UMP prioritises welfare and safety of students

The government’s decision to extend the Movement Control Order (MCO) from 31 March until 14 April is considered the best step taken to fight the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak across the country.
During this period, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has postponed all service operations, and no teaching and learning (T&L) activities including online are allowed during the MCO from 18 March until 14 April 2020.
In addition, UMP has rescheduled the academic calendar for Semester 2 and Short Semester of 2019/2020 where the lectures will resume on 1 June 2020 after taking into account the safety and efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.
Sharing the story of students who still stay on campus, the Principal of Residential College 4, Nasrul Salim Pakheri said that the Student Affairs and Alumni Department (JHEPA) and Residential Colleges took the initiative to continue the welfare programme to provide meals for on- and off-campus students. 
The meals are prepared using the allocation from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) as well as the contribution from the external parties.
Online programmes were also held by the Residential Colleges for male students such as short video competition, online games and poster sharing for students to pass the time with beneficial activities.

Similarly, the Residential College for female students held a singing contest, a competition to create tagline #staysafe and drawing and pantun competition.
 
At the same time, students are constantly reminded to comply with the MCO directive such as washing hands, practising social distance and no gathering.
 
According to a student from the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Tuan Muhamad Asani Tuan Ibrahim, 22, the extension of MCO is a smart initiative to fight the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, since the first phase of MCO has shown a positive effect.
 
“I feel safe to stay on the campus during this pandemic. The university Security Division takes a stern action regarding the movement of outsiders into the university,” he said.
  
He added, the university is also taking a great responsibility of providing daily necessities to the students who stay on the campus.

“For example, all principals and fellows of residential colleges are responsible for distributing food and hygiene kits to the students, as well as supplementary food from UMP Campus Pantry that is contributed by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) via Food Bank programme.
 
“I am grateful that the university is being responsible for its students who stay on the campus.

“The approaches taken by the university indirectly reduce anxiety among students.
 
“In addition, students movement is also properly monitored. The staff of Security Division always perform patrolling and monitoring to make sure the students follow the MCO directive,” he said. 
 
Siti Nur Nabirah Amran, 22, from the Residential College 3 and Faculty of Industrial Management, the staff of the residential colleges remain focused on the welfare of the students who are unable to return to their hometowns.

“They organise various exciting activities such as competition to create creative hashtags that comes with attractive prizes.

“This experience is valuable and it will be cherished forever. I want to express my gratitude towards the concerns of the UMP associates.

“Let us pray together that we will recover from this outbreak once and for all,” she said.

By        : Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Public Relations Unit, Office Of The Vice-Chancellor
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Faculty Of Chemical And Process Engineering Technology