NEGRI Sembilan matriculation students want to know why the college is refusing to allow them to return home, after several Covid-19 cases were detected on campus in Kuala Pilah.

The students say they have been stone-walled by the administration after they were linked to the Intan Delima cluster, which saw 25 positive Covid-19 cases in the past week.

The students told The Malaysian Insight that the situation has had an emotional impact on them. They are getting more and more depressed because they are ‘locked up’ at the college.

One of the students, who did not want to be named, admitted that he was very confused because he has not received any clear information about the situation, which has sparked panic among some students who are concerned for their safety.

The 19-year-old science student said since the quarantine started on January 16, students have faced difficulties such as having to spend more to get food and have poor Internet connection.  

“All students are prohibited from leaving the college. We no longer have face-to-face classes. We couldn’t even go out to the field or the co-operative centre.

“However, there is a little flexibility now for us to go to the co-operative, but only for a certain time, just to buy necessities,” he said.

The student from Johor also said the problem of poor Internet access has added to their stress as it had caused them to miss out on lessons.

“We are all forced to study online but the problem is the Internet access is very slow. It has been two weeks since class started but we are still finding it difficult to catch up with the syllabus.

“Due to this situation, many students feel uncomfortable and so they are stressed and always worried.”

Additionally, the students also alleged that they did not have the option to buy their own food and had to buy from the college cafe, which is not cheap.

He said some students cannot afford it and are forced to buy bread at the co-operative. However, they run the gauntlet of the co-operative not running out of stock in the first place.

“In the co-operative, the bread always runs out because some students are panic buying,” he said.

Another student said they have to pay RM15 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“Not only is the price of food expensive but students also have added costs to buy Internet data.

“What about those who cannot afford it?” said the second-year student.  

At the same time, students from Kota Tinggi said the college cluster would not have happened if the government had listened to them and not insisted they return to college.

The student from Johor said the decision had endangered her life and that of other friends, causing them to be exposed to the Covid-19 virus.

“All because the instructions said that students must return for the exams even though they can take them online. Due to that decision, we students are exposed to Covid-19,” she said, who will face the Malaysian University English Test next week.

However, the student said she could breathe a sigh of relief when the college administration said the exam had been postponed until further notice.

Silent administration angers parents

The students said the college administration did not seem to be honest and was hiding the real issue from them.

The students alleged that they were not informed about the situation until the matter was raised.

Only then did the administration announce the positive case of Covid-19 through the college’s Telegram chat group.

“Yet, we still do not get enough information of what’s going on and about this cluster.

“Even now, the college administration has not told us how long we will be quarantined,” he said.

Another student said the situation had caused anguish for many parents.

“Parents are really angry. They can’t visit their children,” said a 19-year-old second year science student.

The students also said they had been warned not to publicise the situation in the college on social media or to outsiders.

He said the pressure had caused many of them to consider dropping out of college.

“It’s just that we think because we have six months left to finish our studies, so it’s a pity if we want to withdraw now, but in reality, many want to drop out,” he said.

No transparency

The Intan Delima cluster issue went viral after former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik wrote on his Twitter page about parents and lecturers being notified of the cluster by the Ministry of Health.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight, Maszlee urged the government and the Ministry of Education to be transparent and discuss the situation openly with anxious parents.

He said he received many complaints from students and parents who were worried about the increase in cases at the college but they were still not allowed to go home.

“The Education Ministry is not transparent in informing students and parents about the steps they are taking.

“The government also seems to be hiding the matter, so that it raises a lot of speculation and concerns of students and their parents,” said the Simpang Renggam MP.

He said parents had raised the issue that Covid-19 cases at the college were due to a decision from the government that did not require students to conduct a Covid-19 test.

However, he reiterated that transparency from the government to check on the students’ complaints on social media, showing that they are now in a state of distress.

He even said that although the issue has been highlighted, the Education Ministry remains tight-lipped.

The Education Ministry had previously announced that matriculation students would start their studies at the college on January 4 but were not required to undergo Covid-19 screening.

The Education Ministry Matriculation Department said the reopening of the college to enable students to sit for the examination was scheduled for January 6 to 13.

However, the decision was criticised and also received objections from within the college and the student body. – January 29, 2021.