The government has announced recently that students in higher educational institutions (IPT) who are staying on campus or renting off-campus will be allowed to return to their homes in stages, beginning 27 ApriI 2020. 

USM is ironing out all the procedures to facilitate the process. 

Here are a few early reminders to assist students in preparing for the journey home:

1. Students are required to vacate their respective rooms before being allowed to return home. Storerooms at the Desasiswa will be opened for students to keep their belongings there.

2. Students are required to download the MySejahtera app and to refer to the website: https://iptpulang.malaysia.gov.my and to abide by the instructions provided and to fill in their particulars. 

3. Students are required to notify their parents or caretakers on their intention to return home once the schedule prepared by the university is released, for them to be informed ahead.

4. PETAS (non-hostel) students who intend to return home in a USM-prepared transportation are required to register with the university authorities and need to undergo quarantine for 14 days on campus before being allowed to return home. Do register at the USM Nerve Centre soon. As an alternative, students could also return home using public transport via the Gerak Malaysia app. 

5. Students who are involved need to undergo screening before boarding the designated buses and will be provided with meals.

6. Every student will be provided with a hand sanitizer and a face mask which needs to be worn throughout the journey home.

7. Movement will be conducted in stages, and only involving journeys to green zones. 

8. Students are not allowed to return to homes which are located in yellow and red zones. Nevertheless, students will still be allowed to return to homes of next of kin which are located in the green zones. Students are required to acquire a consent letter from their parents or the next of kin and to inform the university.

9. Students travelling from the campus will be sent directly to their respective District Police Headquarters (IPD) before being sent by the enforcement agencies to their own homes.  

10. The travelling time has been set to begin at 9 pm until 9 am and is meant to avoid heavy traffic disruptions during the day.

11. Parents whom are staying within a 5 km radius are allowed to pick up their children at the respective IPD.

12. Students are also allowed to return home using their own vehicles, but are not permitted for interstate travel, with only one person should be in the vehicle, and which requires a permission letter from the university authorities. 

With this early announcement, it is hoped that students could fully prepare ahead to ensure that every arrangement will proceed smoothly. 

Students from Sabah and Sarawak who would like to return to their own hometowns would be notified on ticket purchases and travel schedules by the USM Nerve Centre officials. 

USM would also like to advise all students to fully consider in making the right decision on whether to return home or to remain on campus.

This is due to the fact that there are students who are staying in remote or rural areas which are without good internet connectivity. Online learning and communication will surely be a challenge to them. 

Students who are anticipating such issues at home that could disrupt their daily activities are advised to think carefully and make the right decision on whether to return home or to continue remaining on campus.

Lastly, students are required to be patient and wait, and abide by the orders to be issued by USM from time to time.

Thank you.

PROFESSOR DR. ALDRIN ABDULLAH

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Development Affairs & Alumni, USM 

27 April 2020