By Puteri An Nur
GOMBAK, 8 October 2021: The Office of the Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement) has released the official guideline for students’ activities in line with Malaysia’s National Recovery Plan (NRP).
However, it is important to take note that this guideline is only applicable for all IIUM campuses that are situated in the Phase 3 states based on Malaysia’s NRP. Furthermore, students who wish to participate in any activity or event that are on and off campus are responsible for any risks throughout their presence.
Based on the guidelines, in order for student activities to take place, organisers and participants must be fully-vaccinated first. As for individuals who wish to participate but have yet to receive their vaccination or are only done with their first dose vaccination, they must undergo pre-event testing using a (saliva) self-test kit before participating in any of the activities.
Besides that, the organisers must also take responsibility in ensuring that none of the individuals involved in the activities or programmes has been in close contact to a COVID-19 positive case, person under surveillance (PUS), person under investigation (PUI), probable case of COVID-19 or actively on surveillance of COVID-19 risk.
Next, any organisers, coordinators, speakers and participants who are symptomatic will not be allowed entry into the venue during the activities until they have received the clearance from IIUM Health and Wellness Centre (IHWC). This is to avoid putting other participants at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Organisers must also take note of the number of participants present during the activity as the number of participants must not exceed 500 or 50 percent of the capacity of the venue.
However, the number varies depending on the size of the venue. The venue that is selected must also have a proper ventilation for air circulation as well as different entrances and exits.
On the day of the event, all participants including the organisers, coordinators, speakers must undergo a body temperature screening upon entry to the venue. This is to ensure that no individual exceed the maximum body temperature, which is 37.4 degree celsius.
The organisers must collect and provide the complete details of the participants such as their names, matric number, active contact number and active email address. This is important for the organisers as it will make it easier for them to contact the participants in case of an emergency or outbreak.
Throughout the event or activity, participants must also adhere to the standard of procedure that has been exercised throughout this pandemic as proposed by the Malaysian National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara or MKN). This includes wearing a face mask, practicing physical distancing of one meter apart at all times and using the hand sanitisers that will be provided by the organisers.
Refreshments for the participants will only be provided and packed individually as an effort to avoid unnecessary crowding at one place which may put the participants at risk and increase the spread of COVID-19 if present.
To ensure the guidelines are effective, Advisor/Officer-in-Charge must be present throughout the programme to monitor the movement of participants and the flow of the event taking place.
Those who are involved such as the participants, organisers, coordinators and speakers must take the responsibility and play their roles in ensuring that no individual is at risk of contracting COVID-19.
For further inquiry or information, you may contact them directly via email: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Hasan (zulkiflih@iium.edu.my), Madam Hafsah Moh. Yusoff (hafsah@iium.edu.my), Asst. Prof. Dr. Hamwira Sakti Yaacob (hyaacob@iium.edu.my).***