KUALA NERUS—A total of 351 students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) were all smiles tonight as they boarded the buses that would be taking them home to their families.

They were the first batch allowed to return home since the government’s introduction of the Movement Control Order 18 March this year. The students were previously banned from travelling.

According to UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar, these students are from the Eastern zone, with 65 from around Terengganu, 176 from Kelantan, and 110 from Pahang.

A total of 23 buses and a van were used to send the students home.

The students were given packed meal for the trips. They were accompanied by Liaison Officers during the journeys.

Professor Nor Aieni said that UMT took every step to ensure compliance with the procedures for sending the students home set by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health Malaysia. The students’ body temperatures were first taken and their health checked by the University Health Centre. The students’ baggage and the vehicles carrying them were sanitized by the Fire and Rescue personnel.  

She added that the students’ parents would fetch them at the local police stations if they live within the 10 KM radius. For parents who live outside of the 10 KM radius, the authorities would be sending the students home instead.  

Professor Nor Aieni thanked Dato Dr Noraini Ahmad, Minister of Higher Education, for her continuous support in ensuring the safe return of the students to their homes. She also thanked the frontliners and agencies for their contributions.  

“I pray that they will have a safe trip home, and I hope that they can take care of their health by practicing the given steps by the Ministry of Health once they reach their home so that the COVID-19 chain can be broken,” she said.

Also present at the site for the send-off beside Professor Nor Aieni were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs) Associate Professor Dr Hafiz Zakariya and Terengganu Police Chief Datuk Roslee Chik.

In total, more than 1500 UMT students will be sent home throughout the MCO period.

Published by:

Corporate Communication Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)