Around Campus Info

Grounded by MCO, UMP student finally return home 

Translation by: NADIRA HANA AB HAMID, FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING AND MECHATRONIC ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The first batch of 1,154 students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), public and private universities, polytechnic and community college has started their journey back to hometowns in east coast region on 30 April 2020. 

304 of them are from Pahang, 396 from Kelantan and 454 are from Terengganu. 

The long awaited journey back home ended their 40 days of Movement Restricted Order (MCO) in campus that has started since the implementation of MCO on 18 March 2020. 

Muhammad Hazamuddin Wan Hassan, 25 from Department of Civil Engineering, Engineering College UMP, is deeply moved to finally get the chance to return to his hometown in Tumpat, Kelantan. 

“I was eagerly waiting for the approval to go home and was delighted and relieved when they informed me that I can do so.

“My family contacted me few days ago and were looking forward for me to get home,” he added. 

He thanked the university, the ministry and authorities for their continuous dedication to bring the students back to their hometowns. 

Likewise, Nurliyana Mohamad Azmi, 27, from Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, UMP was also touched by the way students were brought back and even provided with meals. 

“My parents keep calling me asking when I can come home. They often share latest update on Covid-19 news and are hoping for me to return home.

“All praise to Allah, our prayer were answered. I’m so happy to see all my friends from northern area has reached home,” added Nurliyana who is going back to Raub, Pahang.  

In UMP, a total of 140 students, 26 Liaison Officer and more than 40 drivers have been screened for Covid-19 before they were allowed to start the journey. 

The remaining of 1,120 students were still in the campus waiting for the next trip back home expected to be settled by 10 May 2020. 

26 buses has been arranged to bring UMP students from UMP Pekan and UMP Gambang Campus back to their hometowns. 

In addition, screening for symptoms (body temperature, sore throat, cough, colds and shortness of breath) was also conducted by the University Health Center (PKU) before travel clearance can be obtained.

Students are also reminded to maintain social distancing, to wear face masks throughout the journey and to practice personal hygiene using hand sanitizer.

Also present to witness the process of sending students home were UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff, Pahang Police Chief, Datuk Abd Jalil Hassan and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin.

Around Campus Info

Ramadan under the MCO is full of wisdom

Translation by: AMINATUL NOR MOHAMED SAID, FACULTY OF COMPUTING

Ramadan is a very beautiful and special month in the hearts of Muslims.

This is a month of education and a month of faith-building, a month of self-empowerment with the best training modules to give birth to a generation of high self-esteem to meet the challenges of life.

But the month of Ramadan celebrated this year is quite different from last year, which is celebrated with acts of worship, congregational worship with religious ceremonies.

It changed immediately due to the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide.

For Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) student, Muhammad Nazhif Mohd Azan, Ramadan this time had a positive impact on him and his family when he had the opportunity to fast with his family at Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan.

"The situation is different because it is customary for his family to celebrate the first day of Ramadan in the village with their close relatives, but at this time we are only able to celebrate with our small family at home as we have to obey the instructions of the Movement Control Order (MCO) issued by the government for the sake of national security,” he said.

According to Muhammad Nazhif, for the first time in Kelantan, the mosques became silent during Ramadan but the normal practice in the mosque was still ongoing, provided that they were held respectively at home with family doing tarawih with their father, mother, and siblings.

“There is also no Ramadan Bazaar, as usual, serving various delicacies and special menus.

"Although the response is a bit less lively, however, it brings a thousand meanings as it allows spending more time with family," he said.

According to him, this peculiarity is wisdom that Allah the Almighty revealed, among allowing focusing more on the practice of good deeds and self-improvement.

Muhammad Nazhif is grateful to fast with his family at home as there are more students still stranded at the university.

Same goes for Yasmin Izureen Ibrahim, she shared fond memories of fasting with friends on campus and had the opportunity to buy meals for breaking fast at the UMP Ramadan Bazaar held in front of Residential College 3.

She was grateful to be allowed to celebrate the coming month of Ramadan this time with her beloved family in her hometown.

Looking back on the memories while on campus, breaking the fast with friends was greatly missed.

What's more, when buying foods at the UMP Ramadan bazaar located in front of Residential College 3.

She added that although Ramadan this year was celebrated as the country was still 'at war' with the COVID-19 outbreak, we should look at it positively and adapt to the new norm during Ramadan this year.

“For example, if previous tarawih prayers were held in mosques and suraus, this year we could still perform tarawih prayers at home.

“Besides, due to the absence of Ramadan bazaars this year, we can cook at home with family which will certainly strengthen family ties.

"Knowledge sharing sessions can also be held using social media platforms as examples of live broadcasts in social media applications such as Facebook and Instagram," she said.

Meanwhile, students of the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Haziq Mohamad Nazri who resided in the UMP campus, the condition during the MCO provided him with a new experience than ever before.

Every year students do not miss the tradition of Ramadan by doing communal work preparing food and breaking the fast together in a talam  at the UMP mosques in UMP Pekan and UMP Gambang Campus.

However, he was grateful for the good health and was happy to hear from his family members also in good health.

Ramadan this time is also very special as he learns new knowledge, becoming the imam for tarawih prayers, and seeking new hobbies.

In compliance with health and safety regulations especially in maintaining social distance as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, no activity was conducted at the mosque.

Islamic Center for Human Development (PIMPIN) organized an online program through the Ramadan Festival featuring Ramadan Challenge programs, Da'I Interactive Challenge, Qiam On9 Challenge, Ask Experts, Dhuha Lectures, Khatam al-Quran, Nuzul Quran, and Students Circle is in line with the implementation of the MCO in our country.