KUCHING, May 17: A total of 31,508 students from 462 higher learning institutions in the country are now allowed to resume academic activities.
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the proposal by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) was agreed upon by the ministers involved during the special Movement Control Order (MCO) implementation meeting yesterday.
“The meeting has agreed to allow postgraduate students for research such as Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) to start their academic activities as soon as possible,” he said during a press conference on MCO implementation at Putrajaya today.
Ismail Sabri explained this was in response to the consideration that the students need to conduct research physically in laboratories, workshops and also design studios, due to the need for specific tools.
He added it was estimated that there are about 60 Masters and PhD students in each higher learning institution, and resuming their studies would not involve large gatherings of people.
On another matter, Ismail Sabri also reminded the public to continue to comply with standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued during the MCO.
He reiterated that legal action will be taken against those who breach SOPs and offenders also may be fined RM1,000 by the Royal Malaysia Police.
He said that the number of those who failed to comply with SOPs is increasing, from 72 individuals yesterday to 132 individuals today.
“This means that many of them assumed that this Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) is not subject to any laws, but as I said, they might be fined RM1,000 or charged in court, when arrested,” he added. — DayakDaily
