By Aisyah Karina
GOMBAK, 24 April 2020: University students can go back to their hometowns but they must follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) as instructed by the authorities, Senior Minister (Security), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
He told a press conference that a discussion will be held between the Ministry of Higher Education, the National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to construct the standard operating procedure (SOP), without stating the deadline of completion.
The SOP, the Minister said, is necessary to make sure that the movement of students are carried out in a systematic way to avoid any infections and spread of the virus.
He further said that the students may need to go through health screening before returning home.
According to reports, around 100,000 students from institutions of higher learning are still staying in campus following the enforcement of the movement control order (MCO) on 18 March.
The first phase of MCO ended on 31 March but had been extended twice from 31 March to 14 April and from 15 April to 28 April, as an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
Now in its third phase, the MCO has been further extended to 12 May from 29 April based on the latest announcement by Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. The fourth phase of MCO is needed to further keep the public safe.
Following the extended period, students are told to remain in campus until further notice, however, several parties felt that the current situation of students still remaining in campus should be considered.
Students have stayed in campus for more than three weeks which fulfilled the required quarantine period. To date, they have been staying in the campus for more than one month.
It has been reported that some of them might be facing psychological problems due to the controlled movement order which prohibited them from leaving the campus for their hometowns to join their family.
Several solutions have been proposed to the university in a joint statement made by a number of societies such as Pembina IIUM Chapter, Harmoni IIUM, Somalia Students’ Association IIUM (SSA), Al-Salam Club IIUM, Ma’ruf Club, Ikatan Anak-Anak Sabah UIAM (IKAS) and Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung UIAM (GPMS).
The proposed solutions include sending the students home by stages with strict measures taken, providing transportation to send the students to their respective hometowns, and having a proper discussion with the international students on how to assist them further.
It is therefore hoped that all students will stay calm and be patient in facing this issue as the higher authorities are seeking an effective solution to overcome this matter. #stayathome #kitajagakita ***