KOTA BHARU, 7 January 2015 - Volunteers comprising staff from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have successfully helped three schools in Kelantan by cleaning about 80 percent of the remaining mud and dirt that was left behind by the floods.

The schools, placed on the T1 and T2 stage, were successfully cleaned by the USM volunteers who toiled tirelessly from morning till late afternoon to ensure that all schools are clean, safe and ready for the new school term which will begin this Sunday.

The first group of volunteers of the second phase that departed last Monday, totaling 85 staff, was led by the Human Resources Management Department Principal Assistant Registrar, Mohd Mukhwim Maghribi and they successfully cleaned up the school area despite the limited water resources available.

Mukhwim said he was grateful for the commitment of all the staff where they even come up with ideas to help solve some of the problems encountered.

"Until this afternoon, the volunteers managed to clean up the pre-school building, teachers office, six classrooms, two science laboratories, seven school assembly areas and furniture, chairs and tables for classrooms at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Laut Tumpat, Sekolah kebangsaan Seri Kota Kota Bharu dan Sekolah Kebangsaan Paloh, Pintu Gang," added Mukhwim.

The headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Kota, Kamarulzaman Ibrahim expressed his gratitude to USM for helping the school to solve some of the problems faced due to the floods.

"On behalf of the teachers and the Kelantan folks, we are indeed very grateful and thankful to all the USM volunteers who came from afar to help clean-up the school," said Kamarulzaman.

Today, the second team of about 100 USM staff is expected to arrive to continue the mission of cleaning up several schools in Kelantan while the third team will be here on 9 January right up until 11 January 2015.

- Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Text & Photo: Mohd Azrul Mohd Azhar who participated in the post-flood relief mission.