Agong grants audience to UPNM vice-chancellor through video conferencing

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah who is also the Tuanku Canselor of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) granted an audience to its vice-chancellor, Lt Gen Datuk Abdul Halim Jalal through a special video-conference today.

In a statement today, the UPNM vice-chancellor presented the university’s operations during the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the Conditional Movement Controlled Order (CMCO) following the spread of COVID-19.

"It covers the current and post-COVID-19 strategy and plan of action, particularly the administration, management of students, teaching and learning process (PdP), and research and innovation.

Meanwhile, the 218 students who are staying on and off campus received aid in the form of food and other daily essential, health and other items, which were fully sponsored by the government and UPNM. The items were donated by private companies and corporate bodies as well as individuals.

In the special video conference, Sultan Abdullah urged UPNM folks to get used to the new normal and comply with the guidelines drawn up by the government such as social distancing, ways of interacting in a group, and in meetings.

"Al-Sultan Abdullah was satisfied with UPNM’s efforts and initiatives in implementing online PdP to ensure that the students do not miss out on their studies. He also reminded that UPNM not to compromise on the ways and quality of online PdP. The competency and capabilities of the lectures must be improved,” the statement said..

It added that UPNM had conducted online PdP activities since the MCO was imposed and will continue to do so until the coming December as face-to-face learning was not permitted.

“To ensure online PdP activities meet their objectives and are well-conducted, UPNM had taken the initiative of providing SIM cards worth RM25 to students in the B40 group for the duration of six months,” the statement said.

UPNM said the university had also focused on research and innovations in connection with COVID-19, including products ready to be commercialised such as disinfection chamber, COVID-19 IoT Emergency Mechanical Ventilator, and the  Wearable and Low cost Arduino Thermometer.

"Throughout the MCO period, UPNM researchers and community had assisted the frontliners by producing such products such as liquid sanitisers, 3D printed faceshields and the antifog faceshield, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suit and the intubation box.

“These products have been donated to the Serdang Hospital, the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital, Melaka Hospital, Sungai Besi Camp Health Clinic, roadblocks around the Sungai Besi Camp, and the Cheras Health Office,” said the statement.

-- BERNAMA