KUBANG KERIAN, 11 January 2015 – The Minister of Education II, Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh expressed his thanks and appreciation to all involved in the post-flood relief operations in Kelantan.

"I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to the 17,000 volunteers from the local universities involved and various institutions including the community colleges, who have worked very hard over the past 10 days to help clean up about 160 schools or 96% of the total schools affected by the floods," said Idris.

He added that he was also grateful to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for setting up the Ministry of Education’s War Room and providing the necessary facilities and manpower to help coordinate the operation work around the clock from there.

He said this after handling over aid to 26 USM staffs who were affected by the floods. Earlier, he visited the War Room where he was briefed on the latest flood situation.

Idris said the floods has brought the whole nation together and it demonstrated how Malaysians irrespective of race, religion and background came forward willingly to show support by providing all kinds of assistance, contributions, aid and prayers support to the flood victims.

Present at the ceremony were the USM Board of Governors member Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Arif; USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman; Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Dr. Mortaza Mohamed; Director-General of Community College Dato' Amir Md. Khir; Chairman of Malaysian University Volunteers Council (MASKUM) Professor Dr. Mohamed Fadzil Che Din; and USM Deputy Vice-Chancellors.

The Minister of Education II later visited several schools affected by the floods. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Text: Mohamad bin Abdullah