142 UMP LO’s makes it a mission to send students home

Kuantan, 20 May 2020 - The fact that staff members who check on students so that only healthy people are allowed to board buses and regularly check travel documents and regularly contact the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) raises questions as to who they are.

They are among the 142 Liaison Officers (LOs) appointed by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) staff of various grades and positions.

They have played a key role in the success of the recent student evacuation operations.

Their skills have been successful in ensuring that the mission of the East Zone IPT student's mission ran smoothly and has been praised by the authorities.

Besides the requirements for each transportation service to be accompanied by an LO to accompany the students, they must also provide a report on the delivery.

UMP Student Returning Program Coordinator, who is also the Senior Executive of the Student Affairs & Alumni Department (JHEPA), Abd Rahman Ahmad said, in ensuring the smooth running of the program, UMP has always maintained the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) and the National Security Council (MKN) was obeyed.

“This student delivery process includes several phases involving East Zone to East Zone, Central Zone, South Zone, North Zone, the movement to International Airport (KLIA), and Kuala Terengganu Airport.

"While on duty, those who are appointed as LOs need to obtain information on the movement and the list of students involved.

“Also, they will need to conduct a health check for themselves and all bus passengers for each trip.

"This includes ensuring that the buses to be used have been sanitized by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department including goods and luggage," he said.

Besides, he said, it is common for LO to also create a temporary WhatsApp group to facilitate the dissemination of information to students involved in the trip.

“Students also need to inform parents or guardians about their return home.

“Moreover, it is important that these LO also need to update the information and report the movement to the police at the District Police Headquarters (IPD) and officers at the UMP operational room from time to time.

"I representing JHEPA appreciate the commitment of the LO staff in making this mission successful," he said.

As for the appointed staff, Mohd Saipun Manshor of Bursar, UMP he said, he served as an LO three times including trips to Kota Bharu, trips to Kuala Kangsar/Gerik, and trips to KLIA, for students to Sabah.

"There is no doubt that the current situation of COVID-19 disease is contagious, but all safety measures are being followed and more careful in carrying out this task," he said.

He acknowledged that traveling across the state and traveling longer than eight hours was a bit tiring, especially during the month of Ramadan and many roadblocks by the authorities along the way.

However, his willingness to help and patiently accompanied by prayer gave him the courage to volunteer in this operation.

As well as Shamsul Harbi, a Language Teacher from the Centre for Modern Languages, UMP said, he will also serve as an LO for a trip to Kuala Terengganu on April 30, 2020.

Sharing his experience, he needs to always be in touch with the police officer involved in dealing with student arrivals at the drop point including providing complete student information for reference.

Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Chemical and Process Technology Engineering, Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, the journey to send students to Seremban went smoothly.

As well as Senior Deputy Registrar, Department of Research and Innovation, Hazmin Aris said, he had many experiences along the way with students returning to their hometown from Kuantan to Johor Bahru and dealing with police officers at Pasir Gudang IPD.

Besides, he also brought students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai back to their hometown of Bera, Pahang.

For UMP Youth and Sports Assistant, Sports and Cultural Center, Siti Aminah Mohd Yatim, her LO experience was for two trips - the East Zone trip - Sultan Mizan Kuala Terengganu Airport on May 10, 2020, and the East Zone trip to KLIA the following day, May 11, 2020.

Since they are not allowed to stop eating at any place throughout the journey, Siti Aminah needs to ensure that every student has food for sahur.

Although it is tiring, she also admits that being an LO is a daunting task, but she is proud to help students.
"The feeling of satisfaction is reciprocated when students inform them that they have arrived safely at their destination and greatly appreciate the cooperation received from the students and the authorities," she said.

Student movements are conducted in stages according to the schedule set by their Institutions of Higher Learning (IPT) and movements are allowed in green zone areas only.

Besides UMP students, also involved were students of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS), WIDAD University College, University College of Yayasan Pahang (UCYP), and Ranaco Education & Training Institute.

Others were the Islamic University College of Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang  (KUIPSAS), PACIFIC College, SMART College, Ketengah College, Politeknik METro Kuantan, Pahang Skills Development Center, DRB Hicom Automotive University, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan Campus, Muadzam Shah Polytechnic, Rompin Community College, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Raub Campus.

By: Nur Sa'adatul Afzan Jusoh, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor
Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, Faculty of Computing