By Sarah Nabila Wahab
Located in a remote area, the Kulliyyah of Languages and Management (KLM) at Pagoh campus, is the best environment to spend years of studies. Accompanied by its picturesque scenery, the students can see Gunung Ledang all the way from their room window as this area is free from concrete jungle.
Pagoh is well-known for its Bandar Universiti or Education Hub initiated by former Prime Minister, Tan Sri Haji Muhyiddin Yasin in 2014. The Hub comprises of shared facilities such as Sports Facilities, Swimming Pool, Multi-Purpose Hall, Data Centre, Library, Guest House and Convention Hall, making it a fully integrated development that is used together with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) students.
These facilities are now ready to receive visitors again after quite a long time. The buildings are still new and their designs are contemporary. This is a bonus point for the society in that circle as it maintains good relationship between students of different institutions.
Recently, KLM student residency, Mahallah Zaid bin Harithah started to receive their students again in October. The Mahallah Representative Committee had arranged two phases of students returning days; starting from 15 – 23 October and the second phase was on 5 – 6 November 2021. Approximately 450 students are now living in the Mahallah with their peers again.
The procedures to enter the Mahallah compound are all kindly accepted and followed by both students and guardians. The Mahallah Representative Committees (MRC) wore complete Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to welcome the students as everyone’s safety is the top priority. During the registration days, the students were provided a self-test kit to ensure that the returning residents are free from COVID-19.
As the residential is now operating as usual, the students are also allowed to do their physical activities.
In this new semester, IIUM Pagoh offers two modes of learning; online learning and physical learning. There are shuttle buses for students to go and return from their classes.
Other than that, a specific compound is prepared for the residents that encourages them to do sports activities like frisbee, badminton and the list goes on. Also, to the students who prefer indoor games can play table tennis which is situated at the Musholla. This is a strategic place as indirectly it can attract students to join congressional prayers.
The Principal of Mahallah, Ustaz Muhammad Khaidir Sahid, in his recent talk titled ‘Jom Kuliah Online (JKO) 3.0’ said, “I would like to welcome all returning students to Mahallah Zaid bin Harithah, Pagoh and hope my children will enjoy their days here.”
He also expressed his pride to see his students and that he considered them as his children too. In the Mahallah, most of the residents call him ‘Abah’. Such is a warm gesture, isn’t it?
He also emphasised in his first lecture that all students ought to learn the history of Zaid bin Harithah in order to absorb the lesson from his life as the name of this Mahallah is taken after his name.
Musholla is the heart of any residence. Hence, MRC in Mahallah Zaid bin Harithah never stopped brightening this house of worship. Early in the morning, Musholla is filled with the recitation of Asma al-Husna. After Asar, the students who pray congressionally recite al – Mathurat to live up the evening.
As students are getting back to the campus again, the usual talk named Jom Kuliah Online (JKO) 3.0 is now conducted hybrid due to the massive number of participants at the Musholla. This time, the students spend their time here and of all prayers, maghrib receives the highest number of students. To end the day, the students recite Al-Mulk after praying isha together.
A few days ago, MRC Zaid organised Gotong-Royong aimed to relive the Musholla again that involved MRC members and other residents. These students swept the floor, washed the prayer mat, rearranged the Kitab, and tidied all rooms in the Musholla. This holy place had been untouched for quite a long time. The teamwork shown by the process made it even more spirited.
After all, despite feeling happy to see Pagoh become alive again after two years of living with COVID-19, everyone is responsible for his or her own. Following is the statement made by Minister of Health, Khairi Jamaluddin: “The ministry (Ministry of Health) will be putting immediate effort to ensure that the COVID-19 transmission in these states can be curbed as soon as possible.”
The university managements is taking precautions to implement the standard operating procedures (SOP) in welcoming the return of students to the campus. It is fundamental for everyone to follow all the SOPs to protect each other. ***