Around Campus Info

UMP prioritises welfare and safety of students

By: SITI NUR AZWIN ZULKAPRI, PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT, OFFICE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Translation by: DR. ROZAIMI ABU SAMAH, FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The government’s decision to extend the Movement Control Order (MCO) from 31 March until 14 April is considered the best step taken to fight the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak across the country.

During this period, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) has postponed all service operations, and no Teaching and Learning (T&L) activities including online are allowed during the MCO from 18 March until 14 April 2020.

In addition, UMP has rescheduled the academic calendar for Semester 2 and Short Semester of 2019/2020 where the lectures will resume on 1 June 2020 after taking into account the safety and efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

Sharing the story of students who still stay on campus, the Principal of Residential College 4, Nasrul Salim Pakheri said that the Student Affairs and Alumni Department (JHEPA) and Residential Colleges took the initiative to continue the welfare programme to provide meals for on- and off-campus students. 

The meals are prepared using the allocation from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) as well as the contribution from the external parties.

Online programmes were also held by the Residential Colleges for male students such as short video competition, online games and poster sharing for students to pass the time with beneficial activities.

Similarly, the Residential College for female students held a singing contest, a competition to create tagline #staysafe and drawing and pantun competition.
 
At the same time, students are constantly reminded to comply with the MCO directive such as washing hands, practising social distance and no gathering.
 
According to a student from the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Tuan Muhamad Asani Tuan Ibrahim, 22, the extension of MCO is a smart initiative to fight the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, since the first phase of MCO has shown a positive effect.
 
“I feel safe to stay on the campus during this pandemic. The university Security Division takes a stern action regarding the movement of outsiders into the university,” he said.
  
He added, the university is also taking a great responsibility of providing daily necessities to the students who stay on the campus.

“For example, all principals and fellows of residential colleges are responsible for distributing food and hygiene kits to the students, as well as supplementary food from UMP Campus Pantry that is contributed by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) via Food Bank programme.
 
“I am grateful that the university is being responsible for its students who stay on the campus.

“The approaches taken by the university indirectly reduce anxiety among students.
 
“In addition, students movement is also properly monitored. The staff of Security Division always perform patrolling and monitoring to make sure the students follow the MCO directive,” he said. 
 
Siti Nur Nabirah Amran, 22, from the Residential College 3 and Faculty of Industrial Management, the staff of the residential colleges remain focused on the welfare of the students who are unable to return to their hometowns.

“They organise various exciting activities such as competition to create creative hashtags that comes with attractive prizes.

“This experience is valuable and it will be cherished forever. I want to express my gratitude towards the concerns of the UMP associates.

“Let us pray together that we will recover from this outbreak once and for all,” she said.

Around Campus Info

Appreciate time and life well being

By: NUR SA’ADATUL AFZAN JUSOH, OFFICE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Translation by: DR. ROZAIMI ABU SAMAH, FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The global Covid-19 outbreak has affected the world entire population in general and in Pahang specifically, some students still stay on the campus of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) in Gambang and Pekan due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) directive.

According to the director of the UMP Islamic and Human Development Centre (PIMPIN), Dr. Rashidi Abbas, the MCO directive has changed the landscape of daily life.

“When we talk within the scope of religion, there is so much wisdom contained therein.

“One of them is the value of time where we have been so preoccupied that we forget the health Allah has bestowed on us.

“We do not take advantage of the time given to us and do useless things,” he said.

He added that mental health has been a serious topic to discuss during the MCO period because it affects students and all UMP denizens a lot.

“Islam has provided guidance on mental health as outlined in maqasid syariah, i.e., protection of intellect (hifzu aql).

“This protection of intellect is fundamental for all students to keep their sanity throughout the MCO period to prevent affliction and ailments.

“Thus, Islam has suggested several options to protect intellect until the end of one’s life,” he said.

Dr. Rashidi also mentioned about life wellbeing in general; how to keep a sound mind, emotion and behaviour during the MCO period.

The main focus is to recognise the fact that intellect is an invaluable grace that Allah has bestowed to all mankind. 
“Use your intellect for a good cause as long it does not violate Syariah law.

“New strategies can be formulated to adapt to change by planning activities with positive outcomes such as knowledge sharing,” he said.

In addition, one can optimally use latest technologies in seeking religious knowledge through lectures from PIMPIN or any scholars on exegesis (tafsir) and sciences of al-Quran, as well as recite zikr, perform sunnah prayer and pray to Allah for His protection during the MCO period.

He also added that physical activities such as light exercise can improve physical and mental strengths.

To have a sound mind, Dr. Rashidi suggested that students who love writing to utilise the free time to write novels or stories.

“Besides, each individual must strengthen the relationship between family members, friends and lecturers.

“This is a global issue, take advantage of the free time and technology to easily communicate with each other where it might have been overlooked due to the hustle and bustle of life.

“During the MCO period, there is also a possibility that we are prone to write fake news on social media.

“For the mutual benefit and good behaviour, it is advisable to share admonition (tazkirah), knowledge and quotes from Islamic and trustworthy scholars.

“Also, you may fill your free time to increase good deeds by volunteering and offering online teaching using the latest technologies,” he said.

Dr. Rashidi hopes this brief sharing can be benefited by not only UMP students but all Malaysians during the extended MCO until 28 April.

He also prayed that Allah protect and grant us good health.

Research and Innovation

Environmentally friendly Diaclean Pera Sterilant disinfectant

Translation by: DR. ROZAIMI ABU SAMAH, FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

Diaclean Pera Sterilant, a vinegar-based disinfectant (food grade acetic acid) produced by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) researchers, can kill 99.9 percent microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.

This innovative organic disinfectant is environmentally friendly, user friendly (non-irritant), odourless, cheaper and classified as high-level disinfectants (HDL), and it does not leave any adverse effects on surfaces and users.

According to the researcher from the Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Zularisam Ab, Wahid, this product can be used in the work of disinfection as it is categorised as HDL that is free from aldehyde and alcohol.

“This general sanitiser can effectively kill all coronaviruses that naturally are enzootic, non-lipid and only need an intermediate- or mid-level disinfectant (MLD).

“This product is not only suitable as a surface disinfectant for housing areas, housing spaces, schools, offices and hospitals but also satisfactory for the livestock industry, food processing, packaging, medical devices sterilisation, potable water and wastewater treatment,” he said.

This product has been tested for its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent through in vitro test in Makmal Bioserasi dan Klinikal Healthmedic Research Sdn. Bhd. And in vivo biocompatibility test in Makmal Bioserasi, Centre for Research and Instrumentation Management (CRIM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

In addition, this Malaysian-made product contains peracetic acid as the active ingredient that kills coronavirus that causes Covid-19. It complies with the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

According to Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Zularisam, Diaclean is initially used to clean and sterilise synthetic kidney filter and hemodialysis machines in dialysis centres that help patients to get dialysis service in 50 dialysis centres across the country.

“The application of Diaclean has been extended as a disinfectant spray for general disinfection of factories, universities and housing.

“Currently, many chlorine-based disinfectants are used containing sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite, chlorine and sodium dichloroisocyanurate, which can damage due to rusting, irritating and contaminating the environment.

“The active chlorine that reacts with organic materials in the environment can create carcinogenic byproducts such as trihalomethane and haloacetic acids (HAAs). 

“The use of chemicals such as benzalkonium chloride, chloroxylenol and chlorhexidine, which are classified as low-level disinfectant level (LLD), is not as effective to kill most microorganisms, especially coronavirus,” he said.

He added that apart from being inorganic, these disinfectants remain in the environment as residuals that are difficult to be degraded or stabilised naturally.

“With low effectiveness and high cost, these inorganic disinfectants are believed to create not environmentally friendly byproducts that are irritating and cause harm to operators and users.

“There are also highly effective high-level disinfectants (HDL) such as hydrogen peroxide and aldehydes, but the active ingredients are corrosive, smelly, costly and carcinogenic, as well as affect the respiratory system,” he said.

Diaclean product has JAKIM halal status. It is registered under the Medical Device Authority (MDA), meets the requirement in the third schedule of Medical Device Regulation 2012 by TUV SUD Malaysia and complies with the ISO13485 (International Quality Management System for Medical Device) standard.

This disinfectant is produced by UMP Renal Care Sdn. Bhd., a UMP spin-off company, in 2008, and it is commercially marketed since 2014.  

In the meantime, several Covid-19 infected areas had been disinfected following the procedures established by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

UMP also carried out disinfection operations in several locations within the campus to ensure the campus areas are free from the spread of the outbreak.

The disinfection operations were performed within the campus areas by a subsidiary of UMP Holdings Sdn. Bhd., UMP Services that used Diaclean Pera Sterilant.