UMS says merely following State Health Dept’s advice

Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said students on campus would be allowed to return to their respective hometowns from May 5.

The move comes after FMT carried criticism by concerned parties who questioned why UMS students had to undergo 14-days’ quarantine after having already stayed on campus for over 40 days.

UMS deputy vice-chancellor associate professor Raman Nordin said the university was making travel arrangements to ensure all students returned safely to their hometowns.

“The students have been informed that they would be sent home in phases,” he said.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Electrifying windows of opportunity in Sabah - The right policies, collaborations, and strategies can turn emerging opportunities into victories for all parties in Sabah.

CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030.

Raman, who is also in charge of the student affairs, said latest updates on the return home by students will be published on the university’s official Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp.

University students from green zone campuses have been allowed to return home from April 27 provided that their hometowns are also green zones.

A spokesperson for UMS earlier told FMT the decision to quarantine the students had come under the recommendations of the State Health Department.

He said he is not clear as to the reason why the quarantine was done now, instead of being done during over the 40 days the students were on campus.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal earlier ordered all students returning to Sabah to undergo home quarantine instead of being sent to quarantine centres as recommended by the State Health Department earlier.

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

Meanwhile, state Health Department director Christina Rundi said she was aware of the criticism over the decision to send all students to the quarantine centres before they can be sent home.

“The proposal had come after taking into account the large number of students who will return home and unknowingly taking the Covid-19 virus with them,” she said.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00