10 January 2024

The Top Management of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is very concerned with the water crisis situation from the time when the first announcement was made by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), including considering the suggestions made in the Special Meeting of the University Top Management.

With regard to that, a Water Crisis Management Committee on Campus was established and an Operations Room was activated, with the USM Nerve Centre serving as the coordination centre beginning 30 December 2023. This crisis includes both the USM Main Campus and the Engineering Campus.

INITIATIVES BY USM TO MANAGE THE WATER CRISIS ON CAMPUS

MAIN CAMPUS

1) Water Crisis Operations Room has been established at the USM Nerve Centre.

2) Official announcement by the University, requiring all staff to work from home aside from the frontliners.

3) Teaching and learning will be conducted online and students are encouraged to return to their hometowns, so as to minimise student presence on campus.

4) Activities by student societies that are physical in nature need to be postponed to a later date, in accordance with the announcement made by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic & International.

5) Assistance from Universiti Sains Malaysia comes in the form of 200 buckets and 800 cartons of mineral water to be provided to the residents of the 'desasiswa' including the family residences, differently-abled students (PKU) and the Isolation Rooms at the Main Campus.

6) 8 additional water tanks (500 gallon) to be placed at critical areas at the Main Campus and one (1) mobile tank for emergency purposes.

7) In order to minimise the use of water on campus, only 2 cafés will be operating at the Main Campus, which are Café BFPP and Café Tekun.

8) Some key departments will be postponing their operations, so as to smoothen and facilitate planning, among them:

- Library

- Museum

9) Operations of Pusat Sejahtera (Health & Dental):

- Will only focus on EMERGENCY services (including medical and dental).  The emergency line to be contacted: 04-653 3999 / 04-653 4900 (office hours).

- For emergency services after office hours, students may contact "Doctors on call" at this number: 019-293 0787.

- For patients who would like to obtain/continue with their medication, they may contact the teleconsultation line at: 04-653 4912.

- There will be NO routine medical and health checkups done, including for student admissions and staff.

- Operating hours of student panel clinic (working days: 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm / weekends: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm) will be postponed until 21 January 2024.

10) Services by Pusat Islam (Islamic Centre):

- Pusat Islam will be operating on an alternate basis from 10 – 12 January 2024 (Wednesday – Friday) from 10.00 am – 12.00 pm and 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm.

- Al-Quran classes for adults and children, including services by Kafa, Preschool and Hadhanah will be postponed and will resume operations on 15 January 2024 (Monday).

- Provision of guest rooms will be postponed until the water issue is settled.

- Other matters regarding services by Pusat Islam and the 'qaryah' may be referred to the personnel on duty at the Pusat Islam Main Office.

11) Masjid Al Malik Khalid:

- The Masjid will be operating as usual and every member of the 'jemaah' is advised to do their ablution at home.

- An underground water supply will be used to support and provide ease to the 'jemaah' at Masjid Al Malik Khalid for the congregational prayers as well as in readying for the Friday prayers (12 January 2024).

- Weekly lectures will be continued as scheduled, unless there are unavoidable circumstances.

- The Masjid will be opened from 5.30 am and closed at 9.00 pm.

12) The Student 'Komuter' Bus service will be reduced in number. From the 6 busses usually plying, there will only be 4 busses (1 Bus for RST, 1 Bus for Aman Damai and 2 Busses on campus grounds).

13) The Department for Facility Development and Management (JPPF) will be on standby in terms of technical and management of water flow on campus to ensure it will be more effective.

14) A campaign on the Awareness of Saving Water along with the announcement has been initiated earlier as part of the preparations.

15) The utmost appreciation is extended for the cooperation from the Vice-Chancellor's Office, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Department for Facility Development and Management, Division of Student Development Affairs and Alumni, Security Department, Student Representatives' Council and 'Majlis Penggawa' in executing this operation.

16) The Operations Room is open 24 hours and can be contacted at: 04-6536124/2267/017-4500731.

ENGINEERING CAMPUS

1) 8 additional water tanks (500 gallon) will be placed at critical locations around the 'desasiswa' including the main 'desasiswa' and 1 mobile tank (500 gallon) readied by JPPF.

2) 32 ‘barrels’ (120 litre) have been readied by HAC and will be placed at some toilets at the 'desasiswa' blocks.

3) Teaching and learning will be conducted online beginning 10 until 14 January 2024. Physical sessions will begin 15 January 2024.

4) USM staff would be required to work from home (WFH), however they may need to come to the campus for some teaching and learning activities.

5) Services by Pusat Sejahtera would offer:

- medical and emergency services ONLY.

- dental services and the diagnostic labs will be closed.

- Student panel clinic (working days 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm, weekends/public holidays 8.00 am – 4.00 pm) will be closed on 10-14 January 2024.

- For inquiries, please contact the Health Unit counter at: 04-5995201

The Operations Room is open 24 hours and can be contacted at: 04-6536124/2267/017-4500731. Latest developments will be updated and can be referred to in the Facebook: Pusat Pengurusan Bencana USM.

Water Crisis Management Operations Room

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE (NERVE CENTRE)

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA