Tertiary Students Can Return To Campus From March 1

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Students of institutions of higher learning under the higher education ministry will be allowed to return to campus in stages from next month.SHAH ALAM: Students of institutions of higher learning (IPT) under the higher education ministry will be allowed to return to campus in stages starting March 1.
Defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein said students from public universities, polytechnics, community colleges and private institutions of higher learning would need to follow SOPs strictly.
The SOPs include allowing only fully vaccinated students and staff on campus, with a capacity of between 70% to 100% depending on the institution.
“Students and staff of IPT who are not fully vaccinated are required to take an RT-PCR test and show a negative result three days before returning to campus.
“They must also take a weekly RTK-Antigen test, according to the National Covid-19 Testing Strategy issued by the health ministry,” Hishammuddin said.
He added that only fully vaccinated existing and new international students would be allowed to enter Malaysia, and they would be required to undergo a quarantine of seven days, or just five days if they have received their third dose.
Hishammuddin said strict SOP compliance must be observed during teaching and learning, and also during sports and leisure activities.
Students must also comply with general SOPS such as wearing face masks, physical distancing and maintaining personal hygiene.
For more information, contact the higher education ministry’s Covid-19 operations room at 03-8870 6777/ 6949/ 6623/ 6628, visit the relevant IPT website or directly contact the coordinating officer of the IPT.
Maasi Magam and Chingay
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin also said that the government had allowed prayer ceremonies at temples for the “Maasi Magam” festival and the Chingay parade in accordance with SOPs on the opening of non-Muslim houses of worship under Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan.
He said the decision was made following a presentation by the national unity ministry during the quartet ministers’ meeting yesterday, and after obtaining the views and recommendations of the health ministry.
He said the SOP for Maasi Magam would be implemented from Feb 16-19 and only fully vaccinated individuals would be allowed to take part in religious activities, with strict adherence to physical distancing of at least one metre as well as the wearing of face masks.
The SOPs, among others, stipulate that chariot processions would be allowed on the condition that there should not be more than 50 individuals from the temple management in the procession; no stops at any location; and the names of those involved as well as the travel route must have police approval.
On the Chingay celebrations, Hishammuddin said prayer ceremonies at the Johor Ancient Temple and Xing Gong shrine will be allowed from Feb 19-22, with no more than 100 members of the temple management allowed to take part in the street cleansing ceremony on Feb 19.
He said on Feb 20, the ceremony to transport deities from the temple to the shrine would be allowed, involving no more than 200 members of the temple management.
The main Chingay parade on Feb 21 would also be allowed, with the movement of 11 decorated trucks accompanied by no more than 20 temple management members for each truck, while no devotees would be allowed in the procession.
The return of the deities from the shrine to the temple on Feb 22 would be allowed with the presence of no more than 200 members of the temple management, while the names of those involved as well as the travel route for the parade must receive prior approval from the police.
Maasi Magam is celebrated by the Indian community on Feb 17, while the Chingay parade is celebrated by the “Five Clans”, namely Hainan, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew and Tiong Hua, from Feb 19-22 in Johor. - FMT

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