KUCHING: The state government, through the Sarawak House and Sarawak Volunteers, is taking care of accommodation, food and drinks of Sarawak students in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan during the movement control order.
During the period, all universities and higher institutions of learning (IPTs) throughout the country have been ordered to close and students asked to leave their hostels.
Sarawak Volunteers advisor Fazzruddin Abdul Rahman said they had received feedback from students complaining that they were asked to leave their hostels following the temporary closure of their respective IPTs.
“Some are facing problems returning to Sarawak and wanted to remain there, and responding to these feedback, Sarawak Volunteers contacted Sarawak House in Kuala Lumpur to offer its services to assist these students,” said Fazzruddin yesterday.
He said Sarawak House, an official body looking after the welfare of Sarawak students studying in Peninsular Malaysia, did not have the capacity to handle the situation alone, thus Sarawak Volunteers had come forward.
“We appointed 45 coordinators at universities and IPTs in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Labuan to seek their assistance to allow our students to stay in their hostels,” he said.
“From these 45 universities and IPTs, only nine are still unable to provide accommodation for these Sarawakian students and efforts are underway to find accommodation for them,” said Fazzruddin, who is the Tupong assemblyman.
He said for IPTs situated in the middle of town, “they were being provided with accomodation but food and drinks, they have to buy their own from the nearby food premises, while for those far away, they will be provided with food catering services.”
“We expect this approach until March 22 and from there we will see what we can do next to assist them,” he added.
Thus, he advised students facing any problem to contact Sarawak House and Sarawak Volunteers on Facebook, adding that they would try their best to help them.
“The Chief Minister himself has directed Sarawak House to look into the welfare of the students affected by the movement control order.
“We also advised our students to restrict their movements and adhere to the directive given by the government and the relevant authorities,” he said.
He said for those given hostels, they should stay in the hostels and not go out, except for those not provided with the facilities.
Fazzruddin said students in Sabah and Labuan did not face any problem with accommodation but complained about the expensive price of food and drinks there.
Meanwhile, he said for students who chose to return home to Sarawak, they had to make their own arrangements.
On the same issue, Fazzruddin urged the public to accept the directive to assist the government in controlling the spread of the virus.
“We never expect this virus to come to this stage and it is paramount that we all adhere to all the directives, especially in restricting our movements.
“Do not take it easy because if there is no such control and restriction, the situation can be more serious which endangers our lives,” he said.
He said that everyone should have confidence in what the government was doing, adding that all citizens should assist in their respective capacities.
