By: Noor Eszereen Juferi & Muhd Amiruddin Abdul Aziz
Photo by: Mozaid Idris
SERDANG, Dec 22 – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has coordinated humanitarian aid missions to help victims who need donations and are affected by the flood disaster that happened in the country.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, said UPM's initiative to create a Flood Relief Operating Room (BOBB) at the Kolej Canselor, UPM, was to coordinate all aid initiatives and the preparation of PUTRA Cakna volunteers by UPM for the affected areas around Selangor.
"UPM has provided the basic necessities needed by flood victims to be distributed to the UPM community who are suffering from flood disasters, and we have received many donations from individuals and the UPM community itself," he said.
He added that with aid distribution, it could help reduce the burden of the UPM community and other communities who are victims of the flood.
The PUTRA Cakna initiative also organised the planning, preparation and implementation of BOBB, UPM, by creating a fund for various parties who wished to contribute groceries, dry goods and logistics.
Apart from that, volunteers made of UPM staff and students went down to the ground to serve by assisting the affected flood victims. 250 students and 50 UPM staff had registered as volunteers thus far.
A Bachelor of Business Administration student, School of Business and Economics (SPE), UPM, Nurul Syazwani Muhamed Zabidi, who is also the head of student volunteers, said she was happy to be involved in such a task.
"I am honoured to be able to assist, but at the same time also disheartened about the predicament of friends and other Malaysians who are facing the flood disaster," she said.
Her friend, a Bachelor of Accounting student, SPE, UPM, Nurul Auni Izzah Mohd. Jafri, said she was touched by the Malaysians’ caring spirit towards the flood victims and hoped that such spirit of care would continue.
"I was surprised that outsiders and UPM students have been willing to channel much aid to flood victims, and this shows that Malaysians are concerned citizens because all walks of life are lending their support in making this aid a success," she said.
Minister of Higher Education (MOHE), YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, will also join the UPM team on December 23, 2021 (Thursday), to distribute aid to flood victims around Puchong, Subang, Petaling and Sg. Buluh.
UPM also welcomes contributions from the UPM community and the public, and contributors can contact the UPM BOBB Secretariat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amini Amir Abdullah or Mr. Khairul Jusoh@Yusof, at 03-97697505 to channel their assistance.
This initiative is in line with the direction of the University in adhering to the UPM Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which supports the inculcation of noble values ​​in Goal 1: Producing Graduates who are Resilient in Facing Challenges ahead, as well as the well-being of the local community in Goal 3: Sustaining Industrial and Community Network Ecosystems. - UPM
