الأخبار

The Corona virus outbreak and the unprecedented Movement Control Order may not be the best of times in the country, but it has certainly brought about simply the best of the IIUM Community unprecedented like never before. It has brought about compassion and the highest level of empathy towards those who are in need during this difficult times, be it outside or within the university itself.

Numerous initiatives have been undertaken in the form off volunteering initiatives and collection of donations to help those in need, whether individually or collectively among both students and staff of IIUM. 

Within the campus itself, we see the intensification of the Students Kitchen Project, followed by the distribution of free food to all students who are still staying on campus coordinated by the Student Affairs and Development Division (STADD) under the purview of the Office of Deputy Rector (Student Development and Community Engagement (ODRSDCE). Contributions came from the University Trust Fund, the IIUM Endowment Fund as well as generous contributions from staff, many of whom expressed their concern over the wellbeing of their students.

Among those who did not get the opportunity to return to their home towns are our students with disabilities, both Malaysians and international students. There are currently 71 students with disabilities in IIUM from all 7 categories of disabilities, i.e., visual, hearing, physical, speech, learning, mental/psychosocial and multiple disabilities. After the nation-wide lockdown on 18 March 2020, there are 27 students with disabilities who are still staying at several Mahallahs in the Gombak campus.

Among them are our physically challenged students in Mahallah Uthman and Mahallah Ruqayyah who have difficulties to collect the free food on their own. Alhamdulillah, we have our kind volunteers who have ever so willingly and graciously extended their assistance to deliver the food to their rooms. The students were also

given a delightful surprise when Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, our beloved Deputy Rector (SDCE) himself showed up at Mahallah Uthman for a ‘Special Delivery’ to our Br. Ismail from Somalia and Br. Shurahbil from Johor, who are wheelchair users.

The Disability Services Unit (DSU), on behalf of all our students with disabilities, would like to express our deepest appreciation to all our front liners in IIUM especially our Deputy Rector who had personally visited our students with disabilities to ensure their welfare and wellbeing are taken care of. This is IIUM - Rahmatan lil ‘Alamin -
Leading the Way in Knowledge and Virtue.

Report by: 

Disability Services Unit, Office of Deputy Rector (Student
Development and Community Engagement), IIUM