Students urged to remain at institutes of higher learning

CORONAVIRUS | Students must remain on campus at all institutes of higher learning nationwide during the movement control order (MCO) period to curb the spread of Covid-19, urged Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said this decision was made because there were still appeals for students to be allowed to return home despite the MCO.

“We take into account the views of the Health Ministry and the police and we have decided that students at institutes of higher learning should remain at their respective universities.

“InsyaAllah, their welfare as well as their food and drink, will continue to be borne by the government,” he said during a press conference from Putrajaya beamed live via Facebook this afternoon.

Ismail said he was seeking their understanding over the matter as it was part of efforts to break the chain of infections to ensure the success in curbing Covid-19 in the country.

“We do not wish to see mass movements that may complicate monitoring by the police as mass movement, if allowed, can lead to the emergence of a new cluster for the spread of Covid-19.

“We hope the people understand this as it is to safeguard their interests and the people around them should they return to their respective hometowns,” he said.

On April 11, it was reported that the Higher Education Ministry was advised to be patient before allowing those stranded in student accommodations during the MCO to go home.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reportedly said they will review the latest data in a week from the third phase of the MCO before advising the Higher Education Ministry on the matter.

On April 10, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the MCO would be further extended another two weeks until April 28. 

Previously, the MCO has seen extensions since it was first imposed nationwide on March 18 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia. - Mkini