After months of lockdown, IIUM allows students out

 

The students had staged an“#OpenTheGate” march asking to be allowed in and out of the campus in Gombak.

PETALING JAYA: After months of confining its students to its campus in Gombak, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) will allow them to go on outings from tomorrow.

This comes after a video went viral on social media yesterday of a gathering at the IIUM Gombak campus, held by students residing on campus demanding that the university allow them to move in and out of campus.

In the video, students were seen holding placards with the words “#OpenTheGate”, while a poster issued before the event called on others to join in the march to spread “awareness regarding campus freedom”.

It is believed the students have been barred from going out for several months due to the university’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures.

Following the video and a subsequent meeting between the student union and the university rector, IIUM today issued a new set of guidelines.

Students are now permitted to go out and visit green zone areas from 8am to 10pm, although they are still encouraged to remain on campus.

Students, however, must return by 10pm on the same day and are not allowed on overnight stays away from campus. Those who fail to comply will be quarantined and may be required to undergo swab tests at their own expense.

When contacted by FMT, student union representative Amin Mubarak sought to clear the air, saying yesterday’s event was not a protest but merely a “negotiation between students and the deputy rector”.

“It was a peaceful negotiation and no students were arrested,” Amin told FMT. - FMT