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UUM ONLINE: Kedah State Government guarantees that the supply of food is sufficient to meet the needs of students at Â鶹ֱ²¥ (UUM) throughout the duration of the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Kedah Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir said that more than 4,000 students were presently staying on campus and that the need for food supply became the major concern of the university.

He said that since the implementation of the order, many parties had come forward to offer assistance and contributions in ensuring that sufficient food supply made its way to the students. The Kedah State Government, the Office of the Menteri Besar and the Bukit Kayu Hitam State Assemblyman were amongst the parties that did not want to be left out in the cause.

He said in all a total of MYR20,000 in the form of food items such as instant noodles, Milo 3 in 1 chocolate drink, Nestum cereals and biscuits which were among the basic needs of university students had been donated.

"We are fortunate to still have food supplies from supermarkets that are known to be in short supply and I am grateful that the prices of these essential items are still under control.

"At the same time, I do not want anyone trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 situation to maximize profits, but there are still supermarkets that are contributing to the well-being of the people during this trying time," he said after handing over contributions to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hendrik Lamsali at UUM's Central Pantry Food Bank, Student Accommodation Centre (SAC), today.

In another development, he advised parents not to worry about their children on campus.

According to him, being on campus was best because students would not need to go out and mix with people whose health status remained unknown.

He said the UUM campus had also restricted entry and exit movement and it was a great way for students to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

Following the presentation of contributions, Dato' Seri Mukhriz visited the UUM Operation Room where he was briefed on the current situation on campus by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni).

Meanwhile, Dr. Hendrik said that starting from tomorrow students who did not return to their hometowns would be provided with free meals three times a day, morning, noon and night even though they had been receiving food assistance from the University ever since the first day of the implementation of MCO.

Therefore, he said, with the assistance provided, including with the opening of cafeteria at respective student residential halls and the on-campus supermarket, there was no longer the need for students to go to Changlun or Alor Setar.