PETALING JAYA – The University of Malaya was a picture of calm today, amidst chaos nationwide after the Higher Education Ministry yesterday urged public universities to defer face-to-face registrations, following a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the nation.
A check by The Vibes found students from Kelantan, Terengganu, and Penang – some accompanied by their parents – queuing up to get registered in one of the two time slots (8am and 2pm) allotted by the university.
"I arrived yesterday from Kota Baru, and I got stuck here. I was lucky last night as I was able to stay with my uncle,” said Farhan, a first-year engineering student.
"Otherwise, I would be sleeping by the curbside while waiting to be registered."
Irfan Ahmad, a final year bio-medical undergraduate who was volunteering to assist parents and students said the situation was much more orderly today, after some confusion last night.
"It was a little chaotic yesterday but manageable. Some of them were initially stranded. Fortunately, the university management stepped in and allowed them to stay in the college dormitories,” he said.
“The students have already been informed to register online instead."
Another student volunteer of the same cohort who wished to be known as Nabila was seen speaking fluently in Mandarin to parents.
"Students from out of town who came to register today will be staying in the college for the week during the student orientation,” she told The Vibes.
"However, things are different now because of the Covid-19 outbreak and the orientation programme will be carried out online, unlike the usual program we had previously.
"Accommodation and food will be provided for the students throughout the week of the orientation." – The Vibes, October 3, 2020
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