By Siti Fatimah Azzahra Zawawi
GOMBAK, 9 December 2020: A virtual “Student-Admin Dialogue: COVID-19 Information and Updates” was held on Tuesday night (8 December) from 8.30pm until 10pm to provide a platform for the students to be updated with latest information.
Conducted by the Office of the Deputy Rector (Student Development & Community Engagement) in collaboration with IIUM Student Union (IIUMSU), the dialogue was streamed live on Facebook featuring four panelists.
The panelists were IIUM’s Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Chief Medical Officer of IIUM Health and Wellness Centre, Dr. Siti Masitah Jamaludin, President of Post Graduates Student Society (AIKOL), Mohd Ziaolhaq, and President of IIUM Student Union, Amir Nadzim. It was moderated by Anas Hayyan.
During the dialogue Dr. Masitah explained the COVID-19 cases providing statistics around Selangor using slides. As Gombak is still in COVID-19 red zone, Dr. Zulkifli Hasan urged the students to stay put on campus.
Dr. Zulkifli said that IIUM had spent more than a million ringgit to assist and provide students with free food, giving financial assistance and other supplies on campus. He also said there were 200 laptops delivered to students even to their houses.
During the Question & Answer session, it was raised that most students were curious about why IIUM Mosque has not been opened yet.
To this question, Dr. Zulkifli replied saying that there were no changes announced yet from the Sultan of Selangors decrees on opening of mosques in Selangor. Until then, he said, the Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque in Gombak will remain closed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Masitah warned that it is crucial for the students to keep following the standard operating procedure (SOPs) and avoid close contact. ***