Stranded students get helping hand
From offers of free food to lodging, Good Samaritans show they care
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians again showed their kind side by springing into action to help university students left in the lurch after the government decided to move their registration and classes online.
This came about after Friday’s announcement by the Higher Education Ministry, urging public higher education institutions to hold their registration and lessons for the new semester virtually amid a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in the country.
Many students were already on their way to campus by then.
However, just as quick as the government’s decision, individuals and groups banded together to help these students.
On Twitter, kind- hearted Malaysians volunteered to help in various ways – from offering pocket money and bus fare to free food and a temporary place to stay.
“I wish to help any students stranded in Seremban. God willing, I will try to find an accommodation for one night around Seremban. You can send me a direct message,” wrote someone under the Twitter handle @khairul_hafidz.
Another Malaysian, who went by
the user name @elenatengku, said she was a lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam and
wanted to lend a helping hand.
“My husband and I would like to help any students who are stranded
here at the moment. If you need any monetary help, please send me a direct message,” she wrote.
@rudyroutepecker offered to buy food for affected students in the Klang Valley, saying: “Let me know and I will treat you. It’s limited to one meal a day for two people.”
Another Twitter user, @ FarhanAmran, wrote that as at 10.24pm on Friday, he managed to place 35 students at various accommodations around Petaling Jaya and funded bus tickets for 21 others as well as three flights.
One Twitter user, @ngehngehngeh, posted: “Anyone (girls) who already arrived at Kolej Puncak Perdana but were told to turn back and have no place to stay, let me know. You can stay with me for a while.”
Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman’s new political party Muda and Pertubuhan Solidaritas collected about RM51,000 to help the affected students via t he # TolongBantuMahasiswa campaign.
Former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik also launched a collection drive starting Friday night.
“As at 2pm on Saturday, the collection has reached RM110,998.89,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday, adding that close to 5,000 applications for help had been received.