KUBANG KERIAN, 7 January 2015 - The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus has recently become the post-flood coordination centre of public universities with the establishment of a special secretariat War Room which began operation on 3 January 2015.

The War Room will be used to coordinate efforts made by universities across the country together with various local authorities including the Education Department of Kelantan and other related agencies.

This was a result from the visit by the Minister of Education II Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh to the USM Health Campus and Hospital USM, where he also met the students and discussed with several parties from the USM Health Campus.

This was also a follow up from the official working visit by the Ministry of Education Secretary-General Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Madinah Mohamed to Kelantan where she was given a special briefing by the Kelantan State Secretary Dato' Hj. Mohd Faudzi Hj. Che Mamat and other agencies involved including the National Security Council and the Royal Malaysian Police at the VIP Room of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Pengkalan Chepa Kelantan.

Also present were the Director-General of Public Service, Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal; the Ministry of Health Secretary-General, Datuk Farida binti Mohd Ali; Ministry of Education Secretary-General II, Dato' Seri Dr. Zaini Ujang; Higher Education Department Director-General, Professor Dato' Dr. Asma Haji Ismail; USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman; and the Student Volunteers Foundation (YSS) chairperson, Dato' Zuraidah Atan.

Madinah later met the education community in Kelantan which was attended by 80 officers to coordinate the efforts in helping schools that have been affected by the recent floods.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education II visited the Ministry of Education's Flood War Room located near to the Student Affairs and Development Department of USM Health Campus to have a closer look at the operations carried out there. He also discussed the immediate actions that need to be taken, including the possibility of digging a well to provide clean water supply as well as cleaning up the schools.

This week, several volunteer teams of staff and students from public universities were in Kelantan to assist the various post-flood efforts especially to clean-up the schools before the school session starts next week.

Idris was involved in the discussion and contributed ideas to ensure the smooth operation of the efforts made.

"Think of new ideas, do not wait and keep moving," adviced Idris before leaving the campus.

Also present at the War Room were USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman; Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Mortaza Mohamed; USM Health Campus Director, Professor Dato' Dr. Mafauzy Mohamed; the Kelantan Graduates Association President, Dato’ Mohd Faizal bin Daud; and USM and UMK officers.

Idris also handed over contribution to a staff nurse of USM Hospital who lost almost RM20,000 when her rented house was swept away by the floods. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Text & Photo: Mohamad bin Abdullah ​