By Nigel Aw

Of late, there has been a growing rumble of discontent among the UTAR Kampar cyber community. UTAR motorist are outraged that they will soon have to fork out RM80 every 6 months to park on the vacant land outside of UTAR east gate.

In fits of rage, some students have decided to take it out on everyone and everything in their way, particularly towards the university. There is even a facebook event inviting students to boycott UTAR and not turn up for classes.

Some credit should be given to the students as rarely do they come together and voice out so passionately about an issue. However, as our passion burns, we ought not to lose our heads.

The said land is private property and the owner has every right to allow parking space for a fee, or bar all vehicles from the land altogether. Refusing to attend classes will not change this fact.

If UTAR motorists are truly concerned for their own welfare, then they should be worrying about negotiating the terms with the landowner instead of barking up the wrong tree.

Is RM80 too expensive? Request for a lower price. The muddy environment just doesn't cut it? Negotiate for improvements. Half a year's payment is inconvenient? Seek for a semester system. Simply put it, what is required is dialogue, not a tirade.

And when we are at the mercy of others, we are in no position to make demands. We are more likely to succeed by being diplomatic and appealing to the kindness of the landowner.

Perhaps deflating one's ego and eating humble pie is difficult for some, but the result is what that matters.

There are times for protest, but there are also times where protest are counter-productive when all options have not yet been exhausted.

As undergraduates, we are privileged to earn the grand Malay name of "Mahasiswa" and we should live up to it. We ought to trust in reason and seek solutions instead of being engulfed in emotion.

So far, I can confirm that the said land will receive some improvements as crushers will be moving in soon to level the land but will it suffice and are the other terms agreeable? That's up to the motorist to decide.

I have put forth on "what" ought to be done and I'll leave the "how" to the wisdom of our "Mahasiswa". Let's prove that we are worthy of that title.