Remembering Shauqina

Chapter 11: Student Leader Unit - Exco Meeting

CHAPTER 11: Student Leader Unit – Exco Meeting

 There was something special about this week's SL Exco meeting because Mdm Bedah was present. You see, she was the overall Head of the SL unit, in fact, Head of the whole Pupil Welfare Department. She was kind of a low key person - when things are fine, you would hardly notice her presence but when something is amiss, she would surely be among the first to the scene. It is not that she is the bearer of bad news, rather, pupils have associated her presence with things that are serious.

 So, there she was, sitting nonchalantly beside Ustazah Munirah, the Assistant Head Teacher of the SL unit. She started the meeting with the usual recitation of Al-Fatihah, gave a few words of welcome, then immediately turned to Mdm Bedah. Yes, we were right. Something was about to happen. Mdm Bedah looked up from her big, black and thick organizer and smiled. I know that smile anywhere. Somewhere out there, somebody is surely in deep trouble.

 "Assalamualaikum! I appreciate the time you all sacrificed for this meeting. I am here to discuss with you one of your friends - Yazid, from Secondary 5 lman. Do you know him?"

 Who didn't? He is infamous. I think rumours have it that he has done at least three piercings - one on his ear and two under at his lower lips. Also, he was said to insert a transparent tube of plastic into the piercings to stop it from closing - the nerve of him!! In the madrasah, on top of that!!  But there must be other more serious things he did, surely. Piercings, albeit at sensitive body spots, do not warrant a full meeting like this.

 “It has come to our knowledge that perhaps, he is in some kind of gang and is now recruiting new members, that is, of course, very serious...also, and this is confidential and I share this with you only because you are the highest student body in this madrasah, his parents came to us the other day and voiced their fears that he might be involved in some kind of black metal cult, complete with incantations and all..and they are more than worried about his free interactions with girls…our wish is that you keep an eye on him and his activities, right, Ustazah? We think we can still save him...he is not yet incorrigible, so we will mentor him...”

 Tengku Ramli looked bewildered. He has royal blood in his veins – apparently, his great, great, grandparents were the first rulers in Singapore. He is well respected, but a little hot-headed.

 “Why don’t we just expel him? He is really a bad influence in the school. Already, the secondary three boys are following his example!”

 “Yes! He is a rotten apple!” his best friend, Hady affirmed. There were murmurs in the meeting as the other Exco members seemed to agree with these two young boys, slated to be the next Head of Student Leader and Assistant Head Student Leader.

 Halim, the current Head of Student Leader, however, was shaking his head slowly.

 “Who are we to judge people and pronounce them beyond hopes of ever changing?”

 There was a sudden silence in the room. Trust Halim to always see the goodness in people. Some students saw this as his weakness. To me, that is his strength as a leader.

 Halim continued.

 "I think we give this guy one more chance before we give up on him, okay? Is that alright with you guys? At least, if we err, we err on the compassionate side. At least, we can answer Allah that we did our best, if this guy decides to be a 100% rotten apple!!!"

 Mdm Bedah and Ustazah Munirah smiled. That was spoken like a true leader. The others slowly nodded their heads too.

 "Alhamdulillah, that is settled then, right, Ustazah Munirah? Come, what is our next agenda?"

And so the process of syura - which is coming to a decision after hearing everyone's opinions and getting a majority voice, continued throughout the meeting. It is a practice brought down from the time of the Prophet s.a.w. It is different from the democratic principal where everyone is given a voice. In this tradition, trust is given to a select group of people to make a decision for the good of all. Of course, this select group have to meet criteria like trustworthiness, Godliness, knowledgable, among other qualitites.

 As I immersed myself fully in the issues and discussion, I couldn't help feeling humbled yet honoured to be part of this team who tried its hardest to bring about justice to all. This is the team chosen through a process of nominations by teachers and current Student Leaders, voting by teachers and finally interviewed by the Management team of the school. We were supposed to be the best of the students, and that in itself is an honour and a huge responsibility. The Prophet Muhammad s.a.w has said that in the Day of Judgement, amongst the first to be questioned would be the leaders. Yes, justice for all. For isn't that the motto of the SL Unit - every child matters, and the motto of the school - every child can (ie, be good, be their best). I smiled to myself...to think I hated this school back then!! I wouldn't miss this meeting for all the hockey matches in the whole, wide, world!!

 With that thought, I still managed to give a sidelong glance at Rahima, just in time to catch her giving a sidelong glance at Zak. Urrgh!!!