As announced by the Prime Minister yesterday evening, the Malaysian government is making arrangements to allow university students to return home during the movement control order (MCO). Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has provided further clarity today that the arrangement will only apply to students that are returning to green zones.
Students that are currently stuck at campus will be sent home in stages starting next Monday, 27th April 2020. The arrangement will be handled by the government and it was decided this morning during a ministers’ special meeting together with Higher Education Minister, Datuk Noraini Ahmad.
According to the Senior Minister, the travelling time will be fixed between 9pm to 9am to avoid traffic congestion. He added that although students that have remained on campus are considered clean and safe, they would need to undergo COVID-19 screening before they are allowed to board the bus.
As usual, social distancing must be practised and students will be provided food and face masks. He added that for a 40-passenger bus, only 20 passengers will be allowed.
The students will be picked up from their accommodation which is either on campus or at rented homes, and they will be transported to their nearest police station or the district office at the destination. After that, government officers and frontliners will assist in transporting them to their homes.
If the student’s home is located in a green zone, they can return home. However, if their home is categorised as a yellow or red zone, they will be prohibited from returning. In addition, students that are currently staying at a rented accommodation in a red zone are not permitted to return home that’s in a green zone.
Even if their home is under EMCO, the government may consider allowing them to stay at a relative’s home (e.g. brother or sister) located in a green zone. The minister said that these are just some of the possibilities to ease the return of students and it is still under consideration.
For Sabah and Sarawak students, the federal government will work closely with the state governments. The minister gave an example if a student that wants to return to Kapit in Sarawak, they would need to transport student to Sibu by flight and the government will then coordinate with local authorities for transportation arrangements to the final stop in Kapit. Students returning from West Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak are required to undergo quarantine for 14-days.
It was reported that approximately 53,000 students have opted to return home and about 15% have chosen to remain on campus. The MCO has been extended by another two weeks until 12th May 2020.
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