KUCHING, May 14: The last group of 35 Sarawakian matriculation students studying in Peninsular Malaysia safely arrived in Bintulu this morning.
Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) in a news report today, said the group comprised 14 matriculation students in Selangor, 12 in Negeri Sembilan, three in Melaka, three in Perak, two in Johor and one in Penang.
One of the students who is studying in Melaka Matriculation College, Louisa Geranting, 19, from Sungai Plan in Bintulu, is optimistic that returning on the second day of Hari Raya would would enable her to celebrate the Hari Gawai festival with her family.
“If everything is going smoothly and we are complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), including undergoing the 14-day quarantine order, we will return to our family for the Gawai celebration,” she said when met at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
From the same Melaka Matriculation College, Concessa Kuek Augustine, 19, said she felt overwhelmed after being able to return home for the Gawai celebration.
According to her, at first they thought they would be stranded in the peninsula until after the Gawai festival, in view of the alarming Covid-19 situation.
“Even though the Gawai festival will be celebrated in a new norm, at least we get to return home to loved ones,” she said.
On the same note, a Penang matriculation college student, Joseph Nyangau, 19, from Rumah Jiram in Bintulu, opined that being able to return home is a Gawai gift.
He said to be with his family during the Gawai celebration, means a lot to him and his family, even though it is celebrated under the new norm.
Meanwhile, a Johor Matriculation College student Mohd Ikmal Mohd Safuan, 19, from Kidurong Bintulu, conveyed his gratitude to the Rumah Sarawak in Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak Volunteers for taking care of the Sarawakian students’ welfare in the peninsula.
“Thank you also to the Ministry of Education (MoE), SDMC and Malaysia Airlines,” he said.
Rumah Sarawak director Awang Supian Awang Daud together with his team were also present at KLIA to distribute food and drinks to the students before their departure to Bintulu.
As of today (May 14, 2021), a total of 952 Sarawakian matriculation students who are studying in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan have been flown back to the State since May 11, 2020. — DayakDaily
