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A crowd gathers outside JC 2 auditorium in anticipation.
It is 6:30 p.m. on the 26th of May 2025, when the JC 2 auditorium doors are opened to welcome the crowd that has gathered. Just by the entrance, attendees are given goodie bags containing snacks and a drink. As the attendees — consisting of Sunway students, leaders of various clubs and societies, as well as several student representatives — settle into their seats, they are all greeted by the Executive of Academic Affairs, Shereen Chang Gek Yeen, who officiates the town hall’s opening as the event’s emcee. After a quick photography session, the event’s activities begin, starting with an introduction to the on-stage team from the Sunway University Student Council and the Sunway College Student Council.
Below are the members who were present on stage.
From SUSC:
Justin Yong – [President]
Wong Chee Kin – [Vice President]
Nur Khairun Kamarudin – [General Secretary]
Voo Wan Ni – [Treasurer]
Jayden Loh – [Extracurricular Director]
Jelivan Shastry – [Public Relations Director]
Lee Xiao Xuan – [Academic Affairs Director]
Vera Nazarova – [Student Relations Director]
Jonadab Tan – [External Relations Director]
Assim Ali – [International Student Relations Director]
And from SCC:
Chi Guo Hao – [President]
Bernice Goh – [Vice President]
Sonia Ng – [Secretary]
Jacob Yong – [Treasurer]
Chong Hoong Liang – [Academic Affairs Director]
Nik Alysa Irina – [Advertising and Promotional Director]
Lim Zen Tung – [Extracurricular Director]
Kristofer Lai – [Social Relations Director]
Megan Lau – [Student Welfare Director]
Alicia Chiang – [Community Service Director]
Kickstarting the Event: Accomplishments
Proceeding the introductions, SUSC president Justin Yong takes the stage. After a welcoming announcement, SUSC president Justin Yong briefly iterates the priority of the town hall: transparent communication and collaboration. With that being done, Justin Yong proceeds with a rundown of the student council’s accomplishments. Among the accomplishments announced is the successful Freshman Fiesta initiative carried out every semester. Furthermore, he announces SUSC’s increased involvement in several events for international students, such as hosting the Global Fair 2025, involvement in the International Student Welcome Week, and the Rumah Terbuka Sunway event.
Following those accomplishments, he addresses several other updates about the latest campus developments, such as four new major subscriptions established with several academic database collections, the coming renovation of the ground level of the Tun Hussein Onn Library, and the approval of a limited food and beverage increase in a recent food and beverage committee meeting.
Moving on, Justin announces several upcoming student council initiatives, such as an improved club and societies website based on submissions through a dedicated form. He also delves into the upcoming RESPECT campaign—a joint initiative that aims to address critical issues such as sexual harassment and cyberbullying to create a more respectful campus environment.
President Justin Yong’s speech ends with an introduction of their flagship event: Sunfest 2025, which aims to celebrate the culture of giving.
Once Justin’s speech ends, SCC’s president, Chi Guo Hao, delivers his opening remarks before the Q&A session begins. President Chi Guo Hao welcomes the attendees and encourages the students to voice their concerns and engage directly with the councils to make the most of the opportunity to change Sunway student life. Guo Hao passes the microphone back to the emcee, who then explains the format of the Q&A session before it officially begins.
The Q&A session begins.
The Q&A session kicks off with the use of Padlet, which provides a platform for all attending students to submit their questions anonymously, followed by live audience interaction. Below are key highlights from the session:
Facility Misuse & Event Coordination
Students raised concerns about pre-booked venue misuse and last-minute changes. The council advised confirming bookings via iZone and Student LIFE and promised efforts to streamline facility coordination. A proposed notice board system and emergency contact suggestions were taken into consideration.
Academic and Program Concerns
Students from programs like BFE and SEI expressed dissatisfaction over course structures and lecturer misconduct. Council members clarified that subject design is constrained by MOHE, but repeated that consistent feedback can drive change. Lecturer misconduct and poor teaching attitudes were flagged as serious and actionable.
Cultural and Club Inclusivity
One student questioned the inclusiveness of the Indian Cultural Society. The council responded that students are free to start clubs that reflect their communities and suggested exploring more internationally-focused organizations like Sunway International Ambassadors.
Campus Infrastructure
Parking shortages, water refill quality, and study space limitations were addressed. The council acknowledged ongoing challenges but cited the upcoming campus building as a solution. Water was confirmed to be safe, despite taste issues, and more cozy study spots are in the works.
Event Requests and Extracurricular Facilities
Students pushed for larger-scale events, a better C&S website, dedicated Wi-Fi for events, and room allocation for internal club use. The council pointed toward Sunfest and C&S updates while admitting current spatial limitations. A potential new building may alleviate future pressure.
Harassment and Safety Protocols
Guidelines for reporting harassment were clearly laid out: head to CCTV-covered areas, contact security immediately, and follow reporting channels to ensure fair and accountable action.
Class Formats and Capacity
A live question challenged Sunway’s over-intake and hybrid class justification. The council acknowledged the pressure and said they would bring the concern to management. They also encouraged using available learning platforms while changes are being considered.
AI Use in Artistic Courses
Concerns over AI use in the arts were raised, especially given Sunway’s emphasis on sustainability and academic integrity. The council admitted this was a tricky balancing act and promised to communicate the feedback to curriculum planners.
Convocation Venue Conditions
Students requested indoor, air-conditioned venues for future convocations. While sympathetic, the council explained the financial considerations — many students would not be able to afford pricier venues — and confirmed additional cooling efforts for future ceremonies.
Career Fair Inclusivity
Students requested career fairs to be more inclusive of non-business faculties like the arts. The council confirmed that an upcoming career readiness event would feature workshops tailored to each academic stream.
Public Relations & Club Monetization Ethics
Clarification was sought about external partnerships and promotions via club pages. The council emphasized ethical vetting and coordination with Student LIFE and reminded clubs that promotions should benefit the student community, not serve profit motives.
International Student Support
From language support to mentorship requests, international students aired concerns about miscommunication and adaptation struggles. The council reaffirmed available services like free language classes, feedback forums, and welcome briefings, while promising to investigate any reported misconduct.
Library Incident & Council Image
The town hall also addressed criticism regarding the council’s response to a past incident in the library. SUSC defended its actions, stating that its press release aimed to curb the spread of harmful content and that both transparency and student safety were priorities. They encouraged future concerns to be raised through direct, constructive dialogue rather than public confrontation.
Conclusion
As the town hall drew to a close, what stood out was not just the range of concerns raised but the seriousness with which students engaged with campus life, from logistical frustrations to structural critique. While not all questions could be resolved on the spot, the councils showed a consistent willingness to respond transparently, offer practical next steps, and escalate unresolved issues to management.
More importantly, the session reflected a student body that is not passive but invested: willing to push for improvement, demand accountability, and imagine a better campus experience. As the attendees began vacating the hall, the student council members took the time to stay back and engage with the students who had remaining questions personally. The SUSC president himself came over to elaborate on certain questions, and by the breadth and tone of the conversation, it is clear that the student body is not only engaged but actively working as mediators between institutional structures and student needs. Their commitment to dialogue and change suggests a campus community that doesn’t wait for solutions but works collectively toward them — once again proving that they embody their slogan: “Your Voice, Our Concern.”
Written By: Fel
Edited By: Tisyha
