PENANG, 6 April 2020 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is constantly monitoring and giving priority on the situation of its students who are currently undergoing the USM-KLE International Medical Programme in Belgaum, India during this Movement Control Order (MCO) period due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

In fact, USM via its COVID-19 Nerve Centre is in discussions almost every day, looking at all aspects of health, welfare and safety of students in all of its  campuses, including the KLE offshore campus during this difficult time.

USM admits that there were requests to bring the students home from India, however such actions would be subject to instructions and order from Wisma Putra as mentioned by Deputy Foreign Minister, Dato' Kamarudin Jaffar, that students who are on foreign soil need to remain at their resident campuses and to abide by current instructions from the local authorities there.

Referring to the same statement issued by Wisma Putra, any journey undertaken to a home country during a lockdown period and while there is a pandemic outbreak would only heighten the risk, not only from being infected, but also being stranded without proper medical support and so on.

Aside from having continued communique with the USM student representatives in KLE to find out the current state and students’ needs, USM authorities are also closely interacting with other related agencies including Wisma Putra, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), the Malaysia Consulate-General's Offices in Mumbai and Chennai as well as with Education Malaysia (EM) there to ensure the wellbeing of the students.

USM authorities are also preparing a dedicated team to be flown to India once the lockdown period is over, or if USM is given permission by the authorities and being provided the opportunity to enter India through alternate means.

In that regard, USM is always keeping track and oversees the affairs and progress of students in all of its campuses, and fulfilling the responsibility entrusted by the parents and caretakers of the students, while at the same time to continue providing the support towards each other during these current moments of uncertainty.

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Addendum:

KLE or “Karnataka Lingayat Education” Society was established with the objectives to conduct wide and good teaching and educational activities in the main region of Karnataka and Southern Maharashtra. With more than 9 decades of involvement in the field of education, KLE University and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) had become a big consortium recognized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, India. JNMC under the purview of KLE University is recognised by the Medical Council of India and also the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and is listed under the W.H.O Directory of World Medical Institution.

Top Management

Chairman, Board of Management KLE Society, Belgaum: Dr. Prabhakar Kore, M.P.

Director: Dr. H. B. Rajasekhar

Deputy Dean USM-KLE IMP Belgaum: Professor Dr. Kamarudin Jaalam.