinnirah dengan harga tinggi. Sejak itu, dia tekun beribadat dan dengan kurnia Allah, kedua-dua matanya yang buta itu bercahaya semula. Peristiwa yang mengagumkan ini menyebabkan ramai orang Quraisy memeluk Islam.