COVID-19: UM Students Bound for Raya Celebration

By Aslexson Meron Asuk

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 - University of Malaya students are returning home after being

stranded on campus for two months since the Movement Control Order (MCO) started March 18.

Efforts to safely transport these students back to their hometowns are actively carried out by the government and the university’s management complete with the full assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) starting from April 27.

19 Sabahan students went home via the rescue flight yesterday, seven of which were UM students. The rests were students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM).

Ahmad Afiq, 22, one of the few Sabahan students from UM, successfully returned to his

hometown on May 22 via flight courtesy of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).

“I was told to prepare myself for the rescue flight when I went for the swab test on May 20. We were instructed to be at the TUDM naval base on Friday morning,” he said.

The second-year Sports Science student said that he is very fortunate to be a part of the first group of students to return to Sabah.

“I am beyond grateful for the government and the university for this opportunity, I was worried that I could not be home for Raya this year as I had to stay at my friend’s house for the rest of the MCO.

“I already prepared to celebrate Raya without my family this year but I was lucky enough to be able to return even though everything was done at the nick of time,” he said.

Afiq explained that he had to undergo a swab test prior to his scheduled flight alongside other students from Sabah at UKM on the 20th of May.

According to him, the swab test is prerequisite for the repatriation process in order to ensure the safety of the students who are scheduled to take the flight home.

After arriving at their hometown, the students were required to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

Meanwhile, Irfan Daud, 22, expressed his delight when he received approval by the university’s management via text message, scheduling his return to Johor on May 7.

“I was extremely happy when my application was finally approved because I longed to be home with my family for Hari Raya,” he said.

The third-year Media Studies student was extremely relieved when he learned that the

government and the university were taking measures to send students home.

Irfan explained that the students had to register themselves at Dewan Tunku Canselor before being placed into their respective zones according to their destinations.

“We were asked to undergo a health screening by recording our temperatures before receiving a package containing a free mask and hand sanitiser, courtesy of the university.

“Overall, the process extended beyond three hours because of strict regulations before we were allowed to board the bus,” said Irfan.

The repatriation process is strictly regulated by the university’s authorities in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) released by the government to ensure the safety of students and personnel involved.