YOUTH party Muda has raised RM51,145 via crowdfunding in a span of three hours to help varsity students stranded across the country after a last-minute announcement by the Higher Education Ministry that classes and registration for colleges and universities will be held online.

This comes after a swarm of students slammed the ministry on Twitter for the 11th-hour move using the hashtag #MenteriKPTsilaletakjawatan.

“Muda is aware of the problems faced by students due to the announcement of the Higher Education Ministry, which does not have a clear (plan) and (has) slow procedure. Muda shares complaints from all of you who need help,” Muda tweeted using the hashtag #MohonBantuMahasiswa.

“The process of paying donations to students in need will start tomorrow. Of course, we will share with all on how your contribution is given to the recipient. Thank you once again!,” the youth party added.

Some students had reportedly bought flight tickets to return to their campus while pictures online showed students loafing around outside their campus with luggage bags. 

Other politicians and activists also rallied behind the students on Twitter.

Bukit Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei tweeted that she had set up a Google form for those stranded in Petaling Jaya or Shah Alam and desperately needed help. 

“Students who are stranded and are near Petaling Jaya or Shah Alam and really need help, can fill out this Google form along with your details. We will try to help as much as we can,” she said. 

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim also tweeted out an offer for help. 

“Students from the Bukit Mertajam who need help because they are affected by the sudden change in registration at IPTA, can contact our office. We will help as much as we can,” he said. 

A member of the #PulangMengundi team, a financial support initiative that helped Sabahans in the peninsula return to vote last Saturday, also joined in. 

“Any Kuala Lumpur/Petaling Jaya students who need help to take shelter, DM me. I can’t see students like this. If ministers and politicians don’t want to care about you, let me care about,” said Farhan Amran, whose tweet garnered about 23,000 retweets.

Pemuda Negara, founded by Seberang Jaya assemblyman Afif Bahardin, also joined the bandwagon.  

He said students stranded around Johor Baru, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu can contact Pemuda Negara as it owns houses in those areas and can help shelter students who need it.

Meanwhile, Muar MP and Muda founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman took the ministry to task over its hasty move. 

“I had foreseen (the Higher Education Ministry) was going to make a last-minute announcement. Now, many students are stranded with no shelter. The priority goes to those from underprivileged families,” he tweeted. 

“Even though allocation for people in Muar has been pulled, we will find a way and I will also contribute a part of my pay to help students,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it was aware of the concerns voiced by students, parents and the community in regard to move made in light of the increase in Covid-19 cases a few days before the intake for the next semester.

Students already registered and on campus can remain there, while their institutions have been urged to provide them with the necessary assistance.

As for students who have already purchased flight tickets, the ministry said it has liaised with airlines to allow students to reschedule their flights until December 31.

This is not the first time students are slamming the ministry’s policies.

In March, several U-turns were made on its decision of whether to allow students to leave campuses during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A month later, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad was criticised over promoting a Tiktok competition aimed at getting Malaysians to stay at home during the movement control order (MCO) period.

Students slammed her for her “misplaced priorities” and lack of concern about their welfare. – October 3, 2020.