About 1,000 USM students feel at home, celebrating Raya on campus

 

Universiti Sains Malaysia students celebrating Hari Raya on campus this year with fellow students at their hostel.

GEORGE TOWN: A group of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students are making the best of their current circumstances by choosing to celebrate Hari Raya with their campus friends despite being allowed to return to their hometowns.

About 1,000 out of the 2,700 students from seven hostels in the Gelugor campus decided to stay put, a spokesman for the university told FMT.

Most of them were said to be concerned they may spread Covid-19 to their family members if they were to return home. Whereas, others preferred to stay on in order to avail themselves of the better internet connection on campus for their online learning while the  movement control order (MCO) is on.

To get into the Hari Raya mood, several groups of students organised small feasts at their hostels today.

Second-year student Muhammad Zikri Rosle, who is from Pulau Banggi, Sabah, was among one such group, made up mostly of Sabahans.

He said it had been more than two years since he returned to his hometown, given the coursework for the education degree he was pursuing and the pandemic.

Catching up with family and friends back home, Cahaya Gemilang Harapan hostel council president Norfarah Suhaimi, holding the phone, sends her Hari Raya greetings in a video call.

The 22-year-old said his hometown was bereft of a proper internet connection, which would make it difficult for him to carry out research and online learning.

“While my parents and three other siblings miss me, we keep in touch via video calls. And with my friends here, I don’t feel so lonely after all,” he said.

The students were resplendent in their baju Melayu, kebaya and baju kurung, greeting each other by placing their right palm on their chest while wishing Selamat Hari Raya.

There was no physical duit raya but they proudly showed their e-wallets as their relatives and loved ones had sent them money from afar.

Cahaya Gemilang Harapan hostel council president Norfarah Suhaimi said the Hari Raya gathering was to compensate for their longing to be back home with their families.

Some students who are from Sabah have not been able to return to their hometowns for two years due to the pandemic.

The Machang, Kelantan, native said she was excited to celebrate Hari Raya with her hostel mates and that it was the first time she was doing so.

Second-year student Mohd Sirhan Zulhilmi Ferdinand, 22, of Semporna, Sabah, said: “The last time I went back was over two years ago. At least I feel like I am home with my fellow Sabahans here.” - FMT